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The State Of Learning In The New York City Public Schools
- New York City is the largest school district in the US, serving over 1 million children. NYC enrolls over one-third of the state’s public school students.
- In NYC, 84% of students are minorities, 62% live in areas of concentrated poverty, and 16% are Limited English Proficient.
- In 1996-97, NYC spent $8,171 per-pupil -- $1,150 less than the state average of $9,321. This gap grew by $108 from 1995-96, the second straight year it has increased. The average downstate suburb spent $12,613.
- NYC has 9.2 computers per 100 students, while the average district with low student needs has 17.5. NYC has 9 library books per student, while the average low-need district has 23.
- NYC has among the lowest teacher salaries in the state despite the area's high cost of living. NYC's median salary of $47,345 is almost $1,500 below the state average and more than $17,000 below the average paid by downstate suburban districts.
- NYC has among the state's highest percentages of uncertified teachers, 16.9%, and teacher turnover, 14% each year.
- Only 22% of high school graduates in NYC earn a Regents diploma, while 53% do so in the rest of the state.
- In 1998, only 25% of NYC's sixth graders scored at the highest level ("Distinction") on the state reading test, while 69% did so in low-need districts. Statewide, 48% of students scored at this level.
- In 1998, only 41% of NYC's high school students passed the Regents Mathematics I exam. 87% passed in low-need districts and 62% passed statewide.
Statistics from New York: The State of Learning, April 1999, a report from the Regents and State Education Department to the Governor and the Legislature. Except where noted, figures are from 1997-98. Low-need districts are those defined by the State Education Department as having a low ratio between poverty percentage and district wealth.
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