Montgomery County elementary and middle school students posted results consistent with their 2009 performance on the state’s standardized math and reading exams, according to results released Tuesday afternoon by the Maryland State Department of Education.

Prince George’s students made strong gains at all but the eighth grade level, especially in reading. Even so, the beleaguered school system and Baltimore City remain among the worst performing districts in the state.

At the fourth-grade level, for example, 91 percent of Montgomery students scored either “proficient” or “advanced” on the math test, equal to 2009 and placing the district 17th of 24 systems in the state. In Prince George’s, 83 percent of fourth graders met the same standard, up from 81 percent in 2009 but still the lowest of the state’s school systems.

By eighth grade, 75 percent of Montgomery students passed the test, up from 74 percent in 2009. In Prince George’s, only 41 percent made the mark, down from 43 percent in 2009.

Howard, Carroll and Calvert counties consistently outperformed Montgomery in reading and math performance, at each grade level.

Statewide, elementary reading pass rates stayed about the same, at 87 percent, while math pass rates bumped up by just over 1 percent to about 87 percent, as well. At the middle school level, both reading and math pass rates improved slightly, to about 83 percent in reading and 73 percent in math.

“Our progress in the classroom has continued, even though it gets more difficult each year as the percentage of students scoring at the proficient levels in elementary school has passed 80 percent in 21 of our counties,” said State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick.