State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said during a press conference call on State test results, “If you look at the scores in New York City, you see that in fact they are outperforming the other large city school districts… I think that there are some lessons to be learned from what’s occurring in New York City, because you have certainly similar populations and they’ve been able to move that agenda. So I think that we can take some of those lessons learned and help other cities.”

“These improvements reflect New York City’s continued efforts to provide a quality education for our children,” said NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Academic success takes many forms, and these test scores are a positive indicator of the hard work and progress taking place in our classrooms. I thank Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña for their staunch commitment to improving and innovating New York City’s education system to help every student rise and meet their potential.”

“Our schools are moving in the right direction,” said Council Member Daniel Dromm, Chair of the Committee on Education. “I am encouraged by these improvements and look forward to further gains as recent reforms implemented by Chancellor Fariña are built upon.”

“These numbers show that careful attention, professional leadership, and the accountability of Mayoral Control are delivering results for our kids,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “I look forward to working with Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña to build on this progress.”

“This year’s test results and low opt-out rate show that Common Core in New York City is working,” said William C. Rudin, Chairman of the Association for a Better New York. “ABNY applauds the Mayor and the Chancellor for their leadership in implementing the higher standards to prepare our children for success in the 21st century. The future of New York City as a global capital of innovation and culture depends on providing our kids with the skills they need to create and achieve big dreams.”

“The signs of success we're starting to see with the Common Core-aligned curriculum have much to do with the dedication of our school leaders, the skill of our teachers and the hard work of our children,” said Ernest Logan, president of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators. “If implemented wisely and with consistent care, these educational standards will continue to place New York City students on the path to success.”

“Our City continues to make strides with regard to state English and math achievement. We recognize that more needs to be done, but these strides forward, combined with the foundation of a new universal pre-K program, will create improved academic success long-term,” said Congressman Eliot Engel. “I applaud our hardworking NYC teachers, the dedicated individuals working directly with our students, Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña for their commitment to our children.”

“While the students’ test results show slight improvement, we must recognize that we still have a long way to go,” said State Senator and Ranking Member of the Higher Education Committee Toby Ann Stavisky. “The transition to Common Core was not easy, because of the difficulty of the test. As a former public high school teacher, I know first-hand the importance of supporting our students, so that our children can achieve the very high standards we have set for them. I am confident that with the continued partnership of Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Carmen Fariña, together with adequate funding, the children will continue to improve their basic skills.”

“I am pleased to see that New York City students continue to improve their test scores in English and Math, and I am especially encouraged that New York City is narrowing the achievement gap with the State. We must work to ensure that the future of this City is made up of the most well-prepared individuals to succeed and thrive in any competitive economic environment,” said State Senator Jose Peralta.

“I want to commend Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña and Mayor de Blasio for their leadership and the continued gains we’re witnessing with our city students. Although we have a lot more improvement that needs to be done, these results are a reflection of the inclusive management and added accountability within the re-activated school district throughout our city. Likewise, these marks clearly demonstrate that under Mayor de Blasio’s guidance, the Mayoral Control system and its strategies continue to set new benchmarks and proficiency standards that will never be compromised or abandoned,” saidAssembly Member Walter T. Mosley.

“The increased proficiency of New York City students in English and Math demonstrates the amazing progress we can achieve when we provide our students, teachers, and their families with the support and resources they deserve,” said Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo.

“This year’s improved test scores are an incredible accomplishment for our students and our city. By working to ensure that all students in our schools receive the same level of quality education, we are helping guarantee that they will also receive the same enriching opportunities when they graduate, regardless of the neighborhood they are from,” said Council Member Mathieu Eugene. “I commend Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña for making education a priority.”

“I commend our students and educators for this marked improvement and the hard work it took to get there,” said Council Member Vanessa Gibson. “New York City is proud to be home to one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and I am extremely pleased that Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña and the DOE have been able to find a curriculum that allows all of our students to succeed and improve. I commend Mayor de Blasio for his steadfast commitment to our children and I am confident that his leadership and this administration's dedication to an overall cultural shift within our schools will yield tremendous results for our young people going forward.”

