MILWAUKEE -- The number of Wisconsin schools that didn't meet standards set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act dropped from 156 to 148 this year.

Four entire districts -- Beloit, Kenosha, Manitowoc and Milwaukee -- also made the list released Tuesday by the state Department of Public Instruction for not meeting the standards.

The more serious ranking of "schools identified for improvement" included 79 schools and the Milwaukee and Beloit districts. They made the list for failing to make adequate progress in the same category for the second year and could face sanctions.

The number of schools with the more serious ranking was 56 last year, but each year the standards get more strict. The law requires every student to read and do math at grade level by 2014.

There are 2,269 public schools in Wisconsin.