STATE TEST SCORES IN GRADES 3-8 RISE: OFFICIALS: MORE THAN HALF OF STUDENTS PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH

Zou, Dandan.  Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y..

12 Aug 2025.

Summary for Educators – New York State Grades 3–8 Test Scores Rise in 2025

Preliminary results from the New York State Education Department show notable gains in grades 3–8 proficiency rates for 2025 in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and science. The results, based on April–May testing, indicate that more than half of tested students achieved proficiency in both ELA and math, with science scores showing even greater relative improvement.

Key Results

• ELA: 53% proficiency, up 7 percentage points from 46% in 2024. Gains were evident across all grades, with third grade showing the most significant increase—from 43% to 54% proficiency (+11 points).

• Math: 55% proficiency, a 3-point rise from the previous year.

• Science (grades 5 and 8): 44% proficiency, up from 35% in 2024, marking the largest relative improvement among the tested subjects.

The state uses a four-level scoring system, with Levels 3 and 4 indicating proficiency or higher. Finalized results, including regional and district breakdowns as well as participation rates, are expected in the fall after districts verify data by September 3.

Possible Drivers of Improvement

State and local education leaders attribute these gains to post-COVID academic recovery investments, particularly in literacy and STEM programs.

• Bob Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association, pointed to years of targeted interventions and resources designed to close learning gaps.

• Long Island schools historically outperform state averages, suggesting even higher local proficiency rates once detailed data is released.

Points of Concern and Debate

While improvements were welcomed, education policy experts raised questions about the validity and sustainability of the gains.

• Resource vs. Results Gap: New York spends over $36,000 per pupil—the highest in the nation and nearly double the U.S. average—yet ranks “middle of the pack” on National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores, according to a Citizens Budget Commission report.

• Cutoff Score Concerns: Arlen Benjamin-Gomez of EdTrust–New York noted the “dramatic” year-over-year gains, particularly in lower grades, were unusual. She questioned whether cutoff scores had been lowered, making proficiency easier to achieve.

• The state has changed cutoff levels multiple times in the past, complicating long-term trend analysis. State officials, however, maintain that 2025 results are directly comparable to 2024.

Implications for Educators

For teachers and administrators, the preliminary data offers both encouragement and caution:

1. Instructional Strategies May Be Paying Off – Intensive literacy and STEM recovery initiatives appear to be closing gaps, especially in early grades, where foundational skills are most critical.

2. Data Literacy Is Essential – Educators should approach year-over-year gains with an analytical eye, recognizing that changes in test design or scoring can influence results.

3. Equity Considerations Remain – Without regional breakdowns, it is unclear whether improvements were consistent across high- and low-income districts or among different demographic groups.

4. Accountability Pressure Will Increase – Rising scores will raise expectations for continued growth, particularly given the state’s high education spending.

5. Science Gains Signal Opportunity – The sharp rise in science proficiency could inspire renewed investment in elementary and middle school STEM programs, especially hands-on and inquiry-based learning.

Looking Ahead

When the final report is released this fall, educators will have a clearer picture of district-by-district performance, participation rates, and subgroup trends. The challenge will be sustaining these improvements while ensuring they reflect genuine student learning rather than testing or scoring changes.

As the state continues to recover from pandemic-related learning loss, these results will likely shape instructional priorities, resource allocation, and public expectations heading into the next academic year.

Original Article

Source: Zou, Dandan. “State Test Scores in Grades 3–8 Rise: Officials: More Than Half of Students Proficient in English.” Newsday, Aug. 12, 2025.

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com