Despite gains made over the last seven years, Los Angeles Unified's fourth- and eighth-graders are still among the nation's worst readers, with test scores that lag behind most major urban districts, according to a report released Thursday.

The Nation's Report Card, released by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, shows that LAUSD scored behind those in New York, Chicago and Boston - but ahead of Detroit - on tests that measure reading comprehension, retention and vocabulary.

LAUSD officials acknowledged the need to improve