CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming students improved their scores on an eighth-grade national science exam from 2009 to 2011.

Wyoming students had an average score of 160 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress science test in 2011, compared to 158 in 2009.

The increase is considered significant.

Wyoming's students beat the national average of 151.

The Associated Press reports  that only students in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and New Hampshire ranked ahead of Wyoming.

Wyoming scored higher than 36 states and was on par with 10.

On the 2011 test, 37 percent of Wyoming students scored proficient, while 1 percent achieved an advanced score. The rest fell in the basic category.

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