In a significant academic stride, Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos have shared some heartening tidings with the release of the state's test scores which reveal notable improvements in reading and math proficiency among New York City's public school students in grades 3 through 8. According to the released data for the 2024-2025 school year, the percentage of students achieving proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) has shot up by 7.2 points, marking a climb from 49.1 percent to 56.3 percent. In the number-crunching realm of math, proficiency has ticked up by 3.5 points, from 53.4 percent to a neat 56.9 percent. NYC Mayor's Office notes these reflect the highest figures since 2012.
Mayor Adams is not holding back his enthusiasm, and why should he? "These academic gains in English Language Arts and math are a testament to what’s possible when we invest in our young people and believe in their potential, and we are proud of our students, teachers, and the entire school community," he remarked, projecting an optimistic future for further educational achievements, as per the NYC Mayor's Office. The success streak isn't just confined to a few grades. Across the board, scores have seen a surge, but grades 3 and 5 in ELA have bagged the imprescriptibly largest gains.
With the city rolling out NYC Reads across the districts, the program's emphasis on evidence-based practices and instructional consistency has paid dividends. Schools that have been partaking in NYC Reads Phase 1 for a duo of years have witnessed an ELA increase of 11.6 percent in grades 3-5, outshining the 10.4 percent increase seen in Phase 2 schools just coming aboard. Aviles-Ramos lauded the results, affirming that "The gains we’re seeing are proof that initiatives like NYC Reads and NYC Solves are delivering for our children. We are closing gaps, raising achievement in every borough, and making sure more students than ever are on track for long-term success," as noted by the NYC Mayor's Office.
And let's not overlook the smaller, yet equally pivotal, indicator of progress – the K-5 academic screener results which have displayed accelerated growth in percentage terms compared to the previous year. These positive outcomes are synchronous with, and perhaps a straightforward spin-off from, the commendable gamut of educational policies including dyslexia screenings and the expansion of Gifted and Talented programs implemented under the Adams administration. 2025 saw the introduction of seven new schools and a job-finding bonanza for over 8,600 students through FutureReadyNYC, not to mention additional investments to the tune of $167 million for early childhood education and collaborative contracts to reduce class sizes.
This trajectory of educational excellence, as it would appear, cements Mayor Adams' and Chancellor Aviles-Ramos' commitment to the academic fortification an enhancement of New York City's public schools. The strategic expansion of NYC Reads and NYC Solves is now set to touch the lives of over 490,000 students, further anchoring the foundation laid by the pair's first two years in office. "This is what happens when we stay focused on evidence-based instruction and never lose sight of what’s possible for our young people," the chancellor added in a statement obtained by the NYC Mayor's Office.
