Thursday, April 11, 2013

New Jersey Department of Education Releases 2013 Report Cards: Hoboken High School's Academic Performance "significantly lags in comparison to schools across the state" -NJ Dept. of Education

Some members of the Kids First Hoboken Board of Education
who inherited a high school in 2009 recognized for excellence by
New Jersey Monthly and US News and World Report.
Information on mandatory State Report Cards as part of the NCLB law were made available recently by the State of New Jersey Department of Education. The following is the 2013 NJ State Report Card for Hoboken High School. Before reading what the State of NJ's Department of Education had to say, I believe it is critical to understand that Hoboken High School was voted the 2nd Most Improved High School in the State of New Jersey by NEW JERSEY MONTHLY magazine in 2008 and was a back to back awardee in 2008 and 2009 of the US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT Bronze Award medal for high schools in New Jersey (only 41 of 300 schools were awarded a bronze of silver medal in those years). 

Here is what the State of New Jersey's Department of Education has to say about Hoboken High School- now under the leadership of the political group known as "Kids First" for the last 4 years: 


This school's academic performance significantly lags in comparison to schools across the state. Additionally, its academic performance lags in comparison to its peers. This school' college and career readiness lags in comparison to schools across the state. Additionally, its college and career readiness is about average when compared to its peers. This schools's graduation and post-secondary performance lags in comparison to schools across the state. Additionally, its graduation and post-secondary readiness lags in comparison to its peers. - NJ Dept of Education 
After 4 years of Kids First majority leadership, the picture at Hoboken High School is substantially different and not for the better. Is the teachers? No, essentially, the same teachers are there. Is it the students? Well, there are now 8th graders in the high school and a fair amount of students from Jersey City (policy decisions made by Kids First) but there is no evidence that these students are any different than students from 4 years ago.

What is different is that Hoboken High School has had 4 principals  in 3 years. What is different is the district has had 4 superintendents in 3 1/2 years. What is different is the influx of interim administrators and permanent administrators with little to no experience in either Hudson County or the City of Hoboken. 

Full reports for all Hoboken Schools and Schools in New Jersey: Click HERE