And 27,000 city students did not take the test last June because they were not prepared.

In turn, the city students appear to be enjoying their time at college.

Official statistics say only 54 percent of city students graduate from high school after four years, and some studies suggest the number is far lower.

The project aims to increase the number of inner city students who graduate and go to college.

In all, 301,341 city students received such letters, up from 281,307 last year.

About 44 percent of city students who meet that description had either failed the exam or not taken it by last fall, state officials said.

That is not to say city students were free to look like ragamuffins.

I am not against accountability or providing the best possible education for inner city students.

His day-to-day life looks like that of any city student.

On last year's test, city students were behind even after accounting for income and language differences.