New Jersey releases 2006 School Report Cards

New Jersey releases 2006 School Report Cards

The New Jersey Department of Education today released its annual report card of school information.

The data allow anyone to look up information on individual schools ranging from costs to test scores.

"At the federal and state levels, there is unprecedented emphasis on accountability for steadily improved academic performance for every student in every school," said Commissioner of Education Lucille E. Davy.

"The state-mandated New Jersey School Report Card provides the districts and the public with an annual assessment of how each school is doing in serving our students' academic needs."

Release of the information is mandated by a 1995 state law. Included are all elementary and secondary schools, as well as vocational schools, special education schools, charter schools, and Special Services School Districts.

Statewide, the data reveal the following:

--A slight increase in the graduation rate to 93.2 percent for 2005-06.

--An increase of 3,953 students in public schools in 2005-06 compared with the year before.

--An increase of 40,000 Hispanic students in the last five years to a total of 253,487 in 2005-06.

--An increase in Internet connections in classrooms to an average of 98.7 percent in 2005-06 and the number of students per computer available for supervised instruction has decreased from 3.9 to 3.7.