High school seniors still have low reading scores

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40257030/ns/us_news-life/

By CHRISTINE ARMARIO
The Associated Press
updated 11/18/2010 1:03:17 PM ET 2010-11-18T18:03:17

MIAMI — A national education assessment released Thursday shows that high school seniors have made some improvement in reading, but remain below the achievement levels reached nearly two decades ago.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, referred to at the Nation's Report Card, tested 52,000 students in reading and 49,000 in math across 1,670 school districts in 2009.

Students scored an average of 288 out of 500 points in reading comprehension, two points above the 2005 score but still below the 1992 average of 292. Thirty-eight percent of 12th grade students were classified as at or above the "proficient" level, while 74 percent were considered at or above "basic."

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