New Mexico boys are falling behind girls in academic achievement.
The state Public Education Department has found that girls are graduating from high school at a higher rate statewide than their male counterparts.
The graduation rate for girls in 2013 was 74.9 percent, compared with 65.9 percent for boys.
Furthermore, the report has found that girls scored 9.9 percentage points above boys in reading on the most recent standardized test. The two groups were about the same in math.
School officials at the local level say they are trying to find ways to address the gap, especially among boys who are also minorities.
Experts say classroom behavioral policies and cultural norms likely have contributed to the gender disparity.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com
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