Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools  Chancellor Joel I. Klein today announced that New York City elementary and middle school students made substantial progress at every grade level in English Language Arts and math since last year, outpacing gains made by students statewide and building on consistent progress since the start of the Bloomberg Administration.  New York City's one-year gains in both English Language Arts and math were larger than the rest of the State's at every grade level with only one exception. Today, in math, 79.7 percent of students in fourth grade and 59.6 percent of students in eighth grade-the two grades tested by the State since the start of the administration-are meeting or exceeding grade-level standards, up from 52 percent and 29.8 percent, respectively, in 2002. In English Language Arts, 61.3 percent of students in fourth grade and 43 percent of students in eighth grade are meeting or exceeding grade levels, up from 46.5 percent and 29.5 percent, respectively, in 2002.  Also, African-American and Latino students in New York City achieved greater gains in both English Language Arts and math than their white and Asian peers, narrowing the racial and ethnic achievement gap. The Mayor and Chancellor were joined by United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Ernest Logan, and other City leaders who made the announcement at PS 175 in Harlem.

"Teachers, principals, parents, and students all have been working hard in our City, and they all deserve congratulations for the results we are announcing today," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Our students have made great progress in math and reading, building on the gains of recent years. Today, they are performing almost on the level of suburban districts, and we're making continued progress closing the shameful achievement gap. We've put our children first and focused on results-and all New Yorkers should be very proud of what our schools are achieving.  However, while we're proud of these accomplishments, there's still more work to be done, and we'll continue to do what is necessary to provide every child with a quality education and to prepare each for the future."

"Working together, we are making a real difference in outcomes for New York City's public schoolchildren," Chancellor Klein said. "We've changed the situation on the ground, creating the conditions necessary to transform our schools and classrooms-and results for kids. We've set high standards, created strong academic interventions for struggling students, held schools responsible for results, and given educators the tools they need to assess how well they're doing and how well students are progressing. Congratulations to all of the educators, families, and students who have worked so hard to make this transformation possible."

More City students are meeting or exceeding State standards at all grade levels, building on strong gains over the course of the Bloomberg administration. In math, the percentage of students in grades 3 to 8 meeting or exceeding standards rose 9.2 percentage points since last year, from 65.1 percent to 74.3 percent. In English Language Arts, the percent of students in grades 3 to 8 meeting or exceeding standards rose 6.8 points since last year, from 50.8 percent to 57.6 percent.

While students throughout the State have made progress, gains by New York City students have been larger than those of students in the rest of the State-both in the past year and over the course of the Bloomberg administration. In fourth-grade math, New York City students have closed the gap with students in the rest of the State by 18 points since 2002. City students scored 24.4 points below students in the rest of the State in 2002 in math; in 2007 City students scored 9.1 points below students in the rest of the State, and in 2008 City students scored 6.4 points below students in the rest of the State. In eighth-grade math, City students have closed the gap by 11.7 points since 2002, from 27.2 points in 2002 to 20.2 points in 2007 to 15.5 points this year.

In English Language Arts, City students are also gaining on students in the rest of the State. In fourth grade, the gap has narrowed by 8.4 points since 2002. City students scored 23.5 points below students in the rest of the state in 2002; in 2007 City students scored 18.6 points below students in the rest of the state, and in 2008 City students scored 15.1 points below students in the rests of the state. In eighth-grade English Language Arts, City students have narrowed the gap slightly, by 2.7 points, since 2002, from 22.5 points in 2002 to 23.3 points in 2007 to 19.8 points this year. 

New York City students of all races made gains this year and since the start of the Administration in 2002, but African-American and Latino students are making progress faster than white and Asian students, successfully narrowing the racial achievement gap. In fourth-grade math, the gap separating African-American and white students in New York City has narrowed by 16.4 points since 2002. African-American students scored 34.7 points below white students in 2002; in 2007, African-American students scored 21.2 below white students, and in 2008 African-American students scored 18.3 points below white students. In eighth-grade math, African-American students have closed the gap with white students in New York City by 4.9 points since 2002, from 35 points in 2002 to 34 points in 2007 to 30.1 points in 2008.

In fourth-grade English Language Arts, the gap separating African-American and white students in New York City has narrowed by 6.3 points since 2002. African-American students scored 32.4 points below white students in 2002; in 2007, African-American students scored 28.8 points below white students, and in 2008 African-American students scored 26.1 points below white students. In eighth-grade English Language Arts, African-American students have closed the gap with white students in New York City by 3.8 points since 2002, from 33 points in 2002 to 28.6 points in 2007 to 29.2 points in 2008.

"This is a day to celebrate, and the biggest winners are the students, their parents, their teachers, principals and other educators," said UFT President Randi Weingarten.  "These test scores tell us that teachers' hard work and skill, as well as the unprecedented investments made in teacher quality and direct services to students, are paying off."

The gap separating Latino and white students in New York City in fourth-grade math has narrowed by 15.2 points since 2002. Latino students scored 30.5 points below white students in 2002; in 2007, Latino students scored 17.8 points below white students, and in 2008 Latino students scored 15.3 points below white students. In eighth-grade math, Latino students have closed the gap with white students in New York City by 8.7 points since 2002, from 34.3 points in 2002 to 30.3 points in 2007 to 25.6 points in 2008.

In fourth-grade English Language Arts, the gap separating Latino and white students in New York City has narrowed by 6.2 points since 2002. Latino students scored 33.2 points below white students in 2002; in 2007, Latino students scored 30.8 points below white students, and in 2008 Latino students scored 27 points below white students. In eighth-grade English Language Arts, Latino students have closed the gap with white students in New York City by two points since 2002, from 34.2 points in 2002 to 30.3 points in 2007 to 32.2 points in 2008.

"Today is a great day for public education in this city because these results reflect the extraordinary work and dedication of our school communities - administrators, teachers, parents and the DOE," said CSA President Ernest Logan. "Working together, we are making genuine progress and moving toward narrowing the achievement gap that has plagued our schools for years. Resources and support are the keys to student success."

Copies of the 2008 state test results can be accessed at www.nyc.gov.