Recent SAT results show a worrying trend in New York City. Students from NYC public schools scored far below both the state and national averages in the 2023 SAT exam. This marks the lowest average performance for the city in at least seven years, raising concerns about the quality of education and support in the system.
NYC’s SAT Math Scores Drop Sharply
On the math section, NYC students scored an average of 473, which is 71 points lower than the rest of New York State and 32 points below the national average. This is one of the worst scores recorded in recent years and signals a steady decline since 2022.
Reading & Writing Scores Flat, But Still Behind
The average score in reading and writing was 482—the same as the previous year. However, this still lags behind the state average of 553 and the national average of 519. This shows that NYC students are consistently underperforming in both key sections of the SAT.
Big Gaps Between Races in NYC Scores
The results also show a big gap in scores among different racial groups in the city. On the math section:
- Asian students scored 582 (down 4 points from 2022)
- White students scored 536 (down 8 points)
- Hispanic students scored 430 (down 5 points)
- Black students scored 426 (down 2 points)
That’s a 100+ point difference between white/Asian students and Black/Hispanic students, showing clear academic disparities.
Experts Urge Immediate Support and Action
Education experts say these results are a warning sign. David Bloomfield, a professor at Brooklyn College, said it’s a “wake-up call” for NYC public schools to focus more on teaching the basics like math and reading.
Frances Kweller from Kweller Prep, a tutoring company, also stressed the need to offer more academic help to underprivileged students. She said that many NYC students come from poorer families, immigrant backgrounds, and special education programs, which affect their performance.
COVID-19 and Digital SAT Add Pressure
Former DOE official Eric Nadelstern noted that these students were in early high school when COVID-19 hit, which likely impacted their learning. Also, 2024 marked the first full digital version of the SAT, which some students found more difficult, especially the math section.
Participation Slightly Down
The number of students taking the SAT in NYC also dropped slightly—from 71.5% in 2023 to 70.9% last year. Only Asian student participation increased.
Colleges Returning to SAT Requirements
Although many colleges made the SAT optional during the pandemic, many are now bringing back the test requirement. Experts say that SAT scores still play a big role in predicting college readiness and success.
Students like Leo Niyazov and Avish Jain from Brooklyn Tech shared that they are working hard to prepare, hoping good scores will help them enter top colleges or win scholarships.
The latest SAT results show a serious gap between New York City and the rest of the state and country. With average scores at a 7-year low, and clear differences between racial groups, experts say it’s time for the city to refocus on quality education. More support, especially for minority and low-income students, is needed if the city wants to close this learning gap. With colleges returning to test requirements, a strong SAT score is becoming more important again—for both college admission and future success.