“This is fantastic news. I applaud the commitment of our educators, students and parents, who have worked hard to improve not just the scores but the education and development of our students. And, while the results are encouraging we can’t rest on our laurels because our public school students are facing a whole heap of challenges when it comes to education and development. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña for trying to get the education of our children right,” said Council Member Andy King, Co-Chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus.

“A good education involves the active and equal participation of parents, teachers and students. The more involved each of these support structures are in a student’s education, the better chance of success. These new statistics show a concerted effort on behalf of New York City schools to ensure our kids are reaching their potential, and we must continue on this path to a quality education for all,” said Council Member Peter Koo.

“Education is very important for our children. I am very glad to see we are making such great progress,” said Council Member Karen Koslowitz.

“We have an obligation to our children to provide them with a quality education,” said Council Member Rory I. Lancman. “The increase in proficiency announced today shows that, as a city, we are heading in the right direction.”

“The progress and success of our school system is a testament to the value of a New York City public education,” said Council Member I. Daneek Miller. “When resources are equitably distributed, it is clear that our students are up to the task. We applaud the Mayor and Chancellor for their continued commitment to communities and investment in schools.”

“It is great to see that our students are showing progress and it is a testament to the work our educators, parents and students are putting in day in and day out,” said Council Member Donovan Richards. “Our students are showing promise and are adapting to New York City standards, which will help prepare them for a path to a brighter future. I look forward to continuing to support the schools in Council District 31 to ensure that they have all the resources they need to keep up with the best and the brightest in New York State.”

“These results show just how effective Mayoral Control can be. New York City leads the states urban centers when it comes to education and that is in no small part due to the leadership of Chancellor Carmen Fariña and Mayor Bill de Blasio. Though we have more to achieve, these results show that the path forward is clear,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez.

“Step by step, improvement is happening and that is positive. We know that test scores are just one measure of a child's educational experience, and we shouldn't lose sight of that focus,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal.

“Educating young people is among the most important tasks that our City performs,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer. “The results of the City’s most recent exams shows that real progress is being made across our City for students at many different grade levels.”

“We are glad to see improvement on State English and math exams. This is a step in the right direction and proof that we need to focus on our neediest schools and students to see further improvement. We will continue to push for more community schools that address the needs of our students,” saidJonathan Westin, Executive Director of New York Communities for Change.

“Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña’s shift away from Bloomberg's failed sink-or-swim educational agenda, towards one which provides research-based academic support for schools and students appears to moving in the right direction,” said Zakiyah Ansari, Advocacy Director of Alliance for Quality Education. “The reported test score improvements for Black, Latino, and ELLs since this shift acknowledges that there is not just an achievement gap but an opportunity gap. NYC students are long overdue for the resources that this administration is providing. These initiatives are beginning to tackle our deep history of educational and racial inequality, which only further asserts our continued fight for CFE funding.”

"The newly released state test scores for New York City point to continued progress by the nation's largest city school system in teaching all of its students to new and more difficult educational standards in reading and math. These results are encouraging and suggest that the school system is on the right track academically. It is also heartening to see that the gains occurred in both subjects, and across all student groups in every grade. Hat's off to New York City, its leadership, staff, teachers, and parents for this very promising report card,” said Michael Casserly, Executive Director, Council of the Great City Schools.

“We are pleased to see continued progress in the test scores for NYC public school students, across all grades, races, ethnicities and for English Language Learners. This progress shows that many of the reforms put in place over the past few years are making a difference. We look forward to continuing to work with Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Fariña to build on this success through strengthening and expanding the early childhood education and after-school systems, the growth of community schools, the expansion of school-based health and mental health services, the implementation of universal school lunch and breakfast in the classroom to ensure school children are well-nourished, and the expansion of summer programs that combat summer learning loss,” said Stephanie Gendell, Associate Executive Director for Policy and Government Relations, Citizens’ Committee for Children.

