MORGANTOWN, W.V. (AP) - West Virginia's fourth- and eighth-graders are doing slightly better than they were two years ago in both reading and math, but their scores remain below the national averages.

That's according to report cards released Tuesday by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Overall, fourth-graders showed a 1 percent improvement in reading proficiency and a 3 percent improvement in math since 2009.

Eighth-graders showed about a 2 percent increase in both subjects.

State Superintendent of Schools Jorea Marple says increases in the average math score for both grades signal the start of solid improvement under a revamped curriculum.

The report also says that in all four categories, black students scored 8-19 points lower than white students, while low-income students scored 17-21 points lower than those not receiving free or reduced lunch.

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