73.4% of classes now meet state class size requirements, exceeding the state’s 70% target for the 2026-27 school year
133 additional schools have achieved full compliance, doubling the number of schools where every class size meets the state limit
Milestone follows $244 million investment in teacher hiring and $1.5 billion capital funding under the Mamdani administration
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Chancellor Kamar Samuels, alongside School Construction Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Celeste Ramirez, today announced that 73.4% of City public school classes now comply with the state’s class size law, surpassing the state’s 70% target for the 2026-27 school year.
The achievement delivers on a key campaign promise by Mayor Mamdani and marks significant progress toward ensuring every student has the space and individual attention they need to succeed.
An additional 133 schools are now fully compliant with the class size law, doubling the number of schools where every class meets the state limits. More than 640 schools have reached at least 90% compliance, and more than 1,120 schools have reached at least 70% compliance. Meanwhile, the number of schools at or below 50% compliance has fallen by more than 230.
“The days of overcrowded classrooms and students struggling to get the attention of their teachers are coming to an end. Today, we are delivering on our promise to make smaller class sizes a reality for more New York City kids,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Through a $244 million investment in teacher hiring and $1.5 billion in capital funding, we are building the classrooms that every student deserves.”
“I know from my days as a teacher and a school leader that students learn best when instruction is tailored to their unique strengths, needs and goals. Smaller class sizes help make that a reality,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “I am deeply grateful to the Mamdani Administration, the SCA and our labor partners at the UFT and CSA for their collaboration and commitment to this effort, including significant capital and hiring investments from the City. Together, we have reached 73.4% compliance, exceeding the state’s target and making our students’ day-to-day classroom experience more rigorous, engaging and personalized.”
This milestone was made possible by a $244 million investment in teacher hiring in the Mamdani Administration’s budget, alongside $1.5 billion in new capital funding for future class size compliance. This brings the total capital funding dedicated to smaller class sizes to more than $7.6 billion and will create a total of 41,000 seats in smaller classrooms.
Class size compliance increased across every grade band, with the largest gains in middle school, where compliance rose 7.2 percentage points. Compliance increased 6.4 percentage points in fourth and fifth grades, 4.9 percentage points in kindergarten through third grade and 4.8 percentage points in high school.
Among classes that have not yet reached compliance, just over one-third exceed the legal limit by only one to three students. The share of classes exceeding the limit by six or more students has fallen from 17% to 12%. The City achieved this progress without relying on exemptions.
“Smaller class sizes mean more opportunities for students to receive individual attention, build meaningful relationships with their teachers, and get the support they need to succeed,” said School Construction Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Celeste A. Ramirez. “At the School Construction Authority, we are proud to be a partner in this historic effort, working closely with the Mayor and NYC Public Schools to identify and maximize space, create new classrooms, and make strategic investments in our school buildings. Surpassing the State’s 70 percent compliance threshold is an important milestone, but our work is far from finished. We remain committed to delivering safe, modern and welcoming learning environments that give every New York City student the space and opportunity to reach their full potential.”
“We are getting closer to every New York City student getting the benefit of being in a smaller class. Students, parents, and educators all say the difference is exhilarating. Students love the additional individualized attention. Educators love having more opportunities to forge the personal connections with students that are the foundation for all learning, “ said United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew.
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