Duncan Responds to Village School College Readiness Report

According to the NJ Department of Education State Report Card, Village School only outperformed 6 percent of its peer schools in college readiness.

But college readiness is measured by chronic absenteeism at the elementary level, and Superintendent Barabra Duncan said in a school with only kindergarten through third grade, this can add up.

Village missed the maximum 6 percent state target for chronic absenteeism by one percent.

"We understand that little ones are frequently ill, and parents tend to take them out of school for vacations. We need to adjust the culture as far as the idea that school for little ones can be more flexible," Duncan said. "It does matter, we are being held accountable, and we don't want to fall into this pattern of having statistics that are not as good if not better than our peer groups."

Duncan said chronic absenteeism is defined by missing 10 percent of eligible school days, or 18 days in one year.

"Of the 31 peers, only four are pre-k through 3 schools. New Jersey has all sorts of configuration of schools. Only four really are our peers."

In Monmouth County, Village School's peer group (those with a similar demographic) consisted of Sickles in Fair Haven, Defino Central in Marlboro Township, Nut Swam in Middletown, Roosevelt Elementary in Roosevelt Boro, Allenwood in Wall Township and Atlantic Highlands.

Patch will continue to publish school report card data for Holmdel schools over the coming weeks.