In 8th grade, students in the United States typically do not take a formal physics class. Instead, they often engage in introductory science courses that may include basic physics concepts. These courses are designed to provide a foundational understanding of scientific principles, including some physics topics, but they are not specifically labeled as "physics" classes. According to the National Science Education Standards, 8th-grade students should be introduced to the nature of science, scientific inquiry, and basic scientific concepts across various disciplines, including physics.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that in 2019, approximately 89% of 8th-grade students in the U.S. were enrolled in a science course that included physics-related content. This content is often integrated into broader science curricula, such as Earth science, life science, or physical science. For instance, students might learn about forces and motion, simple machines, and energy transfer, which are foundational physics concepts.

The reason for this approach is to ensure a comprehensive understanding of science without overwhelming students with the complexities of physics at an early age. Physics is a highly specialized and challenging field, and introducing it in a more advanced format might be premature for many 8th graders. By incorporating physics concepts into broader science courses, educators can help students develop a foundational understanding of scientific principles that will serve them as they progress through higher grades.

Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in science indicates that students who have been exposed to a more integrated approach to science, including physics concepts, tend to perform better on standardized science assessments. For example, a study published in the "Journal of Research in Science Teaching" found that students who took an integrated science course, which included physics, scored higher on science achievement tests than those who took a traditional, discipline-specific science course.

In conclusion, while 8th-grade students in the United States do not typically take a dedicated physics class, they are introduced to foundational physics concepts through integrated science courses. This approach is designed to provide a broad understanding of scientific principles without the complexities of physics at an early age, and it has been shown to be effective in preparing students for future science education.