Vermont Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe calls closing gender and income gaps in state testing "a critical state priority."
The results for public school students in third through eighth grade and in 11th grade were released Thursday in reading, writing and math.
According to the data, 71 percent of Vermont students are considered proficient in reading through the New England Common Assessment Program testing, and 67 percent are considered proficient in math.
Holcombe, speaking at a news conference at the Barre City Elementary and Middle School, notes there were gaps in achievement for both male students and students receiving free or reduced lunch.
Next year, Vermont will be switching to a new computer-based test called the Smarter Balance Assessment system.
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