12th-grade math, reading scores not good

No one can reasonably doubt that educators across the United States are working very hard to help America’s children learn the many things they need to learn to prepare for life after graduation.

Still, the latest news is not good.

Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, tests administered last year to high school seniors were released on Wednesday, and they were not encouraging.

They showed that math scores for these near-graduation students declined since 2013, and there was no improvement in reading scores.

NAEP scores are often referred to as the nation’s report card.

Math performance on the 2015 tests, administered in both public and private schools, showed only 25 percent of high school seniors rated as proficient or better. The reading results showed that 37 percent of students performed at or above the level deemed proficient.

The news puts a damper on a report late last year that said on-time high school graduation rates nationwide have hit a record high of 82 percent.

The combination suggests that more kids are getting their high-school diplomas, but poor math and reading skills may mean they are not fully prepared for college-level courses or for 21st-century job training.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 5:54 PM with the headline "12th-grade math, reading scores not good."