Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak said Tuesday that only 36 percent of 11th-graders scored at grade level on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment science test.
The science test was given in the spring to students in grades four, eight and 11.
The PSSA has tested students in math, reading and writing since 2002.
Eighty-two percent of fourth-graders and 53 percent of eighth-graders scored at grade level on the science test.
Zahorchak says the 11th-grade scores show that Pennsylvania needs to apply more rigorous statewide graduation standards.
On the Net:
State science test results: CLICK HERE
