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Girls Beat Boys at Tech and Engineering

In first national test for 8th graders.

In a federally administered test of technology and engineering abilities, girls outperformed boys in the U.S., based on results released Tuesday. Eighth-grade students in both private and public schools received the National Assessment of Educational Progress in 2014, and 45 percent of girls scored proficient on the exam. Only 42 percent of boys achieved the same level. The study measured communication and collaboration skills, an understanding of technological principles, and the ability to design solutions. In addition to the gender divide, significant gaps were present in terms of socioeconomic status and achievement. Only 25 percent of the students who receive a free or reduced-price lunch scored at a proficient level—59 percent of affluent students reached the same level. That same pattern reportedly exists in standardized tests.