(The Center Square) – Virginia students posted slight gains in reading and math on Standards of Learning tests this year, while history improved more and some middle school math grades slipped.

Statewide reading and math pass rates each increased 0.4 percentage points during the 2025-26 school year, according to the Virginia Department of Education.

The statewide reading pass rate was 74.5%, while 72.9% of students passed math. History pass rates increased 3.2 percentage points to 69.6%, the largest gain among the four subjects highlighted. Science slipped 0.2 percentage points to 70.9%.

Among students in grades three through eight, 72% passed reading tests and 69% passed math tests.

Math results varied by grade. Pass rates declined 1.45 percentage points in seventh grade and 1 percentage point in eighth grade. State officials said 16% of middle school students took advanced high school math courses instead of grade-level SOL tests, with 95% of those students passing an end-of-course high school math test.

High school students posted higher overall pass rates. About 86% passed end-of-course reading tests, around 85% passed Algebra I, Algebra II or geometry tests and 75% passed end-of-course science tests.

The 2025-26 school year was the last year a score of 400 counted as passing on all SOL tests.

Starting next school year, Virginia will begin raising the score students need on most reading and math tests. The change will be phased in over three years, and students who fall into a new “pass/approaching” category will still count as passing during that transition.

The higher cut scores are expected to be fully in place by 2029-30, except for end-of-course reading, which will take longer.

Results also varied among school divisions.

Fifty-three divisions maintained or improved pass rates in both reading and math. Seventy-two maintained or improved reading results, while 75 maintained or improved math results.

Alleghany Highlands, Giles and Rockingham posted reading gains of at least 5 percentage points. Ten divisions recorded math gains of at least 5 points, including Alexandria, Danville, Fredericksburg and Accomack County.

Long-term results show improvement from pandemic-era lows, but not a full return to earlier performance.

Statewide reading proficiency has increased 5 percentage points since 2020-21, while math has increased 19 points. VDOE reported reading at 74% and math at 73% this year, compared with pre-pandemic rates of 78% and 82%.

Virginia Public Access Project data compiled from state records show the recovery varies by test. Fourth-grade reading, for example, increased from 67.7% in 2020-21 to 73.7% in 2025-26.

Separate school accountability results under Virginia’s School Performance and Support Framework are expected in October.

This post was originally published on The Center Square.