OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska education leaders are already analyzing results from the first wave of Nebraska teacher candidates to take national content tests to get their teaching certificates.

Nebraska was the second-to-last state in the country to adopt the tests, known collectively as Praxis II. More than 2,550 content tests were taken, fielding 40 endorsement areas such as chemistry to generalized endorsements such as elementary education.

Nebraska’s pass rate exceeded the national rate in 27 subjects. On the elementary education test, 726 tests were taken for a 94.4 percent pass rate. The national rate was 92 percent.

State candidates pass rates did dip below the national average in three subject areas: chemistry, speech-language pathology and Spanish.

Nebraska Department of Education officials say pass rates will likely rise over time as candidates and teacher-preparation institutions become more familiar with the tests.