High School Shows Marked Rise in Proficiency, Principal Tells Parents

Jefferson Township High School Principal Karl Mundi had good news for parents Tuesday night: An analysis of student performance over the past four years using data provided by the New Jersey Department of Education show significant increases in scores achieved on the language arts and math portions of the High School Proficiency Assessment. 

Mundi sat down with parents in Tuesday night's Principal's Forum, a non-public event at the school where the principal offers updates on school happenings and answers questions.

At this gathering, the principal had especially good news to share: The percent of JTHS students scoring advanced proficient on the language arts HSPA doubled in the past four years, from 11 percent in the 2009-10 school year to 22 percent last year.
 
Additionally, students scoring advanced proficient in mathematics increased by over 50 percent, from 16 percent  to 24.9 percent during the same time frame, according to Mundi. 

"Last year, 91 percent of JTHS students taking advanced placement tests earned a score of three or higher on a five-point scale," he told Patch. "The state average is 75 percent of AP students scoring a three or higher, so this is a significant achievement."

Mundi noted that these successes are even more noteworthy because more kids are taking the tests.

"We have also increased the percent of seniors participating in the SAT from 68 to 80 percent over the past four years while simultaneously increasing the average SAT combined score from 1458 to 1480," he said.