Reading proficiency scores for New York City public‑school students fell in the 2024‑2025 school year, according to preliminary state exam results released in August 2026. The decline erased the gains recorded the previous year, with the overall proportion of students in grades three through eight who met proficiency standards dropping by six percentage points to roughly half of the cohort.
The most pronounced loss occurred among third‑graders, whose proficiency rate slipped by nearly 14 percentage points. In the latest data, about 50 % of students in grades three to eight are classified as proficient in reading, down from the prior year’s higher level.
The state‑administered assessments, which serve as the primary benchmark for reading achievement in New York City, had shown an upward trend in the 2023‑2024 cycle. That improvement had been cited as evidence of progress in the district’s literacy initiatives. The new figures reverse that trajectory, indicating a significant setback across elementary and middle‑school grades.
Education officials have noted that the data are preliminary and subject to final verification before the end of the school year. The Department of Education is expected to release a detailed analysis that will examine the factors behind the drop and outline any corrective measures.
The decline spans both lower and upper grades within the 3‑8 range. While third‑grade results show the steepest drop, proficiency percentages for grades four through eight also fell, contributing to the six‑point overall reduction. Analysts note that the breadth of the decrease suggests challenges across the district’s reading curriculum.