NEW YORK — Close to half of New York City public schoolchildren do not feel challenged in the classroom, according to this year’s school survey results released Tuesday.

Roughly 41% of students said they feel like they are “challenged academically” or “learn new and hard things” in only some or none of their classes, the results showed. In response to a follow-up question, around 53% reported they “often” or “very often” felt bored during last school year.

The citywide school survey is administered to students, families and teachers every year, and this year’s results express the views of more than 870,000 respondents — a 2% increase from last year. The survey opened on Feb. 9 and closed on April 30.

In a news release, education officials said the data “signals strong alignment” with Chancellor Kamar Samuels’ pledge to make academic rigor one of his top priorities for the public schools.

“The school survey is one of our most important tools because it gives families, students, and staff a direct voice in shaping our schools,” Samuels said in a statement. “As the nation’s largest school system, we rely on this feedback to strengthen our schools and continue leading through innovation and improvement.”

Roughly 92% of students reported feeling safe in their classes, though the percentage declined when children, especially students of color, were asked about other school spaces, such as the hallways and cafeteria. For example, just 83% of Asian, Black and Hispanic students said they feel safe in the locker rooms and bathrooms, the data showed.

Close to three-quarters of students said their schoolmates at least sometimes get into physical fights at school, and a quarter are “often” or “very often” harassing or bullying others online or through social media, according to the results.

Education officials cautioned against comparing students’ responses between school years because they revised the child-facing survey, so the Daily News was unable to consider changes in cyberbullying data given New York’s school cell phone ban. (Meanwhile, other polls administered by the state have shown early positive signs for schools.)

In the family survey, the vast majority of parents and guardians — 96% —continued to report feeling satisfied with the education their child received last school year. That’s in line with the satisfaction rate every year since the question for parents was last edited between 2023 and 2024.

Asked about room for improvement, families, as in past years, overwhelmingly called for stronger “enrichment programs,” such as afterschool, clubs and sports teams, according to the results.

Also at the top of parents’ wish list was more hands-on learning — instead of the teacher doing all of the talking — and smaller class sizes. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, while maintaining he supports a state law capping classrooms between 20 and 25 students, persuaded Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature to push back its full implementation, forcing those families to wait two more years until the limits are instituted citywide.

“That’s why we’ll continue to make sure we get it done,” United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew told the Daily News on parent demand for smaller class sizes.

“Last year, we made a big deal that we had to get the capital (plan) in place,” the teachers union boss said. “That was definitely missing, and we’ve seen good progress on that, so I’m happy about that. But when the DOE gets back to work, we’ll see where they’re at overall on class size for next school year.”

The news release also touted teachers’ confidence in Samuels’ leadership: 77%, up from 69% under the previous administration. In response to survey questions, teachers agreed with statements such as the chancellor is an effective manager and someone they can trust at his word.

The survey closed weeks before Samuels came under scrutiny related to a no-bid contract he signed as a Manhattan district schools superintendent before being appointed chancellor. In May, Samuels was accused of bill-splitting in Community School District 3 to avoid a competitive bidding process required for big contracts. The maneuver cut through bureaucracy and allowed Samuels to quickly place world language teachers in classrooms.

Samuels has said that his actions on the Upper West Side and in Harlem were taken on behalf of students and not for any personal gain. Mamdani has stood by his chancellor while an investigation is ongoing.

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