New York City Public Schools Celebrate Positive Trajectory in 2023 ELA and Math Results

  • Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023

New York City, NY – Today, New York City Public Schools unveiled the outcomes from the 2023 math and ELA assessments. The data reveals promising growth trends, and progress towards eliminating achievement gaps.    

The 2023 assessments underwent a realignment to new standards. This adjustment means results from 2022 and 2023 aren't directly comparable. However, despite these changes, the ELA scores have displayed an impressive upward trajectory. The percentage of students achieving proficiency rose from 49.0% in 2022 to 51.7% in 2023. Even more encouraging is the surge in math scores, which increased substantially from 37.9% in 2022 to 49.9% in 2023.   

“These results are extremely encouraging. Under the first year of this administration, we’re seeing more of our students on grade level and meeting the State’s learning standards, with significant gains in math and increases in ELA as well,” said Schools Chancellor David C. Banks. “We also saw proficiency growth among the students we have historically let down: students of color, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities. These results tell us: we’re on the right track. We are making strides in our recovery from the pandemic, and we are going to build on this success this year and beyond.”  

A summary of the State test results and data is available online here.  

Progress in closing the achievement gap is evident. The disparity between Black and White students in ELA has seen a decline, with Black students increasing proficiency by 13.8 percent in math and 4.5 percent in ELA, reducing the gap with White students by 2.1 percent and 2.2 percent respectively.   

A particular spotlight is on the NYC Reads initiative. Districts 11 (northeast Bronx) and 19 (East New York) have been pioneers in this transformation. Three years ago, they began comprehensive district-wide curricular changes. District 11 introduced Expeditionary Learning, while District 19 adopted Wit & Wisdom. These targeted changes paved the way for both districts to achieve a remarkable 5.3 percent rise in ELA proficiency, well above the citywide gains of 2.7 percent.