From Classroom to Community: Evaluating Data Science Practices in Education and Social Justice Projects by Tony Petrosino on Scribd
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
From Classroom to Community: Evaluating Data Science Practices in Education and Social Justice Projects (2025)
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
The Year the Hoboken District Lost Capacity for Over 1900 Students
Monday, June 30, 2025
Enrollment and Capacity Numbers of the Hoboken Public School Buildings - 2024 J-18 Table
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The current figures show that Wallace School is operating six students under capacity, Connors School is 15 under, Brandt School is 121 over capacity, Demarest Middle School is 8 over, and Hoboken High School is 220 students under capacity. These numbers include the 160 students currently enrolled through the CHOICE program, most of whom attend Hoboken High School.
If the CHOICE program were sunsetted—allowing currently enrolled students to graduate while admitting no new students—the district would gradually recover those 160 seats at the high school level over the next four years. This would bring the high school’s available capacity to approximately 380 open seats, significantly increasing flexibility in student placement and program design at the secondary level.
The only schools currently over capacity are Brandt and Demarest. Wallace and Connors both have available space, and the closure of Calabro School in 2020, which removed 137 seats from the system, likely contributed to current crowding in some elementary schools. However, with a phased end to the CHOICE program and more strategic use of existing space, the district has sufficient capacity across its schools to manage current and near-future enrollment levels.
Given this audited data and the likely future availability of space at the high school given some administrative decisions, there appears to be no urgency for new building construction based on enrollment and capacity.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Juneteenth Celebratations in Hoboken - while NJDOE Data Shows Black Students are Left Behind Throughout the Public School District
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Chart 1- NJDOE ELA 2023-24 |
Chart 2- NJDOE Math 2023-24 |
But let’s be clear: reflection without action is performative. It’s easy to pose for pictures and quote from history; it’s much harder to confront the uncomfortable present. The truth is, Black students in Hoboken are being failed academically (see Chart 1 and Chart 2), year after year, in a system that has every advantage—small class sizes, strong funding, stable staffing. These are not the conditions of scarcity. These are the conditions where excellence should be the norm—and yet, that excellence is not being delivered equitably.
If we are serious about honoring Juneteenth, we cannot look away from the data. When only a fraction of African American students are reading and doing math at grade level, it’s not a coincidence—it’s a systemic breakdown. And it is time to name names: school boards, superintendents, administrators, and yes, classroom educators all share in the responsibility for these outcomes. Equity is not a buzzword—it’s a deliverable. And right now, it’s being underdeliveredand underprioritized.
Hollow celebrations mean nothing if they’re not backed by bold leadership and measurable progress. We don’t need more hashtags and photo ops—we need accountability, urgency, and a plan. Hoboken owes its Black students more than symbolic recognition. It owes them a future.
Friday, May 30, 2025
Latest NJDOE Data Shows Hoboken Black and Hispanic Students Lag Far Behind White Peers Across ALL Grades in ELA, Math, and Science
The most recent released NJDOE disaggregated data (17 2210 HUDSON HOBOKEN) show that Hoboken's Black and Hispanic students are scoring drastically below their White peers in ELA and Math. These are not just academic gaps—they are systemic failures that directly threaten students' futures. In the 21st-century workforce, literacy and numeracy are essential for nearly every career. When students of color are left behind in these core areas year after year, Hoboken isn’t just failing state-mandated and required tests—it’s failing entire communities.
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Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Stark Racial Disparities and Leadership Failures in Hoboken's Public Schools: An Analysis of 2023-24 NJ DOE Data
The 2023-24 data released by the New Jersey Department of Education paint a troubling picture of educational equity in Hoboken. While headlines might praise the district’s above-average performance compared to state benchmarks, a more honest and critical look reveals a deeply segregated academic reality. White students in Hoboken are thriving at exceptional levels, while African American and Hispanic students are, in many cases, experiencing systemic academic neglect. These disparities reflect not just achievement gaps, but opportunity gaps—symptoms of deeper institutional failures in leadership, pedagogy, and accountability.
English Language Arts (ELA)
In Grade 3, 71% of Hoboken students met or exceeded expectations in ELA—significantly above the state average of 43.6%. But this number masks the truth: 80% of White students met the standard, compared to only 36.4% of African American students and 44.9% of Hispanic students. That means two-thirds of African American students and more than half of Hispanic students in Grade 3 are not reading or writing at grade level. This is not a new trend—it is a systemic failure that continues throughout the grade levels.
This pattern suggests that instructional practices, early literacy interventions, and culturally responsive curricula may be either inadequately implemented or entirely absent for non-white students. The district's leadership must confront the uncomfortable truth: some students are being served far better than others, and it is often along racial lines.
