The report finds that in 2011-12, the most recent school year for which data is available, while 70% of all New York City middle school students identified as Black or Hispanic, nearly 83% of middle school students who were at least one year over-age identified as Black or Hispanic. Furthermore, over-age middle school students were twice as likely to have special education needs. In addition, nearly 60% of NYC students entering middle school over-age are concentrated in just 25% of the City’s middle schools and large populations of over-age students are located in high-need communities in Brooklyn and the Bronx.

There is also a correlation between over-age status and school attendance: after the sixth grade, even one- year over-age students have lower attendance rates than their on-track peers, and attendance rates continue to decrease as students drop further and further behind. Moreover, educators and advocates report a strong correlation between significant disruptions in schooling and over- age status.

The report urges the DOE to act promptly to create and expand alternative program options for over-age middle school students. The report also recommends further revising promotion policies at all grade levels; making promotion appeals more accessible to families by creating an appeals form and designating central-based staff to assist in difficult cases; and fostering information-sharing by establishing central-based supports for schools serving over-age students.