After years of efforts to reduce youth smoking, little progress has been made, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Conrtol and Prevention.

One in five high schooler is still smoking.

Smoking among high school student began to decline across the country in the late 1990s, the CDC said. But the rate of decline slowed from 2003 to 2009, according to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The rate slowed for all racial/ethnic groups.

This means the country has not met its 2010 goal of reducing cigarette use among high school students to 16 percent or less.

"Although 4 of 5 don't smoke, it's discouraging to see that current smoking did not continue to decline more rapidly among youth," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden in a statement. "Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in this country and 9 out of 10 adults started smoking in their teens or earlier. The slow progress since 2003 tells us that much more needs to be done to reduce youth smoking."

The CDC called for a renewed push to curb teen smoking. Officials said effective strategies include expanded mass media campaigns, less tobacco advertising, promotions, reduced availability of tobacco products, tobacco-free environments, programs that promote changes in school norms and higher tobacco taxes.