A Note on the Data

Unless otherwise noted, all data findings are based on The Education Trust–New York’s analysis of unpublished 2019-20 course enrollment data provided by the New York State Education Department.

The middle school data analysis on racial/ethnic disparities includes 1,293 of 1,398 (92 percent) of district-run schools with grade 7 and/or 8 enrollment, representing more than 99 percent of all students enrolled in grades 7 and 8 in 2018-19. The following schools were excluded from the analysis:

• 16 District 75 schools in New York City;
• 3 Special Act schools; and
• 86 schools where grades 7-8 enrollment was less than 25 students.

The middle school data analysis on disparities for students who are low-income includes 1,227 of 1,398 (88 percent) of district-run schools with grade 7 and/or 8 enrollment, representing 94 percent of all students enrolled in grades 7 and 8 in 2018-19. The following schools were excluded from the analysis:

• 16 District 75 schools in New York City;
• 3 Special Act schools;
• 86 schools where grades 7-8 enrollment was less than 25 students; and
• 66 schools whose data on students who are low-income was suppressed.

The high school data analysis on racial/ethnic disparities includes 1,190 of 1,287 (92 percent) with grade 9, 10, 11, and/or 12 enrollment, representing more than 99 percent of all students enrolled in grades 9-12 in 2019-20. The following schools were excluded from the analysis:

• 9 District 75 schools in New York City;
• 4 Special Act schools; and
• 84 schools where 9-12 grade enrollment was less than 50 students.

The high school data analysis on disparities for students who are low-income includes 1,068 of 1,287 schools (83 percent) with grade 9, 10, 11, and/or 12 enrollment, representing 92 percent of all students enrolled in grades 9-12 in 2019-20. The following schools were excluded from the analysis:

• 9 District 75 schools in New York City;
• 4 Special Act schools;
• 84 schools where 9-12 grade enrollment was less than 50 students; and
• 122 schools whose data on students who are low-income was suppressed.

Charter schools are excluded from all analyses due to missing course enrollment data.

Who gets to enroll in AP/IB courses?

At the middle school level, enrollment rates are the sum of grade 7-8 enrollments in a specific course divided by all students enrolled in grades 7-8. At the high school level, enrollment rates are the sum of grade 9-12 enrollments in a specific course divided by all students enrolled in grades 9-12. Note: because students can concurrently enroll in more than one AP/IB course (e.g., AP Statistics and AP Biology), enrollment rates for AP/IB courses may exceed 100%. Additionally, in rare cases students may also concurrently enroll in more than one foreign language or music course. However, due to the low access to these courses across the state, statewide and regional enrollment rates for foreign language and music rarely exceed 100%.

Proficient & Passed Over

Analysis conducted by The Education Trust–New York based on unpublished course enrollment data provided by the New York State Education Department. The data indicated the 2016-17 grade 7 state math assessment proficiency level (1-4) or not tested by course for 2017-18 grade 8 math course enrollment and 2018-19 grade 9 math course enrollment for each student group. The analysis defines advanced math classes as follows:

• In grade 8: Algebra I (Common Core); Geometry (Common Core); and Algebra II (Common Core).
• In grade 9: Geometry (Common Core); Algebra II (Common Core); Trigonometry; Trigonometry/Math Analysis; Trigonometry/Algebra; Trigonometry/Analytic Geometry; Pre-Calculus; Calculus; AP Calculus AB; AP Calculus BC; and AP Statistics.

Data was provided only at the statewide and need/resource capacity levels. Data is suppressed if the number of students that are proficient (levels 3 and 4) is less than 20.