New Issue Brief: The Case for Mayoral Control in New York City Education 

Dismantling centralized accountability jeopardizes two decades of progress for NYC students 

NEW YORK, NY — A new issue brief by Manhattan Institute adjunct fellow Jennifer Weber examines the effects of mayoral control on New York City's public schools, emphasizing its role in facilitating sustained reforms and accountability.  

In 2002, New York City's public education transitioned to a mayoral control system, granting the mayor direct authority over the city's public schools. This shift aimed to streamline decision-making processes and enhance accountability within the nation's largest school district, which serves approximately 900,000 students annually. The report suggests that this governance model has been instrumental in improving literacy rates, increasing graduation rates, and narrowing achievement gaps over the past two decades. Key findings include:

• In 2003, NYC’s high school graduation rate was 53%, about twenty points below the national average. By 2024, it had climbed to 83%, with significant gains among black and Hispanic students. 
• In the same period, eighth-grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading proficiency scores rose from 22% to 29%, one percentage point below the national average and surpassing the large-city average. 

Despite these advancements, Weber cautions that challenges remain. She argues that maintaining mayoral control is crucial for continuing the positive trajectory in educational outcomes. Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has pledged to end mayoral control if elected, in favor of a “co-governance” model. New York City faces a choice: abandon the governance structure that has proven uniquely successful in achieving educational gains or serve as a model for school districts across the nation. 

Click here to read the full issue brief.