Montclair's Watchung Elementary Named a State 'Reward School'

A Montclair elementary school has been recognized as one of the highest performing schools in New Jersey. 

Watchung Elementary School was named as a High Performing Reward School by the state's Department of Education this week. Watchung School was one of 112 schools in the state to receive the honor. 

A Reward School is a school with outstanding student achievement or growth over the past three years, according to the DOE website.

There are two types of Reward Schools: High Performing, which are the highest-performing in the state in terms of schoolwide proficiency and graduation rates; and Highest-Progress, which have high levels of student growth during the past three years.  

High Performing Reward Schools are determined by a statewide ranking system. Schools in which each eligible subgroup ranks in the top 10 percent in the state, the overall proficiency rate is greater than 90 percent, and the overall graduation rate is greater than 90 percent are classified as High Performing Reward Schools. 

Montclair's Wathcung Elementary School was one of 10 schools in Essex County to get the award. The other nine schools were: 

• Essex City Vocational School in Bloomfield, classified as High Performance
• Essex Fells Elementary School, of Essex Fells Borough, classified as High Performance
• Collins Elementary School, of Livingston Township, classified as High Performance
• Deerfield School, of Millburn Township, classified as High Performance
• Glenwood School, of Millburn Township, classified as High Growth
• Science Park High Schook, of Newark, classified as High Performance
• American History High, of Newark, classified as High Performance
• Gould Mountain Elementary School, of North Cladwell Borough, classified as High Performance
• Brookdale School, of Verona Borough, classified as High Performance