NYC meets class size target, but only after state lowers the bar and city changes its math
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. New York City public schools not only met the state-mandated targets to shrink classes, they surpassed the goal, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday. Nearly three-quarters of classes across New York City’s public schools are capped at 20 to 25 students, depending on the grade. The city cleared the state’s benchmark for two reasons. First, state lawmakers moved the goal post when they agreed in June to give the city more time to comply with the law, requiring 70% of classes meet the caps this school year instead of the original target of 80%. Additionally, the city made a change in which classes it counted toward class-size compliance. Officials added to the calculation for the first time “cluster” classes in elementary schools — courses like science, art, physical education, and music that are not taught by students’ typical classroom teacher. Without counting cluster classes, 69.5% of classes would have met the caps, schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels said, just shy of the new requirement. Unlike last
