What does this indicator measure?

This indicator measures the percentage of students in New York State, Onondaga County, and the City of Syracuse, who met proficiency on the mandated New York State 8th Grade English Language Arts exam.  A score of 3 or 4 is needed to qualify as “proficient”.  A table with those scoring 3 or better in Onondaga County, by school district, is also included.

State standardized tests are a key factor used to gauge whether or not schools are making “Adequate Yearly Progress” (AYP).  In turn, AYP influences Federal funding levels for schools and districts.