D.C. public schools reported record-high test scores this year, though the city still falls behind the national average, according to a report released Wednesday.

The District’s increase in test scores, which measure the math and reading abilities of fourth and eighth graders, outpaced all other urban school districts. D.C. public schools tied or beat many major cities in the assessment including Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia and Cleveland.

DCPS spokeswoman Melissa Salmanowitz said the “tremendous gains” were due to a focus on supporting teachers, “raising the bar for students,” and prioritizing professional development.

But its overall score was several points below the national average and the District still has a stark gap between the scores of white and minority students.

Black students scored 59 points lower than white students, only a one point improvement from a decade ago, while Hispanic students scored 51 points lower than white students.

And the gap between the District’s highest and lowest performing students has actually widened since 2003.

Still, Mayor Vincent Gray touted the results are proof that the District is “on the right track.”

“The strategies we’ve employed to improve public education in the District are bearing fruit,” Gray said in a release.