The middle school English examination serves as a checkpoint for high school preparation. Performance on this exam can help predict high school success in English.

In 2019, 39% of eighth-graders in our region passed the English exam (met or exceeded state standards), lower than the statewide rate of 48%. Of the counties in our region, Ontario County had the highest passing rate in 2019, 49%, while Wayne County had the lowest at 35%.

Of the cities in our region, the Canandaigua school district had the highest rate at 62%. In contrast, the Rochester school district had the lowest passing rate at just 10%. In comparison, the students at Rochester charter schools passed at a rate of 30%. About 44% of all 8th graders in Rochester public schools who took the exam attended charter schools.

We note that a substantial number of students did not take state exams in 2019 due to parent concerns about testing in schools. In our region in 2019, 15% of 3rd-8th graders in the region opted not to take the English exam. In 2019, Spencerport School District had the highest opt-out rate, at 39%, while the Rochester City School District had the lowest rate at 5%. The large percentage of students not taking the exam may have a significant effect on overall achievement levels and should therefore give caution to interpreting these results.

Changes in the state's testing program over the last decade impact the comparability of test results year to year. In 2013, the state shifted to Common Core Standards and Common Core-based tests, making prior years' results non-comparable. The Common Core was adopted in most states to better prepare students for success beyond high school by emphasizing problem solving, understanding and synthesis, comprehension of nonfiction text, and other higher-order thinking skills. Due to the state's new two-session test design and performance standards, the 2018 grades 3-8 results cannot be compared with prior-year results, though results from 2013 to 2017 are provided for context. Data for this indicator are expected to be released in the third quarter.