“I’m very pleased with the gains in test scores. Though, we have a long way to go, I commend the Mayor and the Chancellor on their efforts to improve the education of our children,” said Reverend Herbert Daughtry, Presiding Minister, House of the Lord Churches.

“As someone who scaled the walls of poverty because of the quality public education I received and as a citizen of this city committed to public education, I am inspired by these test scores. I encourage the Mayor, Chancellor and all others to continue to reach for higher heights on behalf of our students,” said Reverend Fred Davie, Executive Vice President, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York.

“Improving the outcomes of our students within the public school system is key and I applaud our efforts. We must continue to advocate for resources that best equip our children for success. Part of our aim is to provide an equal playing field for all students,” said Reverend Que English, Co-Chair of the NYC Clergy Roundtable and Senior Pastor at Bronx Christian Fellowship.

“It is encouraging and inspiring to see the improvement in scores for our public school students. Today's report highlights the importance of allocating resources to our public school children. I encourage the Mayor and Chancellor to continue to put NYC public students first,” said Reverend Michael Walrond, Senior Pastor at First Corinthian Baptist Church and Chair of the Mayor's Clergy Advisory Council.

“Settlement houses and other community based organizations have worked closely with the de Blasio administration to ramp up their partnership with public schools by offering expanded services such as community schools, mental health services, after-school and early childhood education,” said Nancy Wackstein, Executive Director, United Neighborhood Houses. “We are thrilled to learn that State testing offers evidence that the improvements made in education are already making a positive impact for students. We look forward to continuing to work with the City to ensure every child has the tools and support the need to succeed.”

“As a product of the NYC public schools and a parent of 3 current students I am proud to hear about the progress that our children are making under the leadership of Chancellor Fariña and Mayor de Blasio. Our children are the future of our city and their success is our collective success. We all win when we prioritize education," said Linda Sarsour, Executive Director, Arab American Association of New York.

“I’m thrilled that not only have all our students improved in the State English and Math exams but that the achievement gap between children from ELL families and their peers has also shrunk. This is a testament not only to the hard work our teachers put in this past year, but also to the partnership between the DOE and NYC parents. I look forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work towards continued success next school year,” said Naila Caicedo-Rosario, President of Community Education Council, District 15.

“This is wonderful news and it shows the change in approach is working. As the partnership between parents and school gets stronger, our schools should continue to improve,” saidMorris Altman, President of Community Education Council, District 25.

“The Coalition for Educational Justice has pushed for years to have robust resources for students and families and supports for teachers, and in order to produce academic improvements. The results on this year’s state exam are further proof that when you provide school communities with these things you will get student growth. The cities commitment and investment in both community schools, teacher support, and interschool school collaboration is beginning to paying off. While parents across the city know the state exam doesn't paint a full or complete picture of student success, we are pleased to see gains. While this is a good start there is still more work to be done,” said Natasha Capers, Coordinator for the Coalition for Educational Justice.

“We applaud the administration’s efforts to help our students constantly achieve at higher levels, as evidenced by this year's increase in test scores. However, many of our students, especially our struggling and ELL students, continue to need support services in and outside the classroom to acquire the language and academic skills needed to succeed in the long term. We hope the Mayor and Chancellor will make it a priority to invest in these children by providing the necessary support staff and programs to meet their increasing needs,” said Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director, Asian American Federation of New York.

“We are pleased and encouraged to see that student test scores in English Language Arts and Math continue to rise in our New York City schools." said Sheelah Feinberg, Executive Director of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families. “The rise in scores for Asian students overall is encouraging, yet the diversity of needs within the pan-Asian community are often masked when reported as one racial group. We are encouraged by Chancellor Fariña’s expansion of required learning time and supports for English Language Learners, and urge the continued expansion of these supports.”