Charters boast big test-score boost

Charter-school student gains on the 2016 state math and English exams markedly outpaced their public-school counterparts, according to state Department of Education figures released Friday.

For grades 3 to 8, 43 percent of charter-school students scored at proficient levels on the 2016 English exam — up 13.7 percentage points from last year.

By comparison, 38 percent of public-school kids were proficient, a more modest hike of 7.6 percentage points.

“The evidence is in that charter schools are the most effective urban school reform in the nation,” said Jenny Sedlis, executive director of StudentsFirstNY. “Charter schools are serving highrisk populations incredibly effectively and it’s time for Mayor de Blasio to embrace what actually works for low-income students.”

Charter-school gains mildly outpaced public schools on the 2016 state math exam, according to the data.

They were 48.7 percent proficient, up 4.5 percent- age points from last year.

Public-school students posted a small math proficiency hike, up 1.2 points from last year to 36.4 percent, according to figures.

The Department of Education celebrated the rise in scores, attributing publicschool progress to collec- tive effort and innovation.

“We have seen incredible improvement on these exams, and it’s so important that we’ve seen it in every single school district,” said Chancellor Carmen Fariña in a statement. “Testament to not only the hard work of students, but the impor- tance of having strong educators at the helm: our superintendents, principals and teachers.”

De Blasio also lauded city school students Friday after the scores were released.

“These results represent important progress and outline real improvements across each borough of our city,” he said in a statement.

De Blasio did not mention the gains gap between charter and public schools.

Despite the progress, Friday’s jubilation was tempered because of structural changes in English and math exams from last year that made direct comparisons shaky.

The 2016 exams were administered by a new testing company and students were faced with fewer questions than in years past. In addition, students had unlimited time.