2011

Grade 3-8 English Language Arts and

Mathematics Results

August 8, 2011

The average scale scores on the English Language Arts test this
year were slightly lower than last year in all grades

669
667
669
670
668
663

666
665
666
670
673
672

663
665
667
675
672
668

656
661
661
667
664
663

652
655
662
667
668
664

650
655
657
661
659
655

659
661
664
668
667
664

English Language Arts 2006-2011

By Grade
Mean Scale Scores

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

Grades 3-8

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011
2

The average scale scores on the mathematics test this year

were about the same as last year and progress varied by grade

676
680
683
689
687
688

666
674
680
686
685
686

656
668
675
680
680
682

651
663
674
681
677
679

652
657
666
675
677
677

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

663
671
678
684
683
683

677
685
688
692
693
687

Mathematics 2006-2011
By Grade
Mean Scale Scores

Grades 3-8

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Performance Levels
Beginning in 2010, ELA and mathematics Proficiency
standard scores were changed from 650, where they
have been set in the past
8thgradeProficiencyscoresweresetatalevelthatprovidesstudents
a75%chanceofearningacollegereadyRegentsscore*
3rd7th gradeProficiencyscoresaresetsothatifastudentmakesayears
worthofdevelopmentalgrowth,theywillbeontrackforacollegeready
Regentsscore
*75 or greater on the ELA Regents examination; 80 or greater on a math Regents examination

Scale Scores Needed for Proficiency

Each year, scores are equated so that performance levels have the same
meaning from one year to the next. Because of year-to-year differences in
individual test items, the number of raw scores needed to reach a scale
score or performance level can change.

Grade

Math

Math

ELA

ELA

2010

2011

2010

2011

3
4
5
6
7
8

684
676
674
674
670
673

684
676
676
674
670
674

662
668
666
662
664
658

663
671
668
662
665
658

Assessments Changes in 2011

Broader and deeper content coverage:
Questions will not be released, making
tests less predictable and ensuring more
comprehensive student readiness
More multiple choice questions, to better
measure ranges of student performance
More essay writing on Grades 3, 5 & 7
English exams
External research to evaluate score results
6

Grades 3-8 ELA Results

52.8 percent of grades 3-8 students across the State met or

exceeded the proficiency standard, a slight decrease from last year
English Language Arts 2006 2011
Grades 3-8 Combined
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4
Number of Students Tested
2006
Grades 3-8:

1,205,120

2007
1,228,362

2008

2009

1,207,778

1,200,460

2010
1,196,283

2011
1,195,432

77.4%
61.5%

68.5%

63.4%

53.2%

Grades 3-8

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

52.8%

Number Tested 2006

196,757
197,385
200,602
198,450
200,551
201,687
1,195,432

49.3%
57.0%
56.1%
68.5%
51.0%
46.9%

196,604
199,530
197,448
198,135
200,183
204,383
1,196,283

56.4%
57.8%
70.0%
80.3%
50.0%
47.8%

198,367
195,942
197,856
197,996
202,805
207,494
1,200,460

2011

60.4%
63.2%
66.9%
80.9%
54.2%
55.8%

195,777
197,016
198,022
200,505
207,278
209,180
1,207,778

2010

67.1%
68.1%
77.6%
82.2%
52.5%
53.8%

198,457
197,499
202,133
204,463
211,839
213,971
1,228,362

2009

68.6%
68.0%
71.1%
76.9%
56.7%
56.7%

185,603
190,951
201,262
204,249
210,735
212,320
1,205,120

2008

69.0%
67.1%
70.1%
75.8%
54.7%
55.9%

Grade 3 =
Grade 4 =
Grade 5 =
Grade 6 =
Grade 7 =
Grade 8 =
Grades 3-8=

2007

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

61.5%
63.4%
68.5%
77.4%
53.2%
52.8%

As a result of raising the bar for what it means to be proficient, fewer

students met or exceeded the new ELA proficiency standard in 2010.
In 2011, progress toward this new standard varied by grade.

Grades 3-8
9

In 2011, the majority of the Grades 3-5 students statewide met or

exceeded the English Language Arts proficiency standard (Level
3 or Level 4). The percentage of students in Grades 3-5 who
scored at Level 4 decreased compared to 2010.

