Graduation Rate Increases In Bridgewater-Raritan High School For 3rd Year In A Row

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — For the third year in a row, Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School student graduation rates have increased.

"When we look graduation rate to go from 92 to 97 percent, on average you are looking at 35 students, who are now getting across the line who did not get across the line four years ago and that’s significant," said Superintendent Robert Beers at the May 13 Board of Education meeting who thanked the teachers for their hard work.

"I've said it over and over, but it's those teachers in those classrooms on the ground helping those kids," said Beers.

Director of 21st Century Learning and Data Analysis for the district, Jason Mauriello, gave a presentation to the BOE on how the schools were doing.

The 2023-24 graduation rate rose to 97 percent, which is 3 percent higher than in 2022-23, which was 94 percent. The graduation rate for the 2021-22 school year was 93 percent.

"It's great to see so many more of our students — getting them to be successful, to meet those graduation requirements, to get that diploma within four years," said Mauriello.

The district also saw improvements in the PSAT and SAT scores. This is the second year we have offered the PSAT to all students in grades 9 through 11.

The number of students in 11th and 12th grades taking an AP course also increased by 7.1 percent.

"This is an impressive statistic," said Beers.

Part of that increase is because the district started sending letters to students who are identified through AP Potential.

"Students who may not have seen themselves as taking an AP class a year or two down the road get a letter basically saying based on how you performed on your PSAT you are this percent likely to score well and get a passing score on an AP test if you were to take the class the following year," said Mauriello. "It’s really nice to have that extra piece of information to share that with students and the families and use that in the decision-making process. I think that's contributed to some of our increases in participation in AP courses."

Additionally, the district has seen significant enrollment increases in the following AP course: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP English Literature, AP Psychology, and AP Research. The district will also be offering AP Human Geography for the first time in 2025-26

This past year was also the first year the district expanded the Seal of Biliteracy to juniors. Previously it was only open to seniors.

Students who can speak more than one language are able to take the Seal of Biliteracy assessment and receive and achieve the award.

The number of total seals earned in 2023-24 was 80 and increased to 172 for 2024-25. Additionally, the total language seals earned in 2023-24 went from nine to 20 in 2024-25.

The district also saw an increase in the number of dual enrollment with colleges - where students earn college credits with select partner colleges.

The percentage of Grade 11 and 12 students enrolled in a dual enrollment course went from 1.2 percent in 2022-23 to 2.3 percent in 2023-24 to 8 percent in 2024-25. It is projected to continue to increase to 8.4 percent in 2025-26.

Mauriello said he believes the increase is linked to the number of colleges that the district is working with, and more classes and more students participating.

Currently, the district is partnering with Raritan Valley Community College, Seton Hall, Fairleigh Dickinson University, The College of New Jersey, and Rutgers.

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