Report: Millburn HS Moderately Ranked Among Peers, First in SAT Average

In the recent school performance reports issued by the Christie administration, Millburn High School didn't rank high among peer schools despite being first in average SAT scores. 

Statewide, the school was ranked in the 80th percentile in all categories while in its peer group only achieved rank in the 68th percentile in two categories and 84th percentile in another. 

The reports ranks the school on three different categories: academic achievement on Language Arts Literacy and Math sections of the New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment, HSPA, college and career readiness which measures SAT, PSAT and participation in AP courses and graduation and post-secondary graduation and drop out rates.  

It also ranks schools against 30 peer schools based on free and reduced lunch, limited English proficiency programs or special education programs.

"We don't really use this report the way the state thinks we use it," Superintendent Dr. James Crisfield said. "We have all this data and we look at it all the time. We don't compile it the way they do and compare ourselves to others the way they do."

The following chart details the high school's rank:

100%

Crisfield argued ranking the school's academic achievement based on the HSPA is not an accurate representation of the school.

"The measurement for us in academic achievement is not these two tests," he said. "The measure for us includes SAT scores, AP performance, college admission."

For 2011-12, the high school averaged 1,857, which is first among its peers on the state report card as well as sixth in the state, only behind five vocational-technical schools, according to a recent article in NJ Spotlight. The school averaged 605.2 in critical reading, 633.7 in mathamatics and 617.8 in writing.

The school also averaged 97.47 percent of students scoring three or more on AP exams, which is also the highest in its peer group. 

However, the two indicators in the college and career readiness category which brought the high school out of the high 90th percentile were the percent of student participating in SAT and percent participating in PSAT. Schoolwide 92 percent take the SAT and 72 percent take the PSATs. 

The new ranking system, comparing school with similar demographics, has also caused controversy with school districts across the state. 

West Orange's Interim Superintendent of Schools James O'Neill said acting New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Chris Cerf has created the recent ranks to justify the $30 million spent on testing with no concern for misinformation on the report. 

According to the report, the rank of academic achievement focused on two things, HSPA tests, grade 11 and biology test, grade 10.

Crisfield explained, he believes the tests are important but since the test ultimately do not affect students unless they fail them, it is hard to motivate students to take them seriously. 

"The only things that that matters about this test [HSPA] is if you don't pass it," Crisfield said. "The rest of our kids, they take the HSPA it's like a break to them. Some take it seriously, a lot don't because it doesn't matter."

He also added, the biology test has no impact on students graduating high school. 

According to the report, the school did not meet the target in math for student with disability. Out of 47 students who took the HSPA 65.9 percent passed the test — the state target in 84.4 percent.

Crisfield explained, this helps the district because now the students who did not pass will receive extra help in math. 

To view the full report card click here.