Hoboken Students Better And Worse Than State Averages

Hoboken High School students outperformed state averages on math and language proficiency last year. The number of students labeled only "partially proficient," however, rose, state school report cards show. 

The partial proficiency percentages in math and language for eleventh graders who have to take the High School Profeciency Assessment in those subjects saw an increase in the 2010-2011 school year. 

Partial proficiency, said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Toback, is a number that should be lower, while percentages for "proficiency" and "advanced" should go up.

Language 

In the 2010-2011 school year, 65.1 percent of eighth graders taking the Assesment of Skills and Knowledge (ASK) test ranked "proficient" in language arts, compared to a state average of 63.4 percent. Proficiency levels dropped a little bit in the district since the year before, when 68.1 percent was ranked as proficient. 

At the high school, 33.7 percent of eight graders were partially proficient in language, compared to 17.2 percent on the state level. Only 1.2 percent of Hoboken High students ranked as "advanced," compared to 19.4 percent on the state level. 

For eleventh graders taking the HSPA, partial proficiency levels went from 18.9 percent in 2009-2010 to 27.6 percent in 2010-2011 for language. Proficiency levels for the language HSPA saw a decrease in 2011, from 81.1 percent to 70.3 percent.

"An increase in partially proficient students is not a good thing," Toback said. "That's the number we want to see reduced."

The numbers released in the state report cards on Thursday are a year behind. During the 2012 school year, Toback said, the high school has seen an increase in proficiency levels. "We are now close to 90 percent proficient," he said. 

Math

When it comes to math testing, Hoboken High's proficiency numbers were up in 2011 compared to the previous year. HHS exceeded the state averages on partial- and complete proficiency levels. The state average of those who are advanced is higher than at the high school. 

Of the eighth graders tested, 47.1 percent ranked proficient in math, 42.5 percent scored partially proficient and 10.3 percent of the students have been deemed advanced. 

For the HSPA, the partially proficient scores in math also went up. While the year before the partially proficient levels were 57.9 percent, in 2010-2011 it was 66.7 percent. The math proficiency percentage dropped from 41.3 percent in 2010 to 31.9 percent in 2011. This is lower than the state level, which has about 50 percent of HSPA takers at proficiency. 

If eleventh graders don't pass the HSPA, they have the option of re-taking the test in twelfth grade, Toback said. 

According to the report card, 50.8 percent of Hoboken high schoolers graduated based on passing both sections of the HSPA. This is much lower than the state average at 82.2 percent. 

Toback said he would like to increase the number of students graduating after passing the HSPA. One way to do that—as well as increase the graduation rate which is currently at 82 percent—is to "improve academic programs," Toback said. 

SAT scores 

Compared to the 2009-2010 school year, the high school's SAT scores saw a bit of a drop. The scores are also lower than the state average. 

Of the 118 students at HHS who took the SAT, the average score was 385 for math, 380 for verbal and 386 for the essay. On the state level those scores were—respectively—518, 494 and 496 for the 2010-2011 school year. 

The SAT scores for math and verbal dropped since the school year before. The averages of the essay section, however, increased in 2011. 

"That is obviously a very important thing for high schoolers," Toback said about the SAT scores. He added that the school district will add additional time for career-based instruction to help prepare students for life after high school.  

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