According to a report from the New Jersey Department of Education, several schools throughout the state have been found to be underperforming and failing their students. As part of the state’s annual reporting system, public and charter schools receive ‘report cards’ known as New Jersey School Performance Reports. The 2022-2023 school year is covered by the most recent report, which was released earlier this month. The data identifies the state’s bottom 30 performing schools. New Jersey 101.5 compiled a list of the worst schools based on their summative ratings, which range from 0 to 100, with 100 being the highest possible score. No school on the list of the bottom 30 schools in New Jersey received a score higher than 2. Factors considered in the scoring process include English language arts (ELA) and math assessments, chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and other metrics. Scores between 0 and 100 are also given to schools for each of these categories. Certain categories were not scored for a few schools on the bottom 30 list because fewer than 20 students participated. The school at the bottom of the list performed so poorly that its charter was revoked by the state, and it was forced to close in June 2023, according to TAPinto Camden. It is notable that Camden City schools account for nine, or almost a third, of the state’s bottom 30 schools. With seven schools on the list, Trenton schools come in a close second. The Paterson City School District takes third place with four schools featured. The majority of the worst schools are situated in Mercer County and South Jersey. In contrast to the top-performing schools in New Jersey, which are primarily situated in North Jersey, half of the schools on the list are located in South Jersey.
New Jersey Schools Fail Students, as Dozens Underperform
