Student Outcomes
State assessments — annual exams used to measure students’ academic readiness and proficiency — are under increased scrutiny, with some even calling for their elimination altogether. While assessments in New York State and elsewhere are far from perfect, these measures remain the only objective, comparable, and consistent statewide data to help show what our students know, where they are falling behind, and who needs more support.
State assessments in grades 3 through 8, which are required under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), provide objective metrics that can be used to identify disparities and target resources to students, schools, and districts most in need. This is why nearly every civil rights organization in the nation supported annual assessments during the development of ESSA.
Our Equity-Centered Approach
Latest Resource
Report: Warning Bells: The Growing Proficiency Crisis Among New York Students
Our analysis of the 2022-23 New York State Education Department (NYSED) assessments reveals troubling outcomes for New York’s students overall, and inequitable results for students from low-income backgrounds and students of color.
EdTrust-New York completed this analysis in May 2024 and shares recommendations for education leaders to raise student outcomes in math and English language arts in New York State, as well as improve assessments by eliminating racial and cultural biases; providing students with high-quality literacy and math curricula; increasing transparency and timeliness around the release of assessment data; and more.
Featured Reports and Resources Over the Years
Statement: NAEP Data Reveals Crisis with Persistent Gaps for Black and Latinx Students
Statement: Preliminary 2023-24 Statewide Assessment Results
Report: Pandemic Proficiency
Statement: 2022-23 New York State Assessment Results
Data Snapshot
Less than
%
of Native American and 30% of Black and Latinx eighth graders were deemed proficient on the eighth grade math assessment in their 2022-23 school year.
Only
%
fourth grade students scored Below Basic in reading, with 55% of Black students and 51% of Latinx students scoring Below Basic.
More Resources
EdTrust-New York Calls for Independent Audit of State ELA Assessments Following Significant Year-Over-Year Fluctuations
EdTrust-New York welcomes the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) release of preliminary 2025-26 Grades 3-8 English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Grades 5 and 8 Science assessment results ahead of the new school year. At the same time, we are deeply concerned by the significant decline in ELA outcomes and the dramatic shifts in student performance over the past two years.
NYC Makes More Equitable Class Size Funding Decisions but Faces Long-Term Equity Risks
New York City has made class-size funding more equitable, but long-term implementation risks could still divert resources from students and schools with the greatest needs.
The Readiness Question: What Falling Graduation Rates Mean for New York’s Future
This report shows that New York’s high school graduation rate fell from 87% in 2022 to 85% in 2025. That two-point drop marks the largest year-over-year decline in two decades and reveals persistent inequities in educational opportunities and outcomes.
EdTrust-New York Backs Gov. Hochul’s Efforts to Defend Education Access for All Students, Regardless of Immigration Status
EdTrust-New York applauds Gov. Hochul’s leadership in advancing protections for undocumented students and defends every child’s right to a public education across New York State.
New Report Finds College in High School Programs Expanding Access and Boosting Graduation Rates Across New York State
A new report released by EdTrust-New York, Pathways to Opportunity: The Growth and Impact of College in High School Programs Across New York State, highlights significant growth in college in high school participation and strong graduation outcomes for students across the state, particularly for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.
EdTrust-New York Urges State Leaders to Confront Deep Achievement Gaps and Expand Evidence-Based Practices Following 2024–25 Assessment Results
EdTrust-New York notes that there are statewide gains in reading and math proficiency on the 2024–25 Statewide Assessments. However, we remain deeply concerned that overall proficiency rates are alarmingly low and that persistent and unacceptable outcome gaps continue between White and Asian students and their Black and Latinx peers.