New York City public schools retained only 0.4% of students in grades 3 through 8 during the last academic year, even as more than 40% of those students failed standardized reading and math tests. According to the city Department of Education, approximately 3% of students in these grades did not meet advancement requirements, but the majority were still promoted.
Critics have labeled this practice "educational malpractice." The number of students held back has significantly decreased since the implementation of Chancellor's Regulation A-501 in 2014. Under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, schools were permitted to use "holistic" criteria beyond standardized test scores, such as report card grades and other demonstrations of academic mastery, to determine proficiency in math and language.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education stated that course grades are intended to reflect students' demonstrated mastery of standards, not solely attendance, behavior, or time spent in class, and that students must meet course expectations to earn credit.
In 2010, when enrollment in city schools was 990,000, 1.15% of students were held back. A DOE spokesperson reported that from 2021 to 2025, only 0.3% of fifth- through eighth-graders were held back.
Despite the city spending $36,293 per pupil, just over half of the city's students passed standardized math and reading tests in 2025. The practice of passing students to the next grade regardless of academic performance is commonly referred to as "social promotion."
Concerns about the accuracy of the overall picture have been raised, with one source suggesting the reality might be worse. A report from the Success Academy Charter Schools network indicated that 43% of the city's 912,000 public school students attend consistently failing schools. This report also found that fewer than half of students in 906 public schools across the city are passing standardized tests in reading or math. A third of these schools have been categorized as failing for decades, with some appearing on state accountability lists tracking academically failing schools since 2012.
These statistics emerge amidst record education spending. The DOE's budget has increased to $40 billion, despite a consistent decline in student enrollment. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment in New York City public schools has dropped by 12.2% over four years. In 2025 alone, the city schools lost 22,000 students, marking a 2.4% decrease, the steepest decline in four years.
Advocates argue that the Department of Education needs to improve communication with families about students not being at grade level and to cease automatic promotions. They contend that this policy hinders students, causing them to struggle with fundamental math and reading in college.