Gains in math by black students have helped Nebraska shrug off an unflattering national ranking.
The math achievement gap between black and white eighth-graders has narrowed since 2007, when it ranked widest among the 50 states, according to national test scores released this morning.
"We closed the gap more significantly than any other state but West Virginia," said Ted Larson, Nebraska's coordinator for the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
The state's math gap for eighth-graders is now fifth-widest behind Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and California.
It's moving in the right direction, Larson said. "This is tremendously good news for Nebraska."
White eighth-grade students scored an average of 291 on the 500-point test. Blacks scored 253, and Hispanics 262.
The Nebraska average was 284, two points higher than the nation and the same as two years ago.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress, an offshoot of the U.S. Department of Education, periodically tests the country's students on math, reading, writing, history and other subjects.
About 2,700 Nebraska eighth-graders from 115 schools took the math test in January through March of this year.
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