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Mathematics
Math scores deepen this concern. While the overall district performance looks strong on paper, the racial disparities are appalling. In Grade 3, 81.2% of White students met expectations, while only 18.2% of African American and 40.8% of Hispanic students did. By Grade 8, 0% of African American and only 3.6% of Hispanic students demonstrated grade-level proficiency. These are not just numbers—they are indictments.
Such disparities raise critical questions: What instructional supports are being provided to students of color? Are the best teachers equitably distributed across the district? Is the curriculum being differentiated effectively? And more importantly, where is the leadership in addressing these disparities year after year?
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Science
Science scores echo this grim trend. Although statewide science proficiency is generally low, Hoboken’s White students outperform the state by a large margin in 11th grade (32.4%), while African American and Hispanic students drastically underperform (5.3% and 2.5%, respectively). The equity gap here is not merely a reflection of student effort or socioeconomic status—it is a reflection of systemic neglect.
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Summary
The Hoboken Public School District’s reputation for academic excellence is built on uneven ground. The data expose a district that, while high-achieving on the surface, perpetuates educational inequality behind closed doors. African American and Hispanic students are systematically underperforming in every subject and grade level analyzed. These aren't anomalies—they're patterns. And patterns point to institutional issues.
It is time for Hoboken’s educational leadership to be held accountable—not just for aggregate test scores, but for the moral and professional responsibility of ensuring equity. This includes investing in teacher training, reallocating resources, and committing to targeted interventions that address the needs of underserved students. Anything less is a continued failure.
Note: Charts shown above include solid black lines for state averages and dashed black lines for Hoboken's overall performance to aid in clarity and comparison.
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Richard E. Del Boccio- Hoboken Educator, Councilman, and Respected Community Member (1941-2025)
I first met Richard E. Del Boccio when I was a sixth-grade student at School No. 8—the Sadie F. Leinkauf School—in Hoboken. He was the Vice Principal then, and even at that young age, I remember being struck by his presence: calm, respectful, and dignified. He treated students with fairness and humanity, and he left a lasting impression on me.
Years later, when I returned to the Hoboken Public Schools as a teacher, and eventually as Assistant Superintendent, I had the honor of working alongside him. Richard never changed—he remained the same steady, supportive, and principled educator I remembered from my childhood. His encouragement meant a great deal to me throughout my career.
In addition to his work at School No. 8, Richard taught history at Demarest and served with distinction for 17 years as principal of the Calabro School. He also served for a time as Interim Superintendent of Schools—always answering the call to lead when his city needed him.
His dedication extended beyond the classroom. Richard was a longtime member of St. Ann’s Parish, helping at the feast for many years, and an active member of the Hoboken Elks Lodge #74, where he chaired the Scholarship Committee for over a decade. His political service as Councilman-at-Large and Second Ward Councilman was marked by integrity and care.
Richard E. Del Boccio embodied the very best of old Hoboken. He was a gentleman in every sense—respected, admired, and never forgotten. -Dr. Anthony Petrosino
Monday, May 5, 2025
Statement on Hoboken BOE's Facilities Survey
The following is a summary of various posts and concerns gleaned from multiple social media posts.
Statement on Hoboken BOE's Facilities Survey by Tony Petrosino on Scribd
Hoboken Residents: Read Before Taking the BOE Survey
What’s Really Going On With the Hoboken Board of Education?
The Hoboken Board of Education is supposed to be in charge of making sure public schools in the city are run fairly, responsibly, and with students’ best interests in mind. But unfortunately, the Board has made many choices in recent years that have caused people in the community to lose trust in them. Their latest move—an online survey asking what should be done about school buildings—is just one more example of how the Board acts without earning the community’s confidence.
This new survey is supposed to help the Board decide if Hoboken needs new school buildings or improvements to the ones we already have. That might sound like a good idea, but there’s a big problem: this Board has a history of making major decisions behind closed doors, without being honest or clear with the public. It’s hard to believe they will use this survey in a fair and honest way, especially since they wrote and are running it themselves without any outside experts. It even collects personal information, and they haven’t explained how it will be used or protected.
Let’s not forget that this is the same Board that tried to spend $300 million on a brand-new high school without asking for enough community input. They supported a superintendent who pretended to have a doctorate for nearly ten years. And now they’re trying to raise taxes by 24% in one year and another 15% the next—even though they promised long ago to keep tax increases small. For over ten years, the public hasn’t been allowed to vote on the school budget. That’s not right.
The Board has also made unfair decisions when it comes to charter schools. They spent two years and a lot of money trying to stop the HoLa Dual Language School from adding 7th and 8th grades. They also tried to block Elysian Charter School from enrolling just a few more kids. But at the same time, the Board brings in over 150 students from outside Hoboken every year through a special state program—then claims the schools are overcrowded. They can’t have it both ways.
Another serious issue is that the district has not done a good job helping all students succeed, especially Black and Hispanic students and those from families with lower incomes. These students continue to fall behind, even though the Board keeps saying things are improving. The truth doesn’t match the words.
Now the Board says it is creating a new 5-Year Plan to guide the future of the schools. That might sound promising, but one of the big goals in that plan is, once again, to focus on building projects—something the community has already rejected. The language they’re using sounds nice, but it hides a lot of the same old problems.
In the end, we need to be very careful. The Hoboken Board of Education has not shown that it can be trusted to act openly, honestly, or fairly. Until real change happens and they start listening to the people they serve, the community must stay alert, ask hard questions, and think twice before believing what the Board says—especially when it comes to surveys, plans, or big new projects.
Photo: May Day parade, Hoboken, NJ 1935
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Hoboken Board of Education Survey
The Hoboken Board of Education is asking the community to weigh in on its long-range facilities plan — including if and how to build new schools. Even if you don’t have children in the district, this affects our entire city. The survey closes tomorrow - Monday, May 5th, so please take some time today to fill it out. Sorry for not circulating this sooner to you.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
It Is Not All About Test Scores in Hoboken...There are Other Things as Well
From time to time I post on social media and my posts often initiate comments from various people often with differing perspectives. My latest post about Algebra I scores seems to have inspired a fair amount of discussion. Here is my general reply to many of the posts I would also like to point out that there were many supportative comments from people as well. The important thing is to have a productive dialogue. -Dr. Petrosino
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Thursday, April 17, 2025
Latest NJDOE Data Shows 78% of Hoboken School District Students Not Meeting NJDOE Expectations in Algebra I
It clearly shows 78% of Hoboken students tested by the state in Algebra 1 are not meeting NJDOE expectations
80% of economically disadvantaged students tested by the state in Algebra 1 are not meeting NJDOE expectations
75% of non-economically disadvantaged students tested by the state in Algebra 1 are not meeting NJDOE expectations.
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I am deeply disappointed and frankly alarmed by the recently released NJDOE data showing that 78% of our students are not meeting expectations in Algebra. This is more than just a statistic—it’s a reflection of a systemic issue that is failing our children and compromising their future.
Algebra is a gatekeeper to higher-level math, science, and ultimately college and career opportunities. When nearly four out of five students in our district are struggling to meet basic benchmarks, it’s not just an academic problem—it’s a social justice issue. These outcomes limit access, stifle potential, and perpetuate inequality.
I urge district leadership and school board members to treat this as the crisis it is. We need transparency, we need accountability, and most of all, we need a plan. Our students deserve high-quality instruction, meaningful support, and the chance to thrive—not be left behind.
This community cannot afford to accept these numbers as normal.
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Enhanced Chart 2023-2024 Algebra I Scores Hoboken Public Schools CLICK TO ENLARGE |
N.J.’s top high schools ranked by latest state scores. Hoboken HS Ranked #131
The highest ranking general education school is Mountain Lakes High School in Morris County at 20th.
NJ Advance Media used a metric calculated by the state Department of Education called the “summative rating” to assign each school a ranking number between one and 358
The ratings measure how a school’s “summative score,” which is another measure of success calculated by the state, compares to other schools with the same grade levels.
Summative scores are calculated using standardized test scores, student academic growth, graduation rates and other factors, including chronic absenteeism. Those scores are on a scale of 1 to 100.
Saturday, March 22, 2025
HoLa Elementary Walks Away with Accolades and Honors
I am happy to announce that HoLa Elementary secured 2nd place for the written exam and 3rd place for the oral presentation at the eSTEM competition—competing against 30 teams!
Showcasing the incredible hard work and dedication they’ve put into their project. They walked the judges through their design process and the steps they took to achieve their goals.
One of the judges even complimented our team’s understanding of the engineering design process—what an amazing accomplishment!
I couldn’t be more proud of the teachers and students and their outstanding efforts.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
2025-26 Hoboken School Budget & Tax Increase—A Fair Balance?
The Hoboken Board of Education recently approved a tax levy increase to $73.9 million, up from $67.5 million last year. That’s a 9.4% jump in the school portion of our property taxes, even though K-12 enrollment has only increased by 4.07% (according to the November 2024 ASSA Report). This follows last year’s historic 14.99% budget increase.
I fully support investing in quality education for our students, but I also think it’s reasonable to ask: Are these tax increases aligned with meaningful improvements in our schools? Are we seeing better educational outcomes, enhanced resources for students and teachers, and real progress in our public education system?
Hoboken is a growing community, and strong schools are essential—but so is fiscal responsibility and transparency. I’d love to hear from others: Do you feel the increases are justified? Are we seeing the benefits in our classrooms? Let’s have a productive conversation.
Thursday, February 20, 2025
NSF Funded Grant--- Helps with More Effective Ways to Learn Mathematics
These are just two of the stops on Dallas STEM walks, guided walks that illustrate how mathematical principles can be found in one’s surroundings. During the five-year grant, Walkington will partner with Dallas STEM walk nonprofit, talkSTEM, to better understand how educators can support math education outside of school and the role out-of-school experiences like these play in enhancing math education. First up: developing an app that turns a cell phone into an interpretive math tool.This NSF grant builds on previous research on math education. Co-principal investigators for the grant include Dhingra; Anthony Petrosino, Simmons associate dean for research and outreach; Cathy Ringstaff, senior research associate, WestEd; and Elizabeth Stringer, director of academics, Guildhall.
Friday, January 31, 2025
A Message from the AERA Executive Director and President
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Sunday, January 19, 2025
Professional Analysis of Research Productivity for Anthony J. Petrosino
As an academic, I have always approached my work with a sense of curiosity and a deep commitment to understanding how we can improve education, particularly in STEM fields. Over the years, I have had the privilege of collaborating with outstanding colleagues, mentoring exceptional students, and engaging in research that contributes to the larger conversation about how people learn. Recently, I had the opportunity to reflect on the reach and impact of my scholarship through the lens of Google Scholar metrics, and I would like to share some of the insights with you—not as a moment to highlight personal achievement, but as a testament to the collective effort and shared passion that drive this work.
I share this not to focus on numbers but to express gratitude—for the collaborators who have enriched my work, the institutions that have supported me, and the students and colleagues who continue to inspire me. These metrics are, in the end, a reflection of a shared journey in advancing knowledge and making a difference. Thank you for being part of this ongoing conversation and for your interest in the work that means so much to me. -Dr. Petrosino
The following was generated by data from GOOGLE SCHOLAR.
Professional Analysis of Research Productivity for Anthony J. Petrosino
Based on the Google Scholar data provided, we can assess the research productivity of Dr. Anthony J. Petrosino using three key metrics: total citations, h-index, and i10-index. These metrics provide insight into both the quantity and quality of his research output, as well as its impact in the academic community.
1. Citations:
- Total citations (5257): Dr. Petrosino has accumulated over 5,000 citations, a solid indicator of a significant body of influential research. This is an impressive figure, suggesting that his work is widely recognized and frequently referenced in the field.
- Citations since 2020 (1249): With nearly 1,250 citations in the past few years, Dr. Petrosino's work continues to make an impact, with a substantial portion of his citations coming recently. This indicates ongoing relevance in his research area, as well as an active scholarly presence.
2. h-index:
- Total h-index (26): Dr. Petrosino’s h-index of 26 indicates that he has at least 26 papers that have been cited 26 times or more. This suggests a productive academic career with a consistent output of high-quality work. An h-index of 26 is considered strong, especially for an academic in STEM or the social sciences, where publication volume tends to be high.
- h-index since 2020 (13): The fact that Dr. Petrosino’s h-index has increased by 13 points since 2020 demonstrates a significant uptick in productivity and impact over the last few years. This suggests that his more recent work is being well-received, with multiple publications being cited consistently.
3. i10-index:
- Total i10-index (43): This metric shows that Dr. Petrosino has 43 papers that have been cited at least 10 times each. An i10-index of 43 reflects a solid number of influential publications, contributing to his sustained academic impact. This is particularly notable in academic fields where a large number of impactful papers are required to make a significant contribution to the field.
- i10-index since 2020 (17): Dr. Petrosino has 17 publications published since 2020 that have been cited at least 10 times. This is an excellent sign of the enduring relevance of his work and suggests that his recent contributions have already established themselves as important.
Conclusions:
Research Impact: Dr. Petrosino’s citation count and h-index reflect a well-established academic presence with a strong and sustained impact in his field. His work is not only cited frequently but has been cited across a broad number of publications, signaling consistent scholarly influence.
Recent Productivity: The growth in his h-index and i10-index since 2020 indicates that Dr. Petrosino’s recent work has been particularly impactful. This highlights his continued relevance in the field and suggests that his research is evolving to meet the current demands and interests of the academic community.
Research Quality: The consistent rise in his citation metrics is a positive indicator of the quality of his work. It suggests that his contributions are of high enough quality to attract sustained attention, citation, and engagement from researchers in his discipline.
Recommendations for Future Assessment:
- Collaborations and Mentoring: Given his solid research record, exploring his collaborations and mentorship roles might provide further insights into his influence within the academic community.
- Exploring Research Themes: It would be useful to investigate the specific themes and methodologies of his most cited papers to understand the core contributions he has made in his field, especially with respect to emerging topics or trends in his research area.
Overall, Dr. Petrosino is highly productive and influential, and his research continues to resonate strongly within his academic discipline.