PHYSICS is essential for college & career
readiness. Thus many more high school students
should take physics. Nationwide, almost 40% do
(up from 20% in the 1980s). Below are quotes
from research.
Suggestion: Forward this to high school physics
teachers and/or school counselors in your town.
-- Jane Jackson
The ACT policy platform: K-12 (2013) states (on page 8):
ACT research has demonstrated the benefits to
student academic performance of a minimum core
curriculum that includes the following: ... Three
years of science, including rigorous courses in
Biology, Chemistry, and PHYSICS [MY CAPS] ...
Specifically:
* Students who take the ACT-recommended core
curriculum in high school achieve higher ACT
scores than those who do not. Compared to
graduates who do not take the core curriculum,
graduates who take the core curriculum earn
composite ACT scores that are, on average, three
points higher. ...
* Compared to high school graduates who do not
take the recommended core curriculum, graduates
who take the core are more likely to be ready for
workforce training programs.
Š students who take an upper-level sequence of
science courses that includes Physics are
substantially more likely to reach the College
Readiness Benchmark in Science (24) than students
who took only Biology and Chemistry or less.
(ACT 2006, p. 3. 45% are ready vs ~20%)
files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED493179.pdf
We find that the number of years of a science or
math subject taken in high school is associated
with significant increases in STEM career
interest, with results differing by subject.
Taking AP courses in science or calculus appear
to have no significant impact on STEM career
interest over that of other advanced, non-AP
courses. Taking calculus, a second year of
chemistry, or one or two years of physics all
predict large increases in STEM career interest.
Additional years in biology and other subjects
show no such relationship.
-- Philip M. Sadler et al. (2014). Science
Educator, Vol.23, No.1, pp. 1-13. See Fig. 3.
nsela.org/images/stories/scienceeducator/Summer2014/Sadler_231.pdf
... students in the highest levels (Physics I and
Chemistry II or Physics II) are significantly
more likely than students in the Chemistry I only
group to obtain a baccalaureate degree in a STEM
major. Š This finding may also suggest that
Physics I, Physics I with Honors, AP Physics B,
or AP Physics C are higher level courses than
comparable Chemistry I courses ...
-- Will Tyson et al., (2007). Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Pathways: High School Science and Math Coursework
and Postsecondary Degree Attainment, Journal of
Education for Students Placed at Risk, Vol. 12,
No. 3, pp. 243-270.
Physics is a gateway course for post-secondary
study in science, medicine, and engineering, as
well as an essential component in the formation
of students' scientific literacy.
-- Position Statement of the National Alliance
of Black School Educators (2012)
Interactive engagement high school physics
programs (e.g., Modeling Instruction) are
associated with an increase in the number of
students who intend to major in STEM, compared to
lecture-based physics. They are highest in the
world in science literacy.
-- TIMSS Physics Achievement Comparison Study
(2000. Table 15: 47% intend, vs 32% in USA. Table
A4: 595 mean literacy score, vs 480 in USA)
modeling.asu.edu/Evaluations/TIMSS_NSFphysicsStudy99.pdf