Passing rates decline on South Jersey high school tests

The passing rates of three-quarters of South Jersey's high schools dropped in state math tests last year, while nearly a third of the schools saw declines in language-arts scores, according to data released yesterday by New Jersey education officials.

Fifteen out of 60 South Jersey high schools increased their passing rate on the state's math performance test in 2009, down from 39 schools that improved the year before.

On the high school language-arts test, which, like math, is administered to 11th graders, 29 schools improved in 2009, while 31 saw proficiency-rate decreases. In 2008, only 13 schools had increased passing rates.

Statewide, 72.7 percent of juniors passed the 2009 math test, a drop from 74.8 percent in 2008. On the language test, there was small increase to 83.6 percent proficient or better, compared to 82.8 percent the year before.

Data released yesterday were based on scores on standardized tests taken last school year. The information helps state and federal government track progress by districts and individual schools. It's released to the public every year.

Yearly gains aren't necessarily linked to the highest performing schools.

For example, LEAP Academy University Charter School's juniors showed the largest local math proficiency rate gain at 6.6 percent. However, only 49.2 percent of the Camden school's test-takers scored proficient or better.

Camden Technical High School posted a 9.1 percent improvement in language-arts test performance - the highest in the region - yet 64.3 percent of its juniors were proficient or better.

At the same time, schools that saw decreases were, in some cases, high-achieving schools that experienced a scoring fluctuation. Cherry Hill High School East, to name one, had 95.6 percent of its 11th graders proficient or better in language arts, a slight decrease over the previous year.

Some local schools, however, showed substantial decreases. The biggest in state, by far, was Camden's Brimm Medical Arts High School, with a 43.1 percent proficiency decline in math performance, according to the state data. In 2008, Brimm had the biggest local gain - 83.1 percent proficient or better, compared to 62.9 percent the year before.

In a letter dated Jan. 4, the state Department of Education asked Camden Superintendent Bessie LeFra Young to submit a report within 60 days to discuss "this unusual change."

A district spokesman declined comment on the new numbers.

About a dozen districts got similar letters, said state Education Department spokeswoman Beth Auerswald.

In 2006, an Inquirer investigation resulted in allegations of test-rigging at the magnet school, which were confirmed by a district internal investigation. No criminal indictments were filed, and staff changes were made at the school and in the district.

In local primary schools, 115 schools showed improved passing rates in language arts for fifth graders, while 42 saw declines. In math, 86 schools had improved passing rates for their fifth graders, and 78 had declines.

Over the last two years, the state voluntarily increased the rigor of its assessment standards for elementary- and middle-school test-takers, requiring more questions answered correctly to be graded proficient. In 2009, the tougher standards were applied to third and fourth graders, and the statewide pass rate dropped.

In the assessment data released yesterday, 37 percent of fourth graders statewide failed the language-arts test compared to 17.4 percent the year before. Twenty-seven percent scored less than proficient in math. In 2008, it was 15.2 percent.

In addition, the state released the number of schools that met annual progress targets mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

In 2009, 1,420 schools met those goals - a drop from 1,554 schools in 2008.

State officials yesterday attributed that decline in part to New Jersey's own tougher testing standards. They also cited increases in percentages of various categories of students, including those with special needs, who must score proficient for their schools to be deemed in compliance with federal performance targets.

Locally, 135 schools did not meet progress goals, including 39 in Burlington County, 69 in Camden County, and 27 in Gloucester County. On that list were four Camden city charter schools: Camden's Promise, Freedom Academy, LEAP Academy University Charter, and D.U.E. Season.

In Camden, only four schools fully met progress targets. Those schools were Forest Hill Elementary, Brimm, Creative Arts High School, and MetEast High School. Of the 26 other Camden schools that the state identified as not making adequate progress, district spokesman Bart Leff said that 16 schools had made significant progress in math, literacy, or both and that several others were making strides as well.

"There is more work to be done," Leff said, "and we are making sure and steady progress toward those goals."