Report Card: Both Middle Schools Score 'High' Academically

Brooklawn Middle School's level of academic performance in the 2011-12 school year was "high" when compared with other middle schools in the state and "average" in comparison to schools in its peer group according to new data released by the New Jersey Department of Education. Meanwhile, the same report shows Central Middle School scored a "high" level in academic achievement when compared to the state and its peers.

Both schools met 83 percent of their targets for academic achievement and for graduation and post-secondary readiness, 50 percent of their targets for college and career readiness and 100 percent of their targets for student growth.

The data, presented in a new peer-to-peer comparison format, was released by the state last Wednesday. The new NJ School Performance Reports not only compare districts and schools to others in the state, but also to "peer" districts, those with students of similar demographic characteristics. Examples of shared traits includes the percentage of students who are in special education programs, limited English proficiency programs or who qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Parsippany's middle schools are in different peer groups: Brooklawn's peers include Jefferson Township Middle School, Hillsborough Middle School, Thomas Jefferson Middle School (Fair Lawn) and Anthony Wayne Middle School. CMS is grouped with schools including Frelinghuysen Middle School, Thomas Jefferson Middle School (Rockaway), Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School and Pohatcong School.

"The new School Performance Reports are designed to enhance both educator and stakeholder engagement in discussions about how well a school is preparing their students for college and careers," the state said in an introduction of the data.

The results show BMS as having an "average" level of college and career readiness, with the school outperforming about 43 percent of schools in the state and 40 percent of schools in the peer group in the category.

In the area of academic achievement, Brooklawn Middle is outperforming 45 percent of peer group schools and 77 percent of schools statewide.

For Central Middle, the report showed the school "lagging" in college and career readiness. CMS outperformed about 36 percent of schools in the state and 23 percent of schools in the peer group in the category. ["High" achievement is granted to schools between the 60th and 79.9th percentiles; "average" covers percentiles 40 through 59.9. "Lagging" performance is defined as being between the 20.0th and 39.9th percentiles.] 

In academic achievement, CMS is outperforming 60 percent of schools in its peer group and 71 percent across New Jersey.

The third major area, student growth, measures the performance of students from one year to the next using the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK) in Language Arts Literacy and Math standardized tests. The report states both Parsippany's middle schools reached 100 percent of their goals in this area. Central Middle outperformed 63 percent of schools statewide in student growth and bested 39 percent of its peers. BMS outperformed 80 percent of its peers and 87 percent of schools across New Jersey.

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

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

• Report Card: Northvail Elementary Earns Best Marks in Parsippany