Two Chatham Schools Among Best In NJ

CHATHAM, NJ—Two of Chatham's schools were rated in the top six percent of a controversial state-generated list which scored every public school in New Jersey on a scale of 1-100.

Out of 2088 public schools in New Jersey, Lafayette Avenue School ranked 121, with a 94.29 score. Chatham High School was ranked at 125, with a 94.08 score.

According to the New Jersey Department of Education, the high school scores are based on graduation and absenteeism rates and standardized scores. Elementary and middle school scores factor in absenteeism, standardized test scores and student progress.

The 2020 data, established before the coronavirus shut schools in March, has drawn criticism from some who say it is unfair to compare elementary and high schools. The New Jersey School Boards Association has said a single grade by itself "draws an incomplete picture of school performance and the quality of education provided to its students."

But others, such as the New Jersey PTA, say it gives parents better tools to evaluate their child's education.

"They have the tools to ask questions of their teachers and other stakeholders such as the superintendent, principal, and Board of Education," the PTA said.

The ratings were established to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced the controversial No Child Left Behind Act. Marine Academy of Science and Technology in Monmouth County was ranked first overall, and you can see the full list here.

The top 10 schools in New Jersey and their scores, according to the state rankings:

1. Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Monmouth County Vocational School District, Monmouth 100.00
2. Mendham Township Middle School, Mendham Township School District, Morris 100.00
3. Central Jersey College Prep Charter School, Central Jersey College Prep Charter School, Charters 100.00
4. Markham Place School, Little Silver Boro School District, Monmouth 99.94
5. Jersey City Global Charter School, Jersey City Global Charter School, Charters 99.88
6. Clark Mills School, Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District, Monmouth 99.82
7. Riverview Elementary School, Denville Township K-8 School District, Morris 99.76
8. Academy For Information Technology, Union County Vocational-Technical School District, Union 99.72
9. Henry B. Milnes Elementary School, Fair Lawn Public School District, Bergen 99.70
10. Alexander Hamilton School, Glen Rock Public School District, Bergen 99.64

—With reporting by Tom Davis