ST. PAUL — Minnesota students’ performance on standardized proficiency tests held steady or slightly improved this year.

The tests measure students’ ability to meet reading, math and science benchmarks.

The state Department of Education said tests show about 61 percent of students statewide are proficient in math, about the same as last year. Reading rose from 58 percent to 59 percent in 2014 compared to last year. An analysis shows science scores are also up slightly, from 52 percent to 53 percent proficiency.

The biggest increase came in fifth-grade reading, where proficiency climbed 4 percentage points to 68 percent.

Tests also show a sizable achievement gap between minority and white students has not improved.