New York taxpayers pour more money into public schools per student than anywhere else in the nation. Governor Kathy Hochul and the Albany Democrats have never hesitated to find more cash for the system. Yet, ensuring children can actually read has proven to be a bridge too far.
The preliminary results from the New York State Education Department paint a grim picture, revealing that a mere 48 percent of students in grades three through eight achieved proficiency in English Language Arts during the 2025-26 school year. Math fared slightly better at 57 percent, while science proficiency for fifth- and eighth-graders hovered at a dismal 47 percent. The full, unvarnished truth is expected in November.
The situation in elementary grades is even more concerning. Only 43 percent of third-graders, 48 percent of fourth-graders, and 43 percent of fifth-graders demonstrated proficiency in English Language Arts. Third-grade proficiency plummeted by 11 points from the previous year, and fifth-grade proficiency dropped by a staggering 14 points. These aren't just numbers; they represent a generation of students being left behind.
The state can't hide behind the excuse of a "new test." The English Language Arts assessments have measured the same standards since 2023, meaning these yearly declines are direct, undeniable evidence of failure.
In a rare moment of candor, the department acknowledged the scale of the problem:
“We will not minimize or attempt to explain away what the data tell us. When scores increase, we report that progress. When they decline, we report that as well. Our responsibility is not to create a narrative around the results, but to understand them, identify where students need additional support, and act accordingly.”
At least they’re not pretending these numbers are good. But the larger question remains unanswered: How did the nation's highest-spending public school system end up with most of its students unable to meet basic English Language Arts proficiency?
New York astonishingly spent $31,918 per student in fiscal year 2024, nearly double the national average of $17,619. New York City led the charge among the country's 100 largest school systems, pouring $35,796 per student. Some districts outside the five largest cities are planning to spend an average of $37,033 per student in 2026-27, even as enrollment declines. A staggering sixty-seven districts intend to spend over $50,000 per student. The latest state budget threw another $39 billion into school aid, a $1.7 billion increase from the previous year. After such monumental spending, any plea for more funding should be met with outrage and skepticism.
Then there are the charter schools, a stark contrast to this failing system. On the 2025 state exams, 92 percent of third-graders across 29 Success Academy elementary schools were proficient in English Language Arts, and 97 percent were proficient in math. Compare that to New York City district schools, which posted rates of 58 percent and just over 63 percent, respectively. What's more, Success Academy achieved these superior results while spending approximately $21,218 per student, significantly less than the city system's roughly $32,000.
But instead of embracing what works, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) continues its relentless fight against charter expansion. In June, the union and its state affiliate sued to block the transfer of a Success Academy charter to a new school. UFT President Michael Mulgrew's priority was clear:
“Charter schools drain resources from district public schools, and the cap was created to minimize harm.”
The union filed that lawsuit less than two months before the state released another round of abysmal scores. Let that sink in. While city third-graders were falling 14 points behind in reading, the UFT’s top priority was to ensure those same kids couldn’t escape to a school that actually works. Parents looking at a 43 percent third-grade English Language Arts proficiency rate may have some very pointed thoughts about whose interests the union is actually protecting. It’s certainly not the children.
Governor Hochul and the Democrat-controlled Legislature have answered every round of weak results with just one solution: another funding increase and another round of hollow promises. It hasn't worked. It isn't working. The 2026 scores make that undeniably clear. New York parents deserve straight answers, not political platitudes: Which failing programs are being scrapped? Who is being held accountable for this educational catastrophe? And why should anyone believe the next billion dollars will produce different results than the last hundred billion did?
The kids are still waiting to learn how to read, while their parents are done waiting for excuses. It's time to put America First, which means putting American children first, demanding accountability for taxpayer dollars, and ensuring our education system delivers results, not just rhetoric.
