New Manhattan Institute Report: New York Math Achievement Lags Behind

Gaps in the state's framework for math instruction are holding students back

NEW YORK, NY – A new Manhattan Institute report highlights the failure of New York’s education system. New York State’s math outcomes consistently fall below the national averages, with just 37% of fourth-grade students reaching proficiency in 2024, landing the state 38th in the nation. By eighth grade, only 26% of students are proficient, down from 34% in 2017 and 2019. Governor Kathy Hochul recently pledged to prioritize improving school math instruction in her State of the State proposal.

Manhattan Institute fellow Jennifer Weber points out in her new report that when students fall behind in foundational math, every new concept becomes harder to learn, making them less likely to succeed in advanced math and even other academics. Specifically, Weber finds that New York’s grade-level standards fail to ensure that students believe math makes sense, and that effort pays off, which is a critical concept for proficiency.  
 
Weber emphasizes that math proficiency opens doors to advanced coursework, postsecondary opportunities, and economic mobility. When students fall behind, especially in the early grades, those doors become harder to open. Weber argues that New York has the standards on paper, but lacks the infrastructure to make them real in classrooms across the state. Her report outlines five concrete reforms to improve that framework: 

1. Establish consistent statewide requirements for math instructional time. 
2. Increase targeted focus on K–8 foundational math.
3. Establish statewide expectations for math screenings and progress monitoring.
4. Establish statewide expectations for instructional sequencing of math content.
5. Establish clear expectations around the adoption of evidence-based curriculum. 

Click here to read the full report.