Virginia outperforms most states on national science tests

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia students performed better on a national science exam than their peers in most other states.

The Virginia Department of Education says that 50 percent of Virginia fourth graders met or exceeded the proficiency standard on the 2015 national science tests compared to 37 percent of fourth graders nationwide.

Among eighth grade students, 40 percent of Virginia students met or exceeded proficiency. That's compared to 33 percent of eighth graders nationwide.

Education officials say the state made no significant progress last year in closing the achievement gap between black and Hispanic students and white students. More than 50 percent of white eighth graders met or exceeded proficiency compared to just 14 percent of black students and 23 percent of Hispanic students.