ALBANY — The number of students, statewide, who took the standardized math test and scored at the proficient level, Level 3 or 4, increased by 2.2 percent from 44.5 in 2018 to 46.7 percent this year. And the number of students scoring at the proficient level in English Language Arts increased by 0.2 percent, from 45.2 percent to 45.6 percent.
The state did not make significant changes to the 2019 assessments; therefore the 2019 results can be directly compared with the 2018 results. There were structural and significant changes in testing from 2017 to 2018, though, so a two year comparison is not practical.
“As I’ve consistently said, assessments are a part of the larger picture that we look at when we examine performance levels across the state,” said state Education Commissioner Maryellen Elia in a statement. “This year’s test scores are a positive sign that we are making progress and I believe the deliberative and thoughtful approach outlined in our state’s Every Student Succeeds Act plan will continue to benefit the students of New York state.”
ELA
Nearly 21,000 more third through eighth grade students took the ELA exam in 2019 than did in 2018 and while the percentage of those who scored at the proficient level did increase slightly, there were still significantly more who scored below, at a Level 1 or 2.
In 2019, 987,398 students took the test and 54 percent scored in Level 1 or 2, about the same as last year.
When broken down, by gender 51 percent of females scored at Level 3 or 4 compared to 40 percent of males. The number of females stayed the same from 2018 to 2019 while 1 percent more males scored at the proficient level.
Other ELA results statewide include:
• 48 percent of students who identify as “multiracial” scored at the proficient level, which is no change from last year.
• 51 percent of “white” students scored at the proficient level, a decrease of 1 percent from 2018.
• The number of “black” students who were proficient jumped 1 point in 2019 to 35 percent.
• The number of “Hispanic or Latino” students who scored at the proficient level increased a point to 36 percent in 2019.
• 14 percent of students with disabilities scored at Level 3 or Level 4, which represents no change from 2018.
• 9 percent of English language learners scored at Level 3 or 4, which is no change from 2018, while 49 percent of non-English language learners were proficient, which represents no change from 2018.
• 60 percent of students “not economically disadvantaged” scored at the proficient level, a drop of 1 percent, while just 36 percent of those “economically disadvantaged” scored a Level 3 or 4, a gain of 1 percent.
MATH
There were 17,157 more third through eighth grade students who took the math test in 2019 than 2018.
When broken out by gender, 47 percent of females score at the proficient level, an increase of 2 percent over last year, while 46 of males scored at Level 3 or Level 4, also an increase of 2 percent.
Other statewide math results include:
• 49 percent of students who identify as “multiracial” scored at the proficient level, which is a 1 percent increase from last year.
• 56 percent of “white” students scored at the proficient level, an increase of 2 percent from 2018.
• The number of “black” students who were proficient jumped 3 point in 2019 to 32 percent.
• The number of “Hispanic or Latino” students who scored at the proficient level increased 3 points to 35 percent in 2019.
• 16 percent of students with disabilities scored at Level 3 or Level 4, which represents a 1 point change from 2018.
• 17 percent of English language learners scored at Level 3 or 4, which is a 1 percentage point change from 2018, while 50 percent of non-English language learners were proficient, which represents a 2 percentage point increase from 2018.
• 63 percent of students “not economically disadvantaged” scored at the proficient level, an increase of 1 percent, while just 37 percent of those “economically disadvantaged” scored a Level 3 or 4, a gain of 3 percent.
In 2019, the statewide test refusal rate was about 16 percent, 2 percentage points lower than the number of students who refused in 2018 and three points lower than the number of students who opted out in 2017.
The chart below represents all third through eighth grade students who scored at a proficient level, Level 3 or Level 4, in each category for each school district in 2018 and 2019. To find the number of students who scored at Level 1 or Level 2, subtract by 100.
