ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  -- About 2,500 of New York's public and charter schools -- including hundreds in New York City -- have shown test scores that rose to meet state standards or are rapidly improving in most academic areas.

List of High Performing Schools (pdf)

The schools had been underperforming and often reflected an achievement gap between poor and wealthier districts.

List of Rapidly Improving Schools (pdf)

In New York City, 328 schools were deemed ``high performing/gap closing'' schools and 161 schools were considered ``rapidly improving.'' That's almost twice the number last year.

Statewide, the state Board of Regents is identifying 1,759 traditional public schools, 19 charter schools and 288 school districts as meeting state math and English standards during 2006-2007 and making notable progress for at least two straight years.

Another 373 schools, 10 charter schools and 62 school districts are still below standards in at least one area, but are considered ``rapidly improving.''

It is the third year the number of underperforming schools improved enough to join one of the lists. More than twice as many schools closed the achievement gap this year than in 2006. The trend holds even though schools had to do better each year to make the categories.

``It is encouraging that half of New York's eligible schools have shown the kind of progress needed for them to be recognized today,'' said state Education Commissioner Richard Mills. ``The Regents will continue to take aggressive action to ensure that every student in every school has a chance to succeed.''

The regents have required testing as a gauge of student performance then set standards and required schools to meet them.