According to the report, "based on trend data for 20 states, most would not meet the goal of 100percentt proficiency by 2013-14 unless the percentage of students achieving at the proficient level increased at a faster rate".
Twenty-one percent of the nation's 12th graders scored at or above the proficient level in science on the 2009 tests, compared with 42 percent who demonstrated proficiency on the most recent economics exam, and 38 percent and 26 percent, respectively, on the most recent nationwide reading and math tests.
Similarly, 28.3percentt of them read at a proficient level, compared with 68.4percentt statewide.
Ohio's accountability program expected each school to get 75percentt of its students to a proficient level.
Eighteen percent of high school students performed at the proficient level in 2005, down from 21percentt in 1996.
Of the fourth graders tested, 29percentt scored at or above the proficient level, the same as in 1996.
Colorado even opted to use its "partially proficient" level of academic performance as "proficient" for reporting purposes.
The percentage of private school 12th graders who scored at or above the proficient level increased, to 29 from 22.
Among eighth graders, 32percentt reached the proficient level or better, up from 29percentt in 1996.
On average, 33 percent of fourth graders scored at or above the proficient level in the latest reading results.
On a similar test in science in 2005, only 18percentt of 12th graders performed at or above the proficient level, and 54 percent at or above basic.