2010 Level 1
2010 Level 3

2011 Level 1
2011 Level 3

12.8%
4.4%

35.9%
35.6%
39.6%
49.5%
10.5%

6.0%
2.5%
Grade 4

11.6%

34.8%
35.0%
8.3%

4.6%
Grade 3

8.4%

16.6%

12.8%

13.9%

31.4%
31.3%
38.1%

51.3%

50.8%
54.2%

(2010 results are striped; 2011 results are solid)

Grade 5
2010 Level 2
2010 Level 4

2011 Level 2
2011 Level 4

10

In 2011, a majority of the Grade 7 and 8 students statewide did

not meet the English Language Arts proficiency standard (Level 3
or Level 4). The percentage of students in Grades 6-8 who scored
at Level 4 decreased compared to 2010.

Grade 6
2010 Level 1
2010 Level 3

2011 Level 1
2011 Level 3

8.4%

7.7%
1.8%

40.0%
44.7%
43.3%
45.1%

Grade 7

9.1%

11.2%
3.6%

9.4%

10.4%

6.8%
3.9%

11.7%

11.4%

34.4%
32.5%

39.5%
42.8%
38.9%
44.3%

47.3%
51.8%

(2010 results are striped; 2011 results are solid)

Grade 8
2010 Level 2
2010 Level 4

2011 Level 2
2011 Level 4

11

12.6 percent of English Language Learners met or

exceeded the ELA proficiency standard

Number of ELL Students Tested

2006
Grades 3-8: 27,507

2007
72,082

2008
73,199

2009
74,854

2010
79,348

2011
81,869

36.4%
16.2%

25.1%

18.0%

14.3%

12.6%

Grades 3-8

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

12

14.5 percent of Students with Disabilities met or exceeded

the ELA proficiency standard

Number of Students with Disabilities Tested

Grades 3-8:

2006

2007

166,511

173,369

2008

2009

2010

2011

181,381

182,847

188,096

186,886

39.3%
20.2%

27.9%

22.8%

15.2%

14.5%

Grades 3-8

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

13

Economically Disadvantaged

2006

2007

68.5%

68.8%

86.9%

79.4%

66.1%

69.5%
39.1%

39.1%

66.9%

55.3%

49.6%

50.3%

39.1 percent of Economically Disadvantaged grades 3-8

students met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard

Not Economically Disadvantaged

2008

2009

2010

2011

14

224,871

Hispanic:

263,997

American Indian/ Alaskan Native:

5,930

White:

596,619

Total Public:

1,195,432

Black

Hispanic

American
Indian/Alaskan
Native

White

61.5%
63.4%
68.5%
77.4%
53.2%
52.8%

Black:

46.5%
50.8%
57.3%
68.9%
41.3%
40.6%

94,254

46.1%
45.6%
52.6%
64.8%
36.8%
37.2%

Asian

Asian:

