Report: NYC Student Science Proficiency Below Nation

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Fourth and eighth graders in New York City's public schools have scored below the state and national levels on the most recent national science exams.

The New York Times reports that the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the tests, showed that only 18 percent of fourth graders and 13 percent of eighth graders demonstrated proficiency on the 2009 exams.

Nationwide, 33 percent of fourth graders and 29 percent of eighth graders showed proficiency. In New York State, proficiency was shown by 30 percent and 31 percent, respectively.

New York state is moving to adopt tests based on new nationwide "common core" standards. Shael Polakow-Suransky, the city Education Department's chief academic officer, told the Times the city has begun an experiment with the new standards in about 100 schools.

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