What share of students in New York are proficient in math?

In 2024, 26% of eighth graders in New York public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (26th highest among the 50 states and DC) and 31% in reading, compared with 34% and 32% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in New York, United States: official figures

86.7% of public high school students in New York graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 24th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

86.7%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

215

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

271

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$31,918

FY2024

Public school enrollment

2,533,449

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

41.2%

2024

Is the graduation rate in New York rising?

The four-year graduation rate in New York was 86.7% in 2021-22, compared with 77% in 2011-12 and 82.8% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in New York?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in New York was 81.6% for economically disadvantaged students, 66.2% for students with disabilities and 60.7% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in New York?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in New York was 80.5% for Black, 80.4% for Hispanic and 91.5% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in New York score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in New York averaged 215 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 220 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 41% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in New York score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in New York averaged 257 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 24th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 262 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 35% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in New York score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in New York averaged 234 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 237 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 37% scored at or above Proficient and 28% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in New York score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in New York averaged 271 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 25th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 280 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 26% scored at or above Proficient and 42% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does New York spend per student?

Public school systems in New York spent $31,918 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, the highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in New York going up?

Current spending per pupil in New York rose from $25,139 in fiscal 2019 to $31,918 in fiscal 2024, up 27.0% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 6.4%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does New York spend school money on?

Of the $31,918 spent per pupil in New York in fiscal 2024, $21,571 went on instruction and $9,695 on support services; salaries and wages came to $16,548 per pupil and employee benefits $8,312.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in New York come from?

Public school systems in New York received $92.2 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 8.4% from the federal government, 40.8% from the state and 50.9% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does New York spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in New York was $91.6 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $81.3 billion was current spending and $8.1 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $33.2 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in New York?

2,533,449 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in New York in fall 2023, down 5.9% on fall 2019 (2,692,589) and down 7.3% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in New York?

Public schools in New York had 215,761 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 11.7 pupils per teacher, joint 5th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; New York in fall 2019: 12.4).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in New York have a college degree?

41.2% of adults aged 25 and over in New York, about 5,819,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 10th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.3 percentage points on 2021 (39.9%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in New York have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 18.4% of adults 25 and over in New York had a graduate or professional degree and 8.7% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in New York did not finish high school?

88.0% of adults 25 and over in New York had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 12.0% without one; that share is joint 5th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How New York compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

New York ranks 24 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
21	Nebraska	87.1%
22	California	87.0%
23	Pennsylvania	87.0%
24	New York	86.7%
25	North Carolina	86.4%
26	Maryland	86.3%
27	Ohio	86.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

New York ranks 17 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
14	Kansas	82.2%
15	Connecticut	82.1%
16	Missouri	81.7%
17	New York	81.6%
18	Nevada	81.5%
19	Wisconsin	81.4%
20	Delaware	81.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

New York ranks 22 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
19	Hawaii	216
20	Rhode Island	216
21	North Dakota	216
22	New York	215
23	Tennessee	215
24	Wisconsin	215
25	South Carolina	215

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

New York ranks 24 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
21	Maryland	258
22	Kentucky	258
23	Rhode Island	258
24	New York	257
25	Louisiana	257
26	Hawaii	257
27	North Dakota	257

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

New York ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
35	Missouri	235
36	Louisiana	235
37	Vermont	235
38	New York	234
39	Maryland	234
40	California	233
41	Oklahoma	233

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

New York ranks 27 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
24	Washington	274
25	Kansas	274
26	Maine	273
27	New York	271
28	Kentucky	271
29	Michigan	270
30	Arizona	270

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

New York ranks 26 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
23	Vermont	28.5%
24	Iowa	27.2%
25	Kansas	26.3%
26	New York	26.2%
27	Rhode Island	26.0%
28	Arizona	25.8%
29	California	25.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

New York ranks 22 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
19	Virginia	41.5%
20	Nevada	41.4%
21	Maryland	40.8%
22	New York	40.7%
23	Illinois	40.7%
24	Georgia	40.6%
25	South Carolina	40.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

New York ranks 1 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
1	New York	$31,918
2	District of Columbia	$31,529
3	Vermont	$28,818
4	New Jersey	$27,234
5	Connecticut	$26,316
6	Massachusetts	$24,429
7	Hawaii	$23,878

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

New York ranks 41 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
38	Minnesota	+27.7%
39	Ohio	+27.5%
40	Missouri	+27.1%
41	New York	+27.0%
42	Nebraska	+26.7%
43	Wisconsin	+26.6%
44	South Dakota	+26.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

New York ranks 12 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
9	Pennsylvania	52.4%
10	Illinois	51.1%
11	Maine	51.0%
12	New York	50.9%
13	Texas	50.8%
14	South Dakota	49.9%
15	Virginia	48.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

New York ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
43	North Dakota	12.4
44	Massachusetts	12.0
45	New Jersey	11.8
46	New York	11.7
47	Connecticut	11.7
48	New Hampshire	11.5
49	Maine	11.4

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

New York ranks 45 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
42	California	-5.2%
43	Colorado	-5.2%
44	Rhode Island	-5.2%
45	New York	-5.9%
46	New Mexico	-5.9%
47	New Hampshire	-6.1%
48	Oregon	-6.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

New York ranks 10 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
7	Virginia	43.3%
8	Connecticut	42.6%
9	New Hampshire	41.5%
10	New York	41.2%
11	Washington	41.0%
12	Minnesota	40.0%
13	Illinois	39.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

New York ranks 5 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
2	Texas	13.3%
3	Nevada	12.3%
4	New Mexico	12.1%
5	New York	12.0%
6	Mississippi	12.0%
7	Louisiana	11.8%
8	Kentucky	11.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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