More New Mexico public schools have been graded "A'' or "B'' but over a third still received "D'' or "F'' grades.
The Public Education Department released Wednesday new grades that showed a 7 percent jump in the number of schools getting an A or B. Meanwhile, records also show "D'' or "F'' schools dropped 2 percent.
Still, 315 of the state's 849 public schools received a "D'' or "F."
Albuquerque Public Schools, the state's largest school district, saw more than 40 percent of its schools drop at least one letter grade. Only 14 percent of Albuquerque schools went up.
School grades are based on student proficiency and growth on test scores.
Education Secretary Hanna Skandera says the grades show New Mexico schools "are rising."
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