Charter-school student gains on the 2016 state math and English exams markedly outpaced their public-school counterparts, according to state Department of Education figures released Friday. For grades 3 to 8, 43 percent of charter-school students scored at proficient levels on the 2016 English exam — up 13.7 percentage points from last year. By comparison, 38 percent of public-school kids were proficient, a more modest hike of 7.6 percentage points. The evidence is in that charter schools are the most effective urban school reform in the nation,” said Jenny Sedlis, executive director of Stu­dents­FirstNY. “Charter schools are serving high-risk populations incredibly effectively and it’s time for Mayor de Blasio to embrace what actually works for low-income students.” Read now