California’s rate of premature births declined a tick in preliminary data from 2011, but is still higher than the March of Dimes goal of 9.6 percent by 2020, the group said in a national report card issued this week.

California earned a “B” grade in the report as its rate declined from 9.9 percent to 9.8 percent in 2011.

California’s rate was bettered only by Oregon, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, according to the March of Dimes.

See the group’s full report here.