The Vermont Education Agency says students across the state are showing progress in meeting science literacy goals, but work remains to be done.
The science tests using the New England Common Assessment Program Testing were conducted this spring on students in grades 4, 8 and 11.
The test is designed to check students' skills and knowledge that combines factual information from biological, physical and earth and space science with other thinking abilities.
The results found that 47 percent of Vermont fourth graders scored as proficient or higher in science, down six percentage points from last year's level.
In grade 8, 32 percent were proficient or higher, up two percentage points from 2012.
In grade 11, 31 percent were proficient or higher, down two percentage points from 2012.
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