Tougher Science Requirements Do Not Guarantee Higher Science Knowledge
More Does Not Mean Better
A new report from the Consortium on Chicago School Research shows the act of increasing graduation requirements in science for high school students does not necessarily help them grow their science knowledge.
In 1997, the Chicago Public School District increased the science requirement to graduate from one year of science to three.
The policy change was in response to CPS graduates not taking enough courses to prepare them for college and to respond to the overall concern in America that students fall behind other nations in math and science.
The new policy did increase students’ science coursework. Before the change, less than half passed three or more college-prep science courses. After the change, almost all graduates passed at least three full-year science classes.
Students headed to college and earning B averages or higher, were more likely to take three years of science and succeed in them, but only 19 percent of students were in this category. That left 5 out of 6 students earning C’s or lower and graduation rates also declined after the new policy went into effect.
Although more science classes were
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