New York City public school students have shown significant improvements in reading and math proficiency, with 56.3% meeting proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and 56.9% in math, according to state test scores released on August 11, 2025.

The improvements are particularly notable in Phase 1 of the initiative, where proficiency in grades 3-5 increased from 48.1% to 59.7%, compared to a rise from 47.0% to 57.5% in Phase 2.

Reading proficiency rose by 7 percentage points, while math scores increased by 3.5 percentage points compared to the previous year.

Rachel Connors, a spokesperson for the State Education Department, stated that these results reflect a positive alignment of instruction with learning standards, benefiting teachers and school leaders.

Kim Sweet, director of Advocates for Children, noted the test scores as a sign of positive change but emphasized the need for continued support, especially for struggling readers.

Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos highlighted the importance of maintaining progress and addressing ongoing challenges in education.

Chancellor Aviles-Ramos also stressed the need for targeted support for students requiring additional assistance, aiming to standardize these practices across classrooms.

The assessments, administered to students in grades three through eight, reflect the effectiveness of new curriculum programs launched across New York City's five boroughs.

However, some analysts have raised concerns about the validity of the results, questioning whether the gains are due to lowered cutoff scores for proficiency.

Despite the improvements, critics argue that New York should strive for excellence in education, especially considering the state's high per-pupil spending of over $36,000.

A January report indicated that New York's student achievement remains average compared to other states, based on National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests.

Looking ahead, the NYC Solves program aims to enhance math achievement by requiring high school math classes to adopt a standardized curriculum, starting in Staten Island middle schools in September 2025.