Education & Kids

Report: NY’s 4th-, 8th-graders scores up slightly

November 7, 2013 By Carolyn Thompson Associated Press
Screen Shot 2013-11-07 at 11.03.01 AM.png
Screen Shot 2013-11-07 at 11.03.01 AM.png
Share this:

A national report card shows New York students are doing slightly better on math and reading tests than they were two years ago and about average when compared with the rest of the country.

Even with the gains, well under half of the state’s fourth- and eighth-graders are considered proficient in the subjects, and achievement gaps remain between white students and minority students.

The nation’s report card, released Thursday by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, shows that 40 percent of New York fourth-grade students and 32 percent of eighth-grade students scored high enough to be considered proficient in math. In reading, 37 percent of fourth-grade students and 35 percent of eighth-grade students met that benchmark.

Subscribe to our newsletters

The percentage of white students who demonstrated solid academic performance was more than double that of black and Hispanic students across the board. Girls had better results than boys in reading, while boys did better than girls in math.

The findings are based on assessments given earlier this year and unrelated to the standardized math and English tests administered by the state each spring.

The last report card, in 2011, had 36 percent of New York fourth-graders and 30 percent of eighth-graders proficient in math, and 35 percent of both fourth- and eighth-graders proficient in reading.

New York’s performance generally mirrors the national trend. The NAEP said overall scores showed some improvement among fourth- and eighth-grade students in math and among eighth-grade students in reading.

“Today’s results give me hope, as more students are performing at or above the proficient level — which tells me that they are demonstrating competency over challenging subject matter when it comes to math and reading,” said David Driscoll, chair of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees NAEP.

New York, along with most other states, have adopted more difficult Common Core learning standards meant to improve their readiness for college or a job after graduation.


Leave a Comment

Related Articles

Leave a Comment