Only 37 percent of high school seniors are prepared for college coursework in reading and math, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
The results of testing by the group show that reading scores have essentially stayed the same since 2013, and math scores are down slightly.
At the same time, high school graduation rates are rising. In 2014, 82 percent of students graduated on time.
But the recent data shows that the majority of students would have to take remedial coursework in college in order to catch up. That means that students have to spend money for classes that likely won't count toward their degrees.
The data has raised some concerns that a high school diploma isn't as valuable as it once was.
However, the results account for scores only in reading and math, and a much broader set of courses is needed to earn a diploma.
Also, the scores are based on tests given on a single day, so it could be argued that a high school diploma is a better measure of achievement over time, experts say.
That doesn't change the fact that reading and math scores are lacking, especially in the lowest-performing groups, according to the experts. Students on the low end of the testing saw scores drop compared to 2013.
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