Two reports on student performance released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Education show gains in some areas and declines in others, particularly civics.

"The Nation's Report Card: U.S. History 2006" was released in Boston by the department's National Center for Education Statistics, and compares performance levels of fourth-, eighth- and 12th-graders in history compared with the last assessment in 2001.

Overall achievement improved significantly at all grade levels in history studies.

However, in the Civics 2006 assessment, overall scores at the fourth-grade level also increased significantly in civics, while little change was seen at the other two higher levels.

Charles Quigley, executive director of the Center for Civic Education, bemoaned the civics ratings overall in a release.

"Our system of public education was founded with the twin goals of preparing each generation for the workplace and active citizenship," Quigley said. "Today's report demonstrates we have lost sight of educating the citizen in favor of concentrating on preparing the worker."