Year-over-year moversFull briefing
Ten schools lost 25+ points of math proficiency since 2018
The longer form of the briefing for this story: the original thesis, the supporting findings the data team flagged, and the reporting directions a journalist could follow. For the short version and the data analysis, see the main story page.
Thesis
Most NYC schools held roughly steady on math through pandemic disruption — but ten schools lost 25+ points of grade-5 math proficiency from 2018-19 to 2024-25. Six are in Brooklyn. Why this cluster?
Supporting findings
- Biggest decliners (grade-5 math proficient, 2018-19 → 2024-25):
- Brooklyn New School (K, -51.8)
- Walton Avenue School (B, -40.0)
- PS 280 Mosholu Parkway (B, -39.2)
- PS 25 Eubie Blake (K, -35.7)
- PS 26 Jesse Owens (K, -31.4)
- PS 69 Journey Prep (B, -31.4)
- Brighter Choice Community School (K, -30.3)
- PS 64 Robert Simon (M, -29.2)
- PS/IS 218 Rafael Hernandez Dual Language Magnet (B, -26.5)
- PS 295 (K, -25.9)
- 6 of 10 are Brooklyn. 3 are Bronx. 1 is Manhattan.
- PS 218 is dual-language — relevant to the dual-language ELA dip we see citywide.
- Most are zoned or open enrollment — not selective. Selective schools rarely show this kind of regression.
- Look at principal tenure at each — leadership change correlation?
- What does InsideSchools narrative say at each?
Reporting directions
- Pull principal tenure / change at each of the 10 (NYC DOE Galaxy or Sitecore archive).
- Profile 2-3 decliners in depth — what happened?
- Compare with NYSED 'priority school' or 'comprehensive support' designations.
- Look for shared building / network / superintendent.