The percentage of freshmen who entered the California State University system ready for college-level mathematics and English remained about the same last fall as the year before, according to a report the system released today.

About 63 percent of the freshmen who entered the system’s 23 campuses last fall demonstrated proficiency in mathematics, a decline of one percentage point from the previous year. In English 55 percent of freshmen were proficient, the same as the year before.

The system’s Board of Trustees had set a goal, in 2004, of having 90 percent of freshmen arriving at Cal State prepared for college-level work in math and in English by the fall of 2007. Cal State officials have acknowledged in recent years that the system will not be able to meet that target.

Cal State officials emphasized that they are putting in place many programs to try to help more students prepare for college. For instance, Cal State has helped to develop an Early Assessment Program that allows high-school juniors to learn whether they are ready for college-level work by answering optional questions on the state’s standardized tests. The assessment’s results for 2004, 2005, and 2006 showed sluggish progress toward the goal.

The system also has integrated training in basic skills development into its teacher-education programs.

“We’re not discouraged,” said Gary Reichard, Cal State’s executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. “We just have a big challenge, and we will keep working on it.”