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 

I appreciate the passion for Hoboken’s students and the experiences you’ve described. It is important to celebrate student successes and the creative programs that exist in the district. However, it is also essential that we confront some hard truths when assessing the overall health of our public school system.

First and foremost, my concern has never been exclusively about test scores—but rather about what they can indicate when viewed alongside other data points. The issue is not rankings for rankings' sake, but whether our students are consistently receiving instruction that meets or exceeds New Jersey State standards across all subjects and grades. The data—available to all—suggests persistent areas of underperformance that cannot be dismissed.

Moreover, this discussion must be situated within a broader and troubling context:

Leadership Integrity: The district’s current superintendent misrepresented her academic credentials for over a decade. Trust in leadership is foundational. Without it, the community is left questioning every initiative and decision, no matter how well-intended.

Fiscal Stewardship: Hoboken’s school budget has grown at an alarming rate—proposing over 24% last year (eventually a 14% increase) and an additional planned 9.4% this year (2025-26).These increases demand clear, transparent justification and tangible improvements in student outcomes.

Public Engagement: The attempted fast-tracking of a $220 million ($330 million total cost with interest) school bond in 2021 with limited public input raised serious concerns about governance and respect for taxpayer voice. As you know, this referendum was sounding defeated. 

Enrollment Claims: The district continues to cite overcrowding, while simultaneously accepting over 160 out-of-district students annually through the “Choice” program. This contradiction must be addressed honestly.

Educational Pluralism: The legal effort to revoke the charter of HoLa Charter School reflects a troubling resistance to educational diversity and choice within our community. The Hoboken Board of Education also vetoed a request by the Elysian Charter School to increase enrollment by 36 students in total between grades K to 5. 

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Misleading Recognition: The Hoboken Board of Education has spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on a private company that issues imitation “Blue Ribbon” awards—awards that mimic the federal government’s National Blue Ribbon Schools program but have no official standing. These faux accolades were even presented at a City Council meeting as if they held equivalent merit. This is deeply misleading. When parents hear “National Blue Ribbon School,” they rightly associate it with one of the highest honors granted by the U.S. Department of Education—either for overall academic excellence or significant progress in closing achievement gaps. To present anything less under that banner is false advertising and undermines the trust and transparency parents deserve

Most Recent Algebra I Results: Recent New Jersey State testing 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. 

The vision some shared—of students engaging in hydroponics, global travel, and immersive technologies—is commendable and should be part of any 21st-century educational system. But vibrant field trips and scholarships for a select few cannot mask the systemic issues impacting the many. Equity demands we hold all aspects of the system accountable—not just celebrate its brightest moments.

Respectfully, if we are to truly serve all children in Hoboken, we must be willing to ask the tough questions and address the uncomfortable realities. Only then can we ensure that every student—not just a few—is equipped for a future full of real possibility. Again, I want to thank everyone for their engagement. I suspect we wish for the same things --- but our approaches clearly differ.

Here are some supportive statements that were made to my posts recently that I would also like to share:

1) how does displaying facts about the district equate to “hating” Hoboken? It’s because he cares about the district and town he was raised in that he brings up the data. He loves Hoboken and is more than qualified to comment and provide data to all those brainwashed by the Hoboken Public School district PR firm’s false narrative.

Dr. Anthony Petrosino is recognized as a founding board member of the Hoboken Dual Language Charter School (HoLa). He has publicly acknowledged his role in the school’s establishment and has been actively involved in its development and advocacy.

Dr. Petrosino’s background includes extensive experience in education, having served as a teacher, administrator, and academic. He has held positions such as Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Hoboken Public Schools and has been involved in various educational initiatives. 

His contributions to HoLa have been part of a broader commitment to advancing bilingual education and fostering academic excellence within the community.

2) It’s incredibly disheartening to see our students caught in the middle of a failing system—one propped up by a disingenuous superintendent, an ineffective Board of Education, and a PR machine more focused on spin than substance. They push a narrative of a “thriving” high school, but informed parents aren’t buying it. Many are choosing to pull their kids from the district long before high school, and the declining enrollment numbers speak for themselves.

This is exactly why there’s no genuine need for a new high school—enrollment isn’t going to capacity of current HS, when trust in leadership is so low. A staggering 14.9% in tax increase in 2024 and 13% increase in 2025, this has delivered zero measurable progress. This isn’t growth. It’s failure. Plain and simple. #Hoboken

Why is not one mayoral candidate addressing it?

Latest NJDOE Data Shows 78% of Hoboken School District Students Not Meeting NJDOE Expectations in Algebra I

Robert Moses was a civil rights leader and mathematics educator who founded THE ALGEBRA PROJECT. One of Robert Moses' notable and powerful statements was: '“Math literacy will be a liberation tool for people trying to get out of poverty and the best hope for people trying not to get left behind.” I'm sure we all share common ground on the critical importance of Algebra instruction. Below is 2023-24 NJDOE data on Algebra performance in the Hoboken School District with the associated URL for your review. 

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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2023-2024 Algebra I Scores 
Hoboken Public Schools
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N.J.’s top high schools ranked by latest state scores. Hoboken HS Ranked #131

The new ratings come from the annual School Performance Reports. Using data from the 2023-24 school year, parents can take a look at how their student’s school compares to others around the state.

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.