Advocates opposed to rigorous state math and English tests, which are used to determine whether students pass on to the next grade and to rate both teachers and schools, say they expect up to 2,000 students will opt out this year. The number would represent a seven fold increase of the 276 students that opted out last year, according to the Department of Education. Schools in Northern Manhattan such as the Hamilton Heights School, Central Park East I and II, Amistad Dual Language School and Castle Hill are leading the charge.
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