Results of the Most Recent SAT and PARCC Math Scores in the Hoboken School District Clearly Counter Any Reasonable Claim of College Readiness

Water Main Break- Hoboken, NJ 8/28/18 (photo New Jersey 12)

Being ready for college means that a high school graduate has the knowledge and skills necessary to qualify for and succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing college courses without the need for remedial coursework. More specifically, College readiness refers to the set of skills, knowledge, and behaviors a high school student should have upon graduation and entering their freshmen year of college. It's all about the ability to find success while studying at an institute of higher learning. Being "College ready" does not mean simply being accepted to college. Being "College ready" is not measured by how much scholarship or financial aid money a graduating class receives.

According to Forbes as well as civil rights activist Robert Moses of the Algebra Project, Math is the great equalizer. Math offers equalization in ways that additional money or other resources simply cannot. Even more than a child’s demographic or gender, math scores better predict the likelihood a student will one day reach college and graduate into a successful career beyond. 

Chart 1
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Unfortunately, research shows that not all students receive the same math education. The classic Adelman study shows that public schools with predominantly minority demographics have significantly lower math standards, fewer classes, and fewer advancement opportunities compared to schools with predominantly white and higher economic class demographics. This is immensely detrimental to our children’s growth because, as the Adelman study concludes, “the highest level of mathematics reached in high school continues to be a key marker in precollegiate momentum, with the tipping point of momentum toward a bachelor’s degree now firmly above Algebra 2.”

Knowing this, what does it mean when we continue to neglect math for children of minority backgrounds? The facts go on to show, for example, that “Latino students are far less likely to attend high schools that offer trigonometry (let alone calculus) than white or Asian students.” Just as unfortunate, students from lower socio-economic classes experience similar disadvantages in their access to math curriculum.
In the Hoboken Public School District, over 80% of the district students are not meeting the New Jersey Department of Education's expectations in Mathematics (Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry) and over 60% are not meeting the New Jersey Department of Education's expectations in Reading (Language Arts)- (See Chart 2)

Chart 2
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Research also tells us that Reading is highly correlated with all other school subjects since so much of school activities revolve around the ability to read -- word problems in Algebra, original documents in history class, argumentation and experimentation in science class (See Chart 3). The following is data concerning the latest SAT scores in Reading for all public high schools in Hudson County, NJ. Once again, claims and assurances of students being "college ready" require a stretch of the imagination and some wishful thinking. 

Chart 3
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Chart 4
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Given these SAT (Chart 1, 3, and 4) and PARCC scores (Chart 2), one must wonder about the credibility and professionalism of anyone who claims students from this district are college ready with any level of confidence. Simply stated, anyone who claims that current SAT and PARCC scores is an indication of students being college ready at scale either is ignorant of what the term means or is depending on the ignorance of their audience. 

Statewide, Hoboken High School is ranked 334 out of 387 public high schools in New Jersey on composite (Mathematics + Reading) SAT scores according to data released by the New Jersey Department of Education and reported in Patch.com. You can find the results by clicking HERE.  

Chart 4: HHS NJ School Performance Report 

Perhaps the most convincing piece of data concerning the general lack of college readiness at Hoboken High School comes from the New Jersey Department of Education's most recent NJ School Performance Report Card (see Chart 4). In this report 37% of HHS students are scoring at or above benchmark for College Readiness in Reading and Writing...and 15% are scoring at or above benchmark for College Readiness in Math. 

Finally, here is the Summary Report for the 2016-17 NJ Performance Report Card for Hoboken High School.  Anyone reviewing this summary prepared by the NJ Department of Education might certainly be justified to ask a number of questions concerning college readiness or even whether simply an adequate secondary education is being provided to these students. 

   HHS - Performance Reports 2016-17 by Anthony Petrosino on Scribd

There is certainly no storage of tweets and posts on social media centering around all the wonderful things taking place in the Hoboken School District generally and at Hoboken High School specifically. The district appears to embrace and excel at coordinating congratulatory ceremonies and recognition awards at public meetings (note: research cautions that praising 'effort' may not promote a 'growth mindset'). 

New review of research in the journal Child Development suggests just praising the effort of middle and high school students to boost their "growth mindset" can have the opposite effect, with those adolescents praised becoming less likely to believe their work can improve their intelligence or skills. -Education Week (March, 2018)

Unfortunately, it is possible that the active engagement in social media and public relations in "branding" and promotion - as well as the parade of awards and accolades- may obscure to the parents, taxpayers, and the general public in Hoboken the actual (lack of) academic achievement and college readiness that currently exists in Hoboken High School. 

Summary: The most current SAT scores indicate Hoboken High School to be far below national, state, and county averages in Mathematics, Reading, and in composite SAT score in Math and Reading combined. The latest PARCC scores indicate no more than 40% of students at any HHS grade level are passing Reading and no more than 20% of HHS students are passing mathematics at any grade level. Furthermore, NJDOE analysis indicates only 37% of students are meeting College Readiness benchmarks and less than 18% are meeting College Readiness benchmarks in Mathematics. For the 7th straight year, the Hoboken Schools have failed the NJDOE QSAC DPR for INSTRUCTION AND PROGRAM. Finally, the most recent NJ Performance Report Card (NJDOE) indicates Hoboken High School is in need of improvement in English, Chronic Absenteeism, and 4-year graduation rate. 

Commentary: The most current student data emerging from Hoboken High School is especially disturbing when one realizes that as recently as 2007-2009 Hoboken High School was recognized as the 2nd most improved high school in NJ by New Jersey Monthly and was awarded back to back Bronze Medal Awards by US News and World Report. These accomplishments occurred under the leadership of HHS Principal Dr. Lorraine Cella (Columbia University), Superintendent Raslowsky (Harvard University), and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Petrosino (Columbia University/Vanderbilt University) and before self labeled "reform" politicians took full control of the Hoboken School District.