New York School Turns Around Algebra Scores with Smart Plan

When New York State released recent Algebra II exam results, Batavia City School District saw an opportunity to do better for its students.

While 77% of Batavia students passed their Algebra II exams, slightly above the 75% state average, Superintendent Jason Smith and his team knew they could reach more kids. Instead of making excuses, they got to work.

The district quickly launched WIN (What I Need Now), a daily intervention period built right into the school day. Every student gets personalized academic support based on exactly what they need to succeed. Some get extra practice on challenging concepts, while others dive deeper into advanced topics.

Batavia also started checking in on student progress every four to six weeks instead of waiting until test time. Teachers can now spot struggling students early and adjust their teaching before anyone falls too far behind.

The school serves 56 Algebra II students, compared to top-ranked Elba's nine students. Batavia also welcomes all students into advanced courses without prerequisites, ensuring every teenager gets a shot at challenging coursework regardless of their background.

Smith emphasized that when compared to similar small city districts across New York, Batavia's performance looks solid. Some comparable districts saw passing rates as low as 16%, with none reaching 100%.

Why This Inspires

What makes Batavia's response inspiring isn't the test scores. It's the immediate action. Rather than defending the status quo, school leaders acknowledged the gap between good and great, then built concrete solutions.

The district also proved that supporting students emotionally and academically aren't competing priorities. Their social-emotional learning programs have reduced conflicts and created safer classrooms where kids can actually focus on learning. Happy, secure students simply learn better.

Teachers now receive professional development aligned with what students actually struggle with, not generic training. The school expanded tutoring, added structured benchmark goals, and committed to transparency with families investing tax dollars in education.

Every student deserves to master algebra, not just most students, and Batavia is working toward that goal one intervention at a time.