Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today announced that New York City students made across-the-board gains on the State’s social studies and science tests last year. Between the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years, the percentage of students scoring at proficient or better rose 12.3 percentage points in fifth grade social studies, 8.4 points in eighth grade social studies, 1.2 points in fourth grade science, and 9.8 points in eighth grade science. These results were part of the 2007-08 annual school report cards released by the New York State Education Department today.
“Two years ago, we made improving the quality of science and social studies instruction in every school one of our top priorities. Today’s results show that we’re starting to move in the right direction in these critical subjects,” Chancellor Klein said. “We will continue to provide our teachers with new curriculum resources in the coming years to help them build on these gains.”
Students take the State’s social studies exam in the fifth grade and the eighth grade. They take the science test in the fourth grade and the eighth grade.
In social studies, 73.9 percent of fifth grade students scored proficient or higher in 2007-08, up from 61.7 percent in 2006-07. A total of 38.7 percent of eighth grade students scored proficient or higher, up from 30.3 percent the previous year.
In science, 74.2 percent of fourth grade students scored proficient or higher in 2007-08, up from 73.0 percent in 2006-07. A total of 51.5 percent of eighth grade students scored proficient or higher, up from 41.7 percent the previous year.
The report cards also include the results of the 2007-08 Regents exams:
- A total of 68.6 percent of New York City students scored 65 or higher on the English exam, up 4.8 percentage points from 2006-07.
- A total of 60 percent passed the Math A exam, down 4.8 percentage points from the previous year.
- A total of 57.4 percent passed the Living Environment exam, unchanged from the previous year.
- A total of 68.1 percent passed the U.S. History exam, up 4.9 points from the previous year.
- A total of 50.8 percent passed the Global History exam, up 4.2 points from the previous year.
A total of 60.2 percent passed the Algebra exam, which was given for the first time in 2007-08. This exam is replacing the Math A exam.