Hightstown HS Graduation Rates, Academics Lagging

The New Jersey Department of Education’s new evaluation system has assessed Hightstown High School as lagging in a number of significant areas, but received average or high marks in others.

This new assessment presents a larger array of new data so that schools can better understand their overall performance. The data is aimed at helping schools improve in order to help students graduate high school better prepared for college and a career, according to New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf.

Academically, Hightstown High School performed average when compared to other schools across the state, but was lagging in comparison to other schools in its peer group, or other high schools with similar demographics. The school only meets 93 percent of the academic achievement targets and outperforms 40 percent of schools statewide and only 29 percent of schools in its peer group. The new evaluation measures academic achievement in math and language arts literacy.

Hightstown High School’s college and career readiness scores were high in comparison to schools on a state-wide scale and average in comparison to its peers. The high school met only 60 percent of their target in this area because not enough students took the PSAT or were taking at least one AP class, according to the report. Nevertheless, the school outperforms 59 percent of schools in its peer group, meaning it is about average to its contemporaries.

The graduation and post-secondary performance is lagging in comparison to schools across the state and significantly lagging in comparison to its peers, the report said, out performing only 5 percent of schools with similar demographics. This rate is measured by the number of students who complete school within four years and the high school dropout rate. The dropout rate at Hightstown High School is 0.8 percent higher than the statewide target of 2 percent.

Other high schools within the same peer group as Hightstown High School include Lawrence High School, Edison High School, Old Bridge High School, Middlesex High School, and Bordentown High School. Peer schools are drawn from across the state and represent schools that have similar grade configurations and that are educating students of similar demographic characteristics, as measured by enrollment in Free/Reduced Lunch Programs, Limited English Proficiency or Special Education Programs.