NYC Students Show Slight Improvement in Standardized Test Scores Amid Persistent Disparities

Over 40% of elementary students in New York City failed the state’s standardized reading and math assessments this year, though some progress was noted in the results released Monday.

The percentage of students meeting proficiency standards increased across grades 3-8. In English Language Arts (ELA), 56.3% of students passed, marking a 7.2-point rise from last year. Math scores also improved, with 56.9% of students reaching proficiency, up 3.5 points from 2024.

Significant gains were observed in specific grades, notably a 12.9 percentage point increase in Grade 3 ELA and a 15-point jump in Grade 6 scores. These improvements outpaced state averages, which saw the overall proficiency rate for grades 3-8 rise from 46% to 53% in ELA, and from 52% to 55% in math.

City officials praised the efforts, citing programs like “NYC Reads” and “NYC Solves” as key contributors to student progress. Mayor Eric Adams highlighted that these results reflect investments in early literacy and math education, asserting that these initiatives are helping more students stay on track for future success.

However, disparities persist among different racial and ethnic groups. For example, proficiency rates are highest among Asian (75%) and white (73%) students, compared to 47% of Black and 43.5% of Hispanic students. Similar patterns appear in math scores, with Asian (80.8%) and white (75%) students outperforming Black and Hispanic peers (both around 43%).

Experts note that while city scores are encouraging, broader national comparisons via the “National Assessment of Educational Progress” indicate ongoing challenges, with many students still falling short in math and reading. Critics argue that external benchmarks might better reflect students’ academic standing across the country.