Virginia 4th-Graders' Reading, Math Skills Improve

A national assessment shows Virginia fourth-graders' reading and math skills are continuing to improve.

The 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress shows that 43 percent of fourth-graders met or exceeded the assessment's reading proficiency standard. That's up from 39 percent in 2011 and 38 percent in 2009.

Fourth-graders' math skills also improved. Forty-seven percent met or exceeded the proficiency standard in 2013, compared to 46 percent in 2011 and 43 percent in 2009.

Eighth-graders' reading proficiency was unchanged from 2011 as 36 percent met or exceeded the proficiency standard. Thirty-two percent met or exceeded the standard in 2009.

Eighth-graders' math proficiency declined from 40 percent meeting or exceeding the standard in 2011 to 38 percent in 2013. Thirty-six percent met or exceeded the standard in 2009.