Report Card: Northvail Elementary Earns Best Marks in Parsippany

Parsippany-Troy Hills School District elementary schools largely are keeping pace with other New Jersey schools, and most are meeting their educational targets, according to data released April 10 by the New Jersey Department of Education. 

The 2013 NJ School Performance Reports compare districts and schools to others in the state. Each school is also compared to "peer" districts with students of similar demographic characteristics, such as the percentage of students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, in special education programs or limited English proficiency programs.

Geography is not part of the equation, save from all schools being from New Jersey; each elementary school has its own peer group of schools, though some—Intervale, Knollwood, Lake Parsippany, Northvail and Rockaway Meadow schools—are in each other's peer group.

According to the numbers, the best performing elementary school overall in the district is Northvail School, which had the best report card and received "very high" ratings when compared to New Jersey schools and similar peer schools in academic performance and student growth. 

Lowest marks went to Rockaway Meadow School, which according to its report card did not meet its targets in career and college readiness. It was the only Parsippany elementary school that did not meet 100 percent of its student growth targets. And Rockaway Meadow lagged behind schools across the state and its peer schools in a number of categories.

Patch reached out to Parsippany Superintendent of Schools LeRoy Seitz for comment on the report cards, but he was not available.

When viewing the scores, keep in mind the state's definitions: "Very High" achievement is for any school in the 80th percentile or higher; "high" achievement is granted to schools between the 60th and 79.9th percentiles; "average" covers percentiles 40 through 59.9. Between percentiles 20 through 39.9 is considered "lagging," and any score at or below the 19.9th percentile is defined as "significantly lagging."

The schools are listed in alphabetical order. 

EASTLAKE

Eastlake Elementary's academic performance is about average when compared to schools across the state and when compared to its peers. This school's college and career readiness significantly lags in comparison to schools across the state and to its peers. This school's student growth performance—how students fared on the NJ ASK standardized tests from one year to another—is high when compared to schools across the state and very high when compared to its peers.

Peer schools include: Aaron Decker ES (Butler), Brayton ES (Summit), Bedwell ES (Somerset-Regional), Liberty Twp. ES (Warren).

INTERVALE

Intervale School's academic performance is high when compared to schools across New Jersey and about average when compared to its peers. Its college and career readiness is about average when compared to schools across the state and to its peers, and the same holds true for Intervale's student growth performance.

Peer schools include: Parsippany's Knollwood, Lake Parsippany, Northvail and Rockaway Meadow schools, Number 16 ES (Clifton) and Warren Point ES (Fair Lawn).

KNOLLWOOD

Knollwood Elementary School's academic performance is high when compared to schools across the state and is about average when compared to its peers. College and career readiness at Knollwood is high when compared to other New Jersey schools across the board and against its peer schools. Its student growth performance is about average when compared to schools across the state, but lags in comparison to its peers. The school, however, met all its targets.

Peer schools include: Parsippany's Intervale, Lake Parsippany, Northvail and Rockaway Meadow schools, Number 16 ES (Clifton) and Warren Point ES (Fair Lawn).

LAKE HIAWATHA

Academic performance at Lake Hiawatha Elementary School is high when compared to schools across the state and to peer schools. The story changes for college and career readiness, in which the school significantly lags in comparison to schools across the state and to its peers. Student growth performance at Lake Hiawatha is about average when compared to schools across the state, but is high when compared to peers. The school made all of its targets only in student growth.

Peers include: Fernbrook ES (Randolph), Port Colden ES (Washington Twp.), Mountain View ES (Mt. Olive) and Lenox ES (Pompton Lakes).

LAKE PARSIPPANY

At Lake Parsippany Elementary School, the state found academic performance about average when compared to schools across the state, but lagging when studied against peer schools. This school's college and career readiness is about average when compared to schools in New Jersey and to its peers. Lake Pars' student growth performance is about average when compared to schools across the state, but as with academic achievement, the school lags in comparison to its peers. Even with the up and down results, the school did meet all its targets.

Peer schools include: Parsippany's Intervale, Knollwood, Northvail and Rockaway Meadow schools, Lincoln ES (Nutley Town) and roosevelt ES (North Arlington).

LITTLETON

Littleton School's academic performance is high when compared to schools across the state, but lags when placed against its peers. This school's college and career readiness lags in comparison to schools across the state and significantly lags in comparison to its peers. This school's student growth performance is high, but is about average when compared to peer schools. Littleton met all its targets only in student growth.

Peer schools include: Millington ES (Long Hill Twp.), Wilson ES (Westfield), Deerfield ES (Millburn Twp.) and Bee Meadow ES (Hanover Twp.).

MOUNT TABOR

While Mt. Tabor Elementary School's academic performance is high when compared to schools across the state, it rates as about average when compared to its peers. Its college and career readiness is high when compared to schools across the state, but in comparison to peer schools. Interestingly, Mt. Tabor's student growth performance is high when compared to schools across the state—and very high when compared to its peers. The school meets its targets across the board.

Peers include: Lakeview ES (Denville), Washington Ave. ES (The Chathams), Packanack ES (Wayne) and Lincoln-Hubbard ES (Summit).

NORTHVAIL

Very good news at Northvail Elementary School: Its academic performance is very high when compared to schools across the state and to its peers. College and career readiness is high when compared to both schools across the state and those in its peer group. Northvail's student growth performance is very high when compared to New Jersey schools and when compared to its peers. Northvail's targets were all reached.

Peer schools: Parsippany's Intervale, Knollwood, Lake Parsippany and Rockaway Meadow schools, John F. Kennedy ES (Wayne) and Laura Donovan ES (Freehold Twp.).

ROCKAWAY MEADOW

The state says academic performance at Rockaway Meadow Elementary School is about average when compared to schools across the state, but it lags in comparison to its peers. This school's college and career readiness lags when compared to New Jersey schools and to peer schools, and it met none of its targets in this area. In student growth, the school was found lagging in comparison to other New Jersey schools in general and to its peers; it met its language arts targets, but not its math goals.

Peers include: Parsippany's Intervale and Northvail schools, Franklin ES (Roxbury Twp.) and Woodfern ES (Hillsborough).

TROY HILLS

Troy Hills Elementary School's academic performance is very high when compared to schools across the state and about average when compared to its peers. College and career readiness is very high when compared to other New Jersey schools across the state and when compared to its peers. Conversely, its student growth performance lags in comparison to schools across the state and to its peers. Still, Troy Hills met all its targets.

Peers include: Hillsborough ES (Hillsborough), Allen W. Ro berts ES (New Providence), Cranberry Pines ES (Medford) and Central Es (Wall Twp.).

See how Parsippany's high schools and middle schools fared on the 2013 School Report Cards:

• Report Card: Both Middle Schools Score 'High' Academically