Edgemont School Ranks Low in College Readiness, Says State Report

While Edgemont Elementary School met some of its academic performance goals last year, a state report found students attending the school are not being prepared properly for college. 

The New Jersey Department of Education’s “School Performance Reports" found the school's 304 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in 2011-12 met zero percent of its college and career readiness targets, which is based on behaviors that are indicative on future success, such as how many student are chronically absent. 

When compared to about 30 similar schools in the state or "peer schools," Edgemont School ranked in the 10th percentile in college and career readiness, and in the 28th percentile when compared to all schools in the state. 

The school also ranked average academically compared to schools statewide. 

Total schoolwide proficiency in language arts was 76 percent and 86 percent in math. The median academic growth for grades four and five in language arts was 52 percent and 58 percent in math — well above the statewide target of 35 percent. 

But the school's academic performance ranked "about average" when compared to schools across the state, and "lags in comparison" to its peer schools. In addition, the school ranked "about average" in academic growth when compared to schools throughout the state, and "high" compared to its peer schools. 

The report, which replaces the state’s annual School Report Card, factors in a host of never-before-used data, such as whether students are on track for college and a career, and the percent of elementary and middle school students chronically absent. 

One of the most significant additions is the “peer school comparisons.” Schools are now compared to about 30 similar peer schools from across the state that share comparable student grades, how many students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, English proficiency and students with special needs. 

The following chart is where Edgemont Elementary School ranked compared to schools in its peer group and statewide. For example, Edgemont School has a statewide percentile rank of 56 when it comes to academic achievement, which means that its students scored higher than 56 percent of all schools statewide in the ranking. 

Demographics

The school population in 2011-12 was 47 percent white, 27.5 percent black, 13.9 percent Hispanic, 7.7 percent Asian, 1 percent Pacific Islander and 2.8 percent of two or more races.

The school that year had 29 students with disabilities (10 percent of the school), 16 are economically disadvantaged (5.3 percent of the school), and 13 students with limited English proficiency (4.3 percent). 

Montclair Patch will analyse the data from the state for each of Montclair's 11 schools in the coming weeks.

Click here to read Montclair High School's rankings. 

Click here to read rankings for Bradford Elementary School. 

Click here to read Charles H. Bullock Jr. Elementary School's rankings.

Click here to read Glenfield Middle School's rankings.

Click here to read Hillside Elementary School's rankings.

Click here to read Mt. Hebron Middle School's rankings.

Click here to read Northeast Elementary School's rankings.

Click here to read Renaissance Middle School's rankings.

Click here to read Watchung Elementary School's rankings.