Get The Facts

For far too long, a gap in performance has existed between low-income students of color, and their more affluent peers. As we recognize effective practices and comprehensive strategies to raise academic achievement, it is critical to utilize multiple measures to assess these performance gaps.

A deep, holistic portrait of student achievement relative to peers will better equip educators and school administrators in implementing the best solutions to closing the gap. Below are some facts and statistics that will help you to begin to shape the way you think about performance gaps.

Key Facts

NYC Achievement Gap Results

NYC Graduation Rates & Postsecondary Enrollment

The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males 2010


A Call For Change: The Social and Educational Factors Contributing to the Outcomes of Black Males in Urban Schools

NAEP SCORES: On the rigorous and respected National Assessment of Educational Progress, New York City students have made significant gains: Since 2002, scores have jumped 11 points in both 4^th grade math and English since 2002, and 7 points in 8^th grade math. Those gains are greater than those made in the rest of New York State (where student gains were flat) and around the nation. Moreover, the gap between black and white students in 4^th grade has closed by 9 points in reading since 2002, and 4 points in math since 2003. In those same years, the Hispanic-white gap has narrowed by 5 points in reading and 6 points in math. That represents significant progress, but there’s more work to do.

STATE TESTS: On the state’s annual Math and English Language Arts (ELA) exams, the ethnic achievement gap has narrowed significantly. Since 2006, New York City has cut the black-white gap by 11 points in English and 5.6 points in math; while closing the Hispanic-white gap by more than 10 points in reading and 5 in math. But, an achievement gap still remains, and we must continue to ensure a quality education for all New York State students.

GRADUATION RATES: After decades of stagnation, the graduation rate in New York City has risen steadily over the past 8 years, reaching an all-time high of 63% in 2009. As more students have completed high school citywide, minority students have made significant gains as well. The percentage of black students graduating from high school in 4 years went from 40.1% in 2005 to 53.9% in 2009; while the percentage of Hispanic students graduating from high school in 4 years went from 37.4% in 2005 to 51.8% in 2009. In turn, the black-white and Hispanic-white gaps in graduation rates have also narrowed significantly.

COLLEGE ENROLLMENTS: New York City has seen huge increases in the number of black and Hispanic students enrolling in the City University of New York (CUNY) —many of whom might not have had the opportunity to attend school in the past. Since 2002, the number of black students attending CUNY has risen 44%, while the rise among Hispanics was a remarkable 83 percent.

In all, these statistics show real progress in closing the ethnic achievement gap, but we still have a long way to go.