NYC Kids Read Novels in Math Class Due to Dumbed-Down Curriculum

NYC Kids Are Reading Novels in Math Class—And Parents Are Losing It

Here’s the thing about New York City schools right now: some math classes barely have any math. I’m serious. Kids are sitting there analyzing To Kill a Mockingbird when they should be solving equations. And honestly? It’s not working. Parents are pissed, tutors are making bank, and families who can afford it are straight-up leaving the district. The whole situation’s a mess.

What’s Actually Happening in NYC Math Classes

When “Math” Doesn’t Mean Math Anymore

So get this—teachers are handing out novels and calling it math instruction. Now, don’t get me wrong, connecting subjects can be cool. But come on. You can’t replace algebra with book reports and expect kids to be ready for college STEM programs. One mom from Brooklyn told me, “My daughter’s last ‘math’ assignment was writing an essay. When does she actually learn to, you know, do math?” Exactly.

Kids Are Bored, Test Scores Are Dropping

And it’s not just parents complaining. The kids themselves say their math classes feel pointless. “We just talk about feelings and stories,” one high schooler shrugged. Meanwhile, test scores keep slipping compared to nearby districts that still teach actual math. Makes you wonder—who thought this was a good idea?

How Families Are Coping (Or Bailing)

The Underground Tutoring Economy

Here’s where it gets wild. Since schools aren’t teaching proper math, parents are shelling out crazy money for tutors. We’re talking $100-$300 per hour in some cases. A friend in Manhattan spends over $10K a year just to keep her kids competitive. “It’s basically a second mortgage,” she laughed. Not funny-ha-ha, funny-oh-god-we’re-screwed.

Moving Out for Better Schools

And then there are the families who just… leave. Applications to gifted programs? Through the roof. Private school admissions? Packed. Some are even moving to New Jersey (yeah, Jersey) where—shocker—they still teach calculus. “Best decision we ever made,” one former Queens resident told me. “At least now my kid can do fractions.”

How Did We Get Here?

Education Reforms Gone Wrong

This isn’t NYC’s first math rodeo. Remember “new math” in the 60s? Common Core? Every decade brings some new experiment. The current approach was supposed to make math more “relevant”—but instead it left advanced kids twisting in the wind. Classic case of fixing what wasn’t broken.

The Testing Trap

Here’s the kicker: schools are ditching basic skills, but standardized tests still want them. So kids get stuck in this weird limbo where they’re not learning what they’ll be tested on. A math teacher with 20 years’ experience put it bluntly: “We’re setting them up to fail.”

The Tracking Debate: Solution or Problem?

The Case for Separate Classes

Some say we need tracked programs where advanced kids can move faster. But others worry that just creates more inequality. One professor I spoke to called it “educational triage”—helping the strong survive while others fall further behind. Not great.

Maybe There’s Another Way

Some districts are trying “differentiated instruction”—basically, teaching the same material at different levels. Early results look promising. But will NYC try it? Your guess is as good as mine.

What Parents Really Want

Simple Demands, Big Resistance

At school board meetings, parents aren’t asking for miracles. Just: 1) Actually teach math, 2) Offer advanced options, and 3) Listen to families. “We’re not being unreasonable here,” one dad said. He’s right. They’re not.

Proof It Can Work

Places like Boston and San Francisco found ways to challenge all students without dumbing things down. If they can do it, why can’t NYC? Politics, probably. But that’s another story.

The Bottom Line

This isn’t just about math scores. It’s about kids’ futures. When families are paying tutors or moving away, that’s the system screaming for change. NYC needs to wake up—because right now, everyone’s losing except the tutoring companies. And that’s just sad.