LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska public school students showed improvement on this year’s statewide proficiency tests in reading, writing and math, but held steady in science.

The state Department of Education released its results Tuesday from the annual Nebraska State Accountability exams.

The report says 80 percent of students were deemed proficient this year, up from 77 percent in 2014.

In math, 72 percent of students were proficient compared to 71 percent the previous year.

In writing, 72 percent were declared proficient compared to 68 percent in 2013. The 2014 writing results weren’t counted because technology problems rendered them invalid.

Science scores were unchanged, with 72 percent of students considered proficient.

State Education Commissioner Matt Blomstedt says parents and the public should consider the results over time, rather than in a single year.