Collins Named High-Performing State 'Reward School'

Collins Elementary School has been named a high-performing "Reward School" by the state