42.4%
45.2%
52.9%
64.3%
34.4%
35.0%

77.6%
75.6%
79.6%
86.6%
67.9%
67.4%

2011 Total Students

71.8%
75.4%
79.0%
85.9%
64.8%
64.2%

The ELA results for racial/ethnic groups across grades

3-8 reveal the persistence of the achievement gap

Total Public

15

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Females

2006

48.1%

48.6%

74.0%

64.5%

59.6%

57.7%

57.8%

57.9%

81.0%

72.8%

67.5%

65.5%

Across grades 3-8, 57.8 percent of girls, compared to

48.1 percent of boys, met or exceeded the ELA
proficiency standard

Males

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

16

New York City

29.1%
27.8%

Large City

2006
Urban-Suburban

2007
2008
Rural

2009
2010
Average
Low

53.2%
52.8%

61.5%
63.4%
68.5%
77.4%

74.9%
75.0%

82.9%
84.8%
87.5%
91.8%

69.2%
73.0%
76.7%
84.2%
61.5%
60.2%

49.6%
47.5%

56.7%
62.0%
66.8%
76.3%

43.1%
40.3%

52.4%
54.9%
60.6%
70.9%

37.3%
38.7%
46.4%
56.9%

42.4%
43.9%

50.7%
50.8%
57.6%
68.8%

Across grades 3-8, low-need communities continued

to outperform large cities and rural areas in English
Language Arts

Total Public

2011
17

New York City

Buffalo

Rochester
2006

2007

Syracuse
2008

2009

Yonkers
2010

2011

61.5%
63.4%
68.5%
77.4%
53.2%
52.8%

51.1%
46.7%
55.6%
65.2%
39.2%
37.8%

34.0%
37.3%
42.1%
52.7%
25.5%
22.5%

25.3%
24.4%

38.4%
38.4%
46.6%
56.0%

30.1%
34.5%
42.5%
54.4%
27.7%
26.9%

50.7%
50.8%
57.6%
68.8%
42.4%
43.9%

A smaller proportion of grades 3-8 students met or

exceeded the ELA proficiency standard in the Big 5 cities
than statewide. New York City demonstrated a slight
gain.

Total Public
18

Rochester

Syracuse

2006

2007

2008

2009

Yonkers
2010

2011

49.3%
57.0%
56.1%
68.5%
51.0%
46.9%

21.3%
28.3%
30.8%
41.0%
24.6%
19.6%

Buffalo

31.8%
35.1%
37.7%
50.4%
29.8%
26.6%

26.3%
27.8%
31.1%
43.1%
21.1%
16.6%

New York City

20.9%
33.3%
28.0%
42.5%
26.6%
23.1%

37.5%
35.0%

36.6%
41.8%
43.0%

57.0%

A smaller proportion of Grade 8 students met or

exceeded the ELA proficiency standard in the Big 5 cities
than statewide. Generally, Grade 8 ELA performance
decreased in 2011.

Total Public
19

In 2011, the percentage of students scoring at Level 4

decreased statewide and in the Big 5

New York City

Buffalo
2009

Rochester

Syracuse
2010

Yonkers
2011

3.5%

10.2%

8.7%

1.3%

5.4%

4.5%

0.7%

3.0%

2.6%

0.5%

2.0%

1.7%

0.9%

3.3%

2.6%

2.7%

7.3%

6.1%

English Language Arts 2009-2011

Statewide and Big 5
Grades 3-8 Combined
Percentage of Students Scoring at Level 4

Total Public

20

In 2010, Charter Schools saw similar declines in the proportion of

their students who met or exceeded the new ELA proficiency
standard. In 2011, progress toward this standard varied by grade.

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Grade 8

48.2%
54.6%
64.0%
76.1%
43.0%
43.9%

68.1%

Grade 7

40.4%
34.7%

Grade 6

35.7%
44.7%
44.7%

43.8%
54.9%
59.6%
76.4%
40.3%
45.9%

Grade 5

36.8%
34.8%

55.1%
55.2%
68.8%
75.1%
41.6%
40.8%

Grade 4

67.4%
78.8%

53.2%
56.9%
65.1%
76.8%
44.4%
50.8%

Grade 3

40.8%
47.3%

49.6%
60.8%
68.3%
79.4%
51.7%
51.9%

Number of charter school students tested (Grades 3-8 combined)

2006
9,916 students tested
2007
12,108 students tested
2008
15,222 students tested
2009
17,862 students tested
2010
21,315 students tested
2011
25,479 students tested

Grades 3-8

2011
21

Grades 3-8 Mathematics Results

22

63.3 percent of grades 3-8 students across the State met or exceeded
the mathematics proficiency standard, a slight increase from last year

61.0%

63.3%

86.4%

80.7%

65.9%

72.7%

Mathematics 2006-2011
Grades 3-8 Combined
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4

Grades 3-8 Math

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

23

2006

2007

2008

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

2009

2010

2011

65.9%
72.7%
80.7%
86.4%
61.0%
63.3%

2011
198,825
199,459
202,738
200,417
202,492
203,608
1,207,539

53.9%
58.8%
69.8%
80.2%
54.8%
59.8%

Grade 5

2010
198,785
201,769
199,594
200,774
202,723
206,739
1,210,384

55.6%
66.4%
78.9%
87.3%
62.4%
64.6%

Grade 4

Number of Students Tested

2008
2009
197,500
200,336
198,730
197,704
199,746
199,511
202,058
199,940
209,039
204,648
210,716
209,221
1,217,789
1,211,360

60.4%
71.2%
79.4%
83.0%
61.3%
63.0%

Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grades 3-8

2007
200,217
199,391
203,956
206,220
213,436
215,415
1,238,635

68.4%
76.1%
83.2%
88.1%
64.6%
66.2%

Grade 3

2006
201,956
202,791
209,242
211,428
217,308
219,414
1,259,956

77.9%
79.9%
83.8%
87.2%
63.8%
66.6%

59.1%
59.6%

80.5%
85.2%
89.9%
92.9%

As a result of raising the bar for what it means to be proficient,

fewer students met or exceeded the new mathematics
proficiency standard in 2010. In 2011, there was slight progress
toward meeting this new standard.

Grades 3-8
24

In 2011, the majority of the Grades 3-5 students statewide met or

exceeded the mathematics proficiency standard (Level 3 or Level
4). Other than Grade 3, the percentage of students who scored at
Level 4 remained relatively constant compared to 2010.

Grade 3

Grade 4
2010 Level 1
2010 Level 3

2011 Level 1
2011 Level 3

29.2%
27.9%
40.8%
42.8%
23.9%
23.5%
5.9%

6.1%

30.8%
27.7%
38.1%
39.9%
25.7%
26.7%
5.7%

5.4%

31.5%
31.2%
35.1%
46.2%
24.0%
13.4%

9.2%

9.4%

(2010 results are striped; 2011 results are solid)

Grade 5
2010 Level 2
2010 Level 4

2011 Level 2
2011 Level 4

25

In 2011, a majority of the Grades 6-8 students statewide met or

exceeded the mathematics proficiency standard (Level 3 or Level
4). The percentage of students in Grades 6-8 who scored at Level
4 remained relatively constant compared to 2010.

Grade 6

Grade 7
2010 Level 1
2010 Level 3

2011 Level 1
2011 Level 3

35.9%
31.4%
36.5%
42.2%
18.2%
17.7%
8.8%

9.3%

29.4%
27.4%
33.2%
34.2%
29.1%
30.4%
8.0%

8.2%

8.0%

8.1%

30.6%
29.0%
34.2%
36.6%
27.1%
26.3%

(2010 results are striped; 2011 results are solid)

Grade 8
2010 Level 2
2010 Level 4

2011 Level 2
2011 Level 4

26

30.7%

32.3%

58.4%

45.7%

38.6%

67.1%

32.3 percent of English Language Learners met or

exceeded the mathematics proficiency standard

Grades 3-8
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

27

24.6%

26.9%

58.4%

47.8%

37.2%

30.4%

26.9 percent of Students with Disabilities met or exceeded

the mathematics proficiency standard

Grades 3-8
2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

28

Economically Disadvantaged

2006

2007

77.0%

74.4%

92.4%

87.8%

81.9%

51.5%

49.0%

73.4%

80.1%

72.3%

60.9%

56.0%

51.5 percent of Economically Disadvantaged grades 3-8

students met or exceeded the mathematics proficiency
standard

Not Economically Disadvantaged

2008

2009

2010

2011

29

2006

224,871

Hispanic:

263,997

American Indian/ Alaskan Native:

5,930

White:

596,619

Total Public:

1,195,432

Hispanic

American
Indian/Alaskan
Native

2007

2008

2009

2010

76.4%
82.0%
88.3%
92.2%
71.1%
73.3%

Black:

53.8%
61.8%
73.0%
81.6%
49.5%
52.3%

Black

94,254

51.6%
60.5%
71.1%
79.5%
47.3%
50.2%

Asian

45.8%
54.6%
65.9%
75.0%
40.9%
44.0%

85.2%
89.1%
92.9%
94.9%
81.7%
83.7%

2011 Total Students

Asian:

White

2011

65.9%
72.7%
80.7%
86.4%
61.0%
63.3%

The mathematics results for racial/ethnic groups

across grades 3-8 reveal the persistence of the
achievement gap

Total Public

30

Females

2006

62.4%

60.2%

85.4%

79.6%

71.9%

65.6%

64.3%

61.8%

87.5%

81.9%

73.5%

66.2%

Across grades 3-8, 64.3 percent of girls, compared to

62.4 percent of boys, met or exceeded the mathematics
proficiency standard

Males

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

31

New York City

Large City
UrbanSuburban

2006
2007
Rural

2008
2009
2010
Average
Low

2011

65.9%
72.7%
80.7%
86.4%
61.0%
63.3%

86.3%
90.0%
93.9%
95.9%
80.8%
83.2%

74.0%
79.9%
86.9%
91.1%
67.6%
69.7%

62.4%
70.2%
79.3%
85.8%
54.3%
55.8%

55.0%
63.5%
73.2%
81.0%
48.6%
49.1%

35.2%
41.0%
54.5%
64.7%
31.1%
31.6%

57.0%
65.1%
74.3%
81.8%
54.0%
57.3%

Across grades 3-8, low-need communities continued to

outperform large cities and rural areas in mathematics

Total Public

32

Rochester

Syracuse

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Yonkers

2011

65.9%
72.7%
80.7%
86.4%
61.0%
63.3%

30.2%
39.4%
49.8%
58.2%
25.7%
25.3%

Buffalo

53.1%
52.3%
65.1%
73.8%
41.5%
40.4%

33.2%
39.2%
54.6%
63.4%
28.0%
29.4%

New York City

28.6%
35.9%
50.0%
63.3%
29.8%
31.0%

57.0%
65.1%
74.3%
81.8%
54.0%
57.3%

A smaller proportion of grades 3-8 students met or

exceeded the mathematics proficiency standard in
the Big 5 cities than statewide. New York City,
Buffalo, and Rochester showed slight gains.

Total Public

33

2006

2007

Syracuse

2008

2009

2010

Yonkers

53.9%
58.8%
69.8%
80.2%
54.8%
59.8%

Rochester

30.9%
32.2%
41.8%
27.9% 53.9%
27.3%

20.4%
20.1%
28.9%
35.0%
13.4%
15.3%

57.8%
25.8%
27.6%

Buffalo

20.0%
17.9%
32.9%
42.9%
14.5%
19.5%

New York City

17.0%
25.8%
33.8%

38.9%
45.6%
59.6%
71.3%
46.3%
52.5%

A smaller proportion of Grade 8 students met or

exceeded the mathematics proficiency standard in
the Big 5 cities than statewide. Generally, Grade 8
math performance increased slightly in 2011.

Total Public

2011
34

In 2011, the percentage of students scoring at Level 4

decreased statewide and in the Big 5

New York City

Rochester
2009

Syracuse
2010

Yonkers
2011

23.0%

24.7%

29.1%
9.6%

13.0%

4.3%

6.0%

7.5%

4.4%

4.9%

17.7%

Buffalo

6.7%

6.2%

6.6%

8.4%

20.9%

22.2%

25.9%

Mathematics 2009-2011
Statewide and Big 5
Grades 3-8 Combined
Percentage of Students Scoring at Level 4

Total Public

35

In 2010, Charter Schools saw similar declines in the proportion of

their students who met or exceeded the new Mathematics proficiency
standard. In 2011, there was progress toward meeting this new
standard.

2006

2007

2008

2009

Grade 6

2010

Grade 7

Grade 8

2011

58.2%
71.4%
82.1%
89.4%
59.9%
64.6%

40.0%
53.7%
70.8%
84.5%
50.4%
62.1%

Grade 5

40.3%
60.3%
81.0%
89.4%
59.1%
63.0%

59.7%
69.4%
82.1%
88.4%
59.7%
63.4%

Grade 4

75.5%
77.5%
86.8%
61.3%
65.3%

67.9%
72.6%
83.7%
89.4%
63.8%
69.5%

Grade 3

50.8%

71.6%
83.4%
91.0%
96.1%
61.6%
64.3%

Number of charter school students tested (Grades 3-8 combined)

2006
9,908 students tested
2007
12,009 students tested
2008
15,161 students tested
2009
17,758 students tested
2010
21,357 students tested
2011
25,527 students tested

Grades 3-8
36

2011
Grade 3-8 English Language Arts and
Mathematics Results

August 8, 2011

37