Hoboken High School Ranked 44th out of 45 Similar "FG" District High Schools in NJ on 2018 Composite SAT Score

Hoboken High School 

Preamble: A previous post indicated that Hoboken High School recently ranked 334th out of 387 New Jersey High Schools on the composite SAT (mathematics + reading). Some readers wondered how does Hoboken High School compare with like or similar districts? The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has a categorization system to assist in this task-- it is known as the district factor group. This post will examine how Hoboken High School compares to other district high schools in its own district factor group of "FG" on 2018 composite SAT scores. 

Summary: Among similar districts as designated by the New Jersey Department of Education, Hoboken High School's composite SAT score of 935 places the school 44th out of 45 FG high schools in the State of New Jersey for 2018. The mean composite score for FG districts was 1105 with a standard deviation of 50.57. Hoboken High School's score of 935 equates to a z-score of -3.366 which is more than 3 standard deviations from the "FG" district group mean. 

Context: The SAT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the USA. Introduced in 1926, its name and scoring have changed several times; originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, it was later called the Scholastic Assessment Test and now simply the SAT. Scores on the SAT range from 400 to 1600 combining test results from two 800-point sections: mathematics, and critical reasing and writing. According to College Board president David Colement, the test as of 2016 is intended to reflect more closely what students learn in high school. 

Data: Reported by Hoboken Patch and the NJ Department of Education. 

Related Post: Hudson County Composite 2018 SAT Scores for all High Schools 

Background: The District Factor Groups (DFGs) were first developed by the New Jersey Department of Education in 1975 for the purpose of comparing students’ performance on statewide assessments across demographically similar school districts. The categories are updated every ten years when the Census Bureau releases the latest Decennial Census data.

Since the DFGs were created, they have been used for purposes other than analyzing test score performance. In particular, the DFGs played a significant role in determining the initial group of districts that were classified as Abbott districts. Additionally, subsequent to the Abbott IV court ruling, the DFGs were also used to define the group of school districts on which Abbott v Burke parity remedy aid would be based.

After discussing the measure with representatives from school districts and experimenting with various methods, the DFGs were calculated using the following six variables that are closely related to SES:

1) Percent of adults with no high school diploma
2) Percent of adults with some college education
3) Occupational status
4) Unemployment rate
5) Percent of individuals in poverty
6) Median family income.

Therefore, all "FG" districts share similar but not identical characteristics. Specifically in terms of Percent of adults with no high school diploma, Percent of adults with some college education, Occupational status, Unemployment rate, Percent of individuals in poverty, and Median family income according to the New Jersey Department of Education and based on Decennial Census data. 

Additional Data: 
* Hoboken has one of the highest per pupil spending allocations in the State of New Jersey in 2015 and was ranked 23rd highest in the state in 2017. 

* Hoboken pays its teachers very well (41st out of 650 districts)

* The Hoboken School District is less than 50% Free and Reduced Lunch. 

* The district has a very low student:teacher ratio throughout (@11:1) see Exhibit J-17 (p.156)- also see chart below. 

2018 SAT COMPOSITE SCORES FOR NEW JERSEY "FG" HIGH SCHOOLS

Rank	High School Name	SAT Score	DFG
1	Fort Lee High School	1177	FG
2	Haddon Township High School	1167	FG
3	Monroe Township High School	1167	FG
4	Point Pleasant Beach High School	1165	FG
5	Red Bank Regional High School	1159	FG
6	Somerville High School	1157	FG
7	Kittatinny Regional High School	1151	FG
8	Dumont High School	1146	FG
9	Vernon Township High School	1142	FG
10	Middlesex High School	1138	FG
11	Southern Regional High School	1138	FG
12	Lakeland Regional High School	1125	FG
13	Woodstown High School	1124	FG
14	Kingsway Regional High School	1123	FG
15	Shore Regional High School	1123	FG
16	Point Pleasant Boro High School	1121	FG
17	Wood-Ridge Jr/Sr High School	1120	FG
18	North Warren Regional School	1120	FG
19	Cinnaminson High School	1117	FG
20	Nutley High School	1117	FG
21	Ocean Township High School	1117	FG
22	Old Bridge High School	1114	FG
23	Hamilton East - Steinert	1113	FG
24	Pompton Lakes High School	1112	FG
25	Warren Hills Regional School	1110	FG
26	West Milford High School	1109	FG
27	Washington Township High School	1108	FG
28	Matawan Regional High School	1107	FG
29	Hasbrouch Heights High School	1106	FG
30	North Brunswick Township High School	1106	FG
31	Dunellen High School	1103	FG
32	South Plainfield High School	1101	FG
33	Delran High School	1092	FG
34	Collingswood High School	1088	FG
35	New Milford High School	1087	FG
36	Pitman High School	1084	FG
37	Burlington Township High School	1077	FG
38	Hopatcong High School	1076	FG
39	Bergenfield High School	1075	FG
40	Passaic Valley Regional High School	1072	FG
41	Arthut L. Johnson High School	1066	FG
42	Hamilton West-Watson	1052	FG
43	Hamilton North-Nottingham	1014	FG
44	Hoboken High School	935	FG
45	Hoboken Charter School Hoboken	914	FG

2016 Teacher-Student Ratio