| According to the National Education | | | | More New York schools students are college |
| Association, the New York schools have made | | | | bound! The New York schools are among the top |
| significant strides in academic achievement | | | | eight states in the percentage of 18-24 year |
| over the past few years. In a nationwide | | | | olds enrolling in college. This is good news |
| comparison, the New York schools have | | | | for parents, the communities, and the |
| improved student achievement, as well as the | | | | businesses in New York. |
| schools themselves. Though issues remain that | | | | |
| challenge the New York educators, parents and | | | | New York Named One of Smartest States |
| the community can be assured that the New | | | | |
| York schools are doing everything in their | | | | New York has been named one of ten "smartest |
| power to remedy these. | | | | states" in the nation for its quality public |
| | | | elementary and secondary schools. Education |
| Students Are Achieving | | | | Week gives the New York schools a grade of |
| | | | "A" (97 out of 100) for the high standards |
| Essential scoring on the National Assessment | | | | and accountability of the public schools. |
| of Education Progress (NAEP) exam has risen | | | | |
| for the New York schools. | | | | Advanced Placement coursework is offered by |
| | | | 85 percent of the public schools, while only |
| Fourth grader reading scores have risen by 26 | | | | 60 percent of private schools offer them in |
| percent between 1992 and 2003 for those | | | | the New York schools. |
| students scoring in the highest two levels. | | | | |
| | | | The New York schools students take more |
| Writing scores have increased in the New York | | | | advanced coursework. The New York schools are |
| schools, making them among the nation's best. | | | | among the top eight states in percentage of |
| Fourth graders now rank third in the nation | | | | high school students taking upper level math |
| on the NAEP, while eighth graders increased | | | | courses and among the top ten states for |
| scoring by 43 percent between 1998 and 2002 | | | | advanced science coursework taken. |
| in the highest two levels of the exam. | | | | |
| | | | The New York schools are leading the nation |
| Math scores also have improved. Fourth grader | | | | in cutting edge Foreign Language Immersion |
| scores nearly doubled between 1992 and 2003 | | | | Programs (FLIP). They are among the top ten |
| at the two highest levels of the exam. Eight | | | | states nationally in the percentage of public |
| grader scores more than doubled at the | | | | elementary schools offering FLIP coursework. |
| highest two levels between 1990 and 2003. | | | | |
| | | | Quality teachers also push the New York |
| The public New York schools have outperformed | | | | schools in front of other states, with their |
| the private ones on Advanced Placement exams, | | | | middle and high school teachers among the |
| courses through which high school students | | | | most qualified in the nation.. The number of |
| may earn college credit. Students attending | | | | teachers in the New York schools that are |
| public schools score higher in calculus, | | | | nationally certified by the prestigious |
| computer science, and physics. | | | | National Board of Testing Standards has |
| | | | nearly tripled since 2000. Math teachers with |
| College Entrance Exam scores have improved. | | | | majors in their field for the seventh through |
| More New York schools students are getting | | | | twelfth grades place the New York schools |
| high scores on the SAT exam. Graduating | | | | among the top eight states, with |
| seniors also have increased their scores on | | | | similarly-qualified science teachers for the |
| the math portion of the SAT by 28 percent | | | | same grades placing the New York schools |
| since 1994, with a high score being 600 or | | | | among the top seven states. |
| above. Additionally, the New York schools are | | | | |
| one of the top ten states, with high school | | | | Lastly, the New York schools provide at least |
| graduates scoring in the top 20 percent | | | | one computer for instruction for every 4.2 |
| nationally on the ACT and SAT exams. | | | | public school students. |
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