MAYOR DE BLASIO AND CHANCELLOR FARIÑA ANNOUNCE CONTINUING GAINS FOR NYC STUDENTS ON STATE EXAMS

Since 2013, English proficiency has increased by 54 percent and math proficiency has increased by 27 percent

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña today announced New York City students’ gains on State English and math exams. In 2017, 40.6 percent of students met proficiency standards in English, a 2.6 point increase from 38.0 percent last year. City students outperformed their New York State peers in English for the first time last year, and widened the gap with this year’s results. 37.8 percent of students met the standards in math, a 1.3 point increase from 36.4 percent last year. New York City students’ proficiency in both subjects improved across all ethnic groups. Since 2013, the percentage of students proficient in English in New York City has increased by 54 percent. The percentage of students proficient in math has increased by 27 percent. 

“These improvements over the past four years represent painstaking work – student by student, classroom by classroom, and school by school. It’s steady progress towards a stronger and fairer system for all,” saidMayor Bill de Blasio. “We are focused on building on these gains and others – such as the highest-ever high school graduation rate – to deliver equity and excellence for every public school student across the City, no matter their zip code.”

“Our students’ performance on these exams represents sustained growth across every demographic group and every borough, and it’s one more measure on which New York City schools are the strongest they’ve ever been,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “It’s important to celebrate our progress – and thank the educators and school staff, parents and families, and students themselves who made this possible – but we need to keep making progress and pushing towards equity and excellence for all students. We’re hard at work building on our progress to do even better for our students, families, and the City’s future.”

Additional Key Findings

• For the 4th year in the row, English results improved in each of the City’s 32 Community School Districts across all five boroughs.
• Last year, for the first time since standardized testing was put in place for all grades in 2006, New York City students eliminated the gap with their New York State peers in English. This year, City students widened the gap with their New York State peers on the English exam, and now outperform them by 1.4 points.
• New York City students also slightly outgained their New York State peers in math, shrinking the gap from 4.8 points to 4.2 points. 
• Renewal Schools made outsized gains in English and math – 3.2 percentage points compared to the citywide increase of 2.6 points in English, and 1.5 points compared to the citywide increase of 1.3 points in math.
• About 3.0 percent of New York City students opted out of English exams and 3.5 percent opted out of math. A total of 17,234 students, or 4.0 percent, out of either exam. Statewide, 19 percent of students opted out of the testing process.  

The sustained progress on State exam results across every single year of this administration reflects unprecedented investments in Equity and Excellence for All at New York City schools, including in leadership and professional development.

In 2014, all superintendents were required to re-apply for their jobs to ensure the strongest leaders were in place, and exam results improved across all 32 of the Community Superintendents’ districts in English, and in 27 districts in math. Since 2014, the City has also made strengthening instruction through high-quality, Common Core-aligned professional development and educator resources a priority, including adding 80 minutes of high-quality professional development each week for teachers across all subjects. 

Overall Results by Grade:

English
Grade	2017 # Tested	% 2017 L3+4	% 2016 L3+4	Pct Point Diff.
3	68406	42.6	40.9	1.7
4	69941	42	41.4	0.6
5	67157	36.1	34.1	2
6	64965	32.3	34.7	-2.4
7	63681	43.3	36	7.3
8	63298	47.5	40.5	7
All	397448	40.6	38	2.6

Math
	Grade	2017 # Tested	% 2017 L3+4	% 2016L3+4	Pct Point Diff.
	3	70040	46	41	5
	4	71436	40	41.4	-1.6
	5	68373	40.8	37.5	3.3
	6	66288	36.1	36.9	-0.8
	7	64505	35.9	34	1.9
	8	53102	24.2	25	-0.8
	All	393744	37.8	36.4	1.3

NOTE: A change in State testing policy, starting in 2014, has driven a decrease in eighth grade proficiency rates. To reduce double testing, most students in accelerated math who took the Algebra Regents exam are exempt from taking the 8th grade State math assessment.

In 2017, 19,485 8^th-graders took the June Algebra Regents, a 15 percent increase from 2016, when 16,972 8^th-graders took the exam.

Overall Results by Demographic:

English
Subgroup	2017 # Tested	% 2017 L3+4	% 2016 L3+4	Pct Point Diff.
Asian	71739	61	58.8	2.2
Black	90316	28.9	26.6	2.3
Hispanic	163590	29.7	27.2	2.4
White	63800	61	58.9	2.2
Current ELL	48169	5.6	4.4	1.2
Ever ELL	59652	49.1	43.2	5.9
SWD	83986	10.7	9.3	1.3

Math
	2017 # Tested	% 2017 L3+4	% 2016L3+4	Pct Point Diff.
Asian	71285	67.8	67.2	0.7
Black	88.22	20.7	20	0.7
Hispanic	164130	25.3	24.3	1
White	62391	59	57.8	1.2
Current ELL	57612	14.7	13	1.7
Ever ELL	57293	49.7	46.8	2.9
SWD	82675	11.8	11.4	0.4

EDITOR'S NOTE:

If you look at columns two and three you will notice that L 3 + L 4 are only listed. There are four levels that the state testing places students. 

Level 4 is the highest level noting above average grade work

Level 3 ranges from average to above average.

Level 2 ranges from below passing to slightly below average.

Level 1 is all students who are not passing.  

Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor where are the figures for Level 1 and Level 2 students?

These are poor results of fifteen years of Mayoral control with the same results if not lower results if School Boards still existed. That was what the United Federation of Teachers said to former Mayor Bloomberg for ten years. What changed the mind of Mr. Michael Mulgrew and the UFT? 

A new hefty contract when Bill de Blasio became mayor.