MALDEN, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts education officials say the state’s black public high school students are outperforming their peers nationwide when it comes to the SAT.

Black students made strong gains in all three subjects in 2010 when compared with 2009, including an eight-point gain in critical reading, a nine-point gain in mathematics, and a seven-point gain in writing.

The math and writing gains outpaced national gains and means African-American students on average now outscore their peers nationally in both sections of the college entrance exam.

The result released by The College Board on Monday also show that Massachusetts scored 524 in math, an increase of two points from 2009, outscoring all other states where at least 60 percent of public school students participated.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.