New York City Progress Report Grades: An Overview

By GreatSchools Staff

The New York City Progress Report Grades were developed by the New York City Department of Education to show how each New York City school is performing. The Progress Report Grades help parents compare schools to similar schools, identify the areas in which schools excel, and pinpoint what needs to be improved. The purpose of the reports is to hold schools accountable for student achievement and help schools chart a course of action to improve student learning. The Progress Report Grades were piloted for the 2005-2006 school year and are now released annually.

What is included in the Progress Report Grades?

Schools receive a letter grade of A through F based on the school's contribution to student learning in the areas of School Environment, Student Performance and Student Progress. Schools can receive Additional Credit for helping their high-needs students make exemplary gains.

The Progress Report Grade measures each student's progress from year to year. It rewards success in moving all children forward, especially children with the greatest need, regardless of where they started.

What is included in School Environment?

The School Environment score reflects how well schools have set the stage for learning. It includes attendance rate and the results of the Learning Environment Survey taken by parents, students and teachers.

What is included in Student Performance?

For elementary and middle schools, Student Performance includes the percentage of students who scored at or above the proficient level on the New York State Assessment (NYSA) English language arts and math tests, as well as the median student proficiency. Median student proficiency is the middle point in the list of all of the students' scores and shows the average performance level of the school's students.

For high schools, Student Performance includes the percentage of students who graduated in four years and the percentage of students who graduated in six years. Schools are also measured by the type of diplomas that students receive within four years and within six years, with more credit given to diplomas that indicate a higher level of proficiency and college readiness. For example, a Regents diploma counts twice as much as a Local diploma.

What is included in Student Progress?

Student Progress compares students' performance levels in the current year to their performance levels from the previous year to measure how much schools help students progress during the school year. For elementary and middle schools, this includes the percentage of students making at least one year of progress on the NYSA English language arts and math tests, the average change in student proficiency and average change in proficiency for the school's lowest-performing students.

For high schools, Student Progress includes the percentage of students earning at least 10 credits in their first, second and third years. Schools are given credit for helping students progress toward passing five Regents exams, which is required by the state for graduation. Regents exam pass rates, and pass rates for the lowest-performing students, are also included.