JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a not-so rosy report card for the nation’s schoolchildren.

Math scores slipped for fourth and eighth graders over the last two years, and reading grades were not much better — flat for fourth graders and lower for eighth graders. That’s according to the 2015 Nation’s Report Card.

The results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress exam suggest students have a ways to go to demonstrate a solid grasp or mastery in reading and math.

Only about a third of the nation’s eighth-graders were at proficient or above in math and reading. Among fourth graders, the results were slightly better in reading and in math — about two in five scored proficient or above.

The report also found a continuing achievement gap between white and black students.