Hoboken High School Graduation Rate Almost at State Average

The graduation school at Hoboken High is 82 percent, according to the recently released school report card. This is one percentage point less than the state's average, which is 83 percent. 

"We are pretty close to the state," said Superindentent of Schools Mark Toback in a phone interview on Friday. 

The report card—which was released by the state on Thursday and reflects the 2010-2011 school year—showed a slight decrease in attendance since the year before.

While in the 2009-2010 school year, the attendance rate at the high school was 91.7 percent. In 2010-2011 it was 90.9 percent. On a state level the attendance rate was 94.6 percent for 2010-2011.

Increasing participation is important to boost test scores and graduation rates, but could also impact future funding, Toback said. If that measure happens, Toback continued, Hoboken would be in a better position to receive that funding. 

As of this year, Toback said, Hoboken students will enjoy a longer school day as well as a longer school year. 

In 2011, the instruction time per day at Hoboken High averaged five hours and 11 minutes per day. The state average was five hours and 36 minutes per day. 

Per year, Toback said, that meant that Hoboken students got about 100 hours less education than the average New Jersey public school student. 

As of next year, Hoboken will have longer school days. "That's an important thing," Toback said. 

For grades K through eighth, there will also be a full-day summer program for the first time, Toback said. About 300 students have signed up for the summer program. 

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