Math scores are out; NYC students are doing better

Posted by Philissa at 4:02 PM

The state released scores from the 2007 math exams today, and scores for New York City students seem to have jumped. About 65 percent of students in grades 3-8 scored at or above grade level on the state test, up from about 57 percent last year.

The New York Times reports that the city's scores were better than those of almost every other large school district and that they are closer than ever to the state average. Statewide, about 73 percent of students scored at or above grade level on the tests, up from 68 percent last year. The state's press release notes that scores for middle school students and students with disabilities jumped the most, and that the gap between scores for black and Hispanic students and white students narrowed somewhat. The Times suggests that the rise in test scores could be a result of students' growing familiarity with the test format and content, which changed last year, and teachers' familiarity with new state math standards.

Of course, what looks like a straightforward jump in test scores can sometimes be more complex when the numbers actually get crunched, as historian Diane Ravitch recently pointed out when she took a close look at this year's reading scores. So we're looking forward to seeing the numbers in more detail. For now, we're cautiously optimistic about the scores and proud of the city's students.