The overwhelming majority of Georgia's high school juniors passed the state graduation test this spring. But some students — particularly blacks and Hispanics — are lagging far behind peers, according to state scores released Friday.

Public school students must pass all sections of the Georgia High School Graduation Test — which assesses skills in math, English, science and social studies — before they can graduate.

In recent years, most have passed the exam on their first try, and this year proved no different, as 91 percent of juniors tested passed social studies, 95 percent passed math, 98 percent passed English and 78 percent passed science. The percentage of students passing science and social studies is up 2 points over last year, while the percentage for math and English held steady.

But some kids struggled.

Overall, blacks and Hispanics failed the exams in greater numbers than whites and Asians. For example, in science — typically the toughest subject — 80 percent of white students and 77 percent of Asian students passed, while only 51 percent of black students and 54 percent of Hispanics earned passing scores.

State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox acknowledged the disparity in a prepared statement.

"... If we continue down the path of high expectations for all students," she said, "then that gap will get smaller and smaller."