New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos on Monday announced gains in citywide student reading and math proficiency for the 2024-2025 school year.
Newly released state test results show that New York City public school students in grades 3 through 8 posted gains in English Language Arts (ELA) and math proficiency during the 2024-2025 school year, outpacing state averages in both subjects.
According to New York State Education Department data, the percentage of city students meeting the ELA proficiency benchmark rose to 56.3% in 2025 from 49.1% in 2024, a 7.2-point increase. Math proficiency increased to 56.9% in 2025 from 53.4%, a 3.5-point gain. Both rates represent the highest proficiency levels for city students since the state began tracking them in 2012. Gains were seen across all grades, with the largest improvements in grades 3 and 5 for ELA.
“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,” Adams said in a statement.
The growth coincides with the full rollout of NYC Reads, a new reading curriculum launched in 2023. Schools in Phase 1 of the program, which have used the new curriculum for two years, saw an 11.6-point increase in ELA proficiency for grades 3-5, compared to a 10.4-point increase for Phase 2 schools. K-5 academic screener data mirrored these results, showing a 2.5-point increase citywide in students scoring above the national median, with Phase 1 schools recording a 3.0-point gain.
In the spring 2025, the Adams administration expanded NYC Reads and the math-focused NYC Solves to 186 additional schools across 14 districts, bringing the total reach to more than 490,000 students. Proficiency rates improved across all demographic subgroups for grades 3-8.
“These results show that when we set high expectations for our students and give our educators the right tools, our kids rise to the occasion,” said Aviles-Ramos.
