Michigan's public elementary and middle school students have improved their reading scores on standardized tests. The scores released Friday are from Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests given to third- through ninth-graders in the fall of 2009.

Statewide reading scores improved at every grade level. The state said 90 percent of third graders met or exceeded proficiency standards while 82 percent of seventh graders met standards. Results in other academic subjects were mixed or down slightly.

Math scores improved in lower grade levels but slipped for seventh- and eighth-graders. Only 70 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient or above.

Science and social studies scores declined slightly.

A five-year comparison of MEAP reading scores show students in all grades and student groups made gains in reading from 2005 to 2009. Only one group, Limited English Proficient students in fourth grade, showed a slight decline.

The reading achievement gap between white students and students of color narrowed, especially for third, sixth and eighth grade students from 2005 to 2009. The largest decrease for both groups occurred in eighth grade where the achievement gap between white and African-American students was closed from 26.4 percentage points in 2005 to 10.4 in 2009. The gap between white and Hispanic eighth grade students declined from 21.5 percentage points in 2005 to 11.1 in 2009.

A five-year comparison of MEAP math scores also reveals students in all grades and all student groups showed gains. The largest proficiency gains occurred in grade seven were African-American, Hispanic, and Economically Disadvantaged students and Students With Disabilities increased 30 percentage points or more.

The math achievement gap between white students and students of color narrowed by over 10 percentage points for students in most grades from 2005 to 2009. The largest decrease for both groups occurred in seventh grade where the achievement gap between white and African-American students was cut from 41 percentage points in 2005 to 25 percentage points in 2009. The gap between white and Hispanic seventh grade students reduced from 27.1 percentage points in 2005 to 12.3 in 2009.

TO SEE HOW YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT SCORED GO TO www.michigan.gov/mde

SOURCES: Michigan Dept. of Education and the Associated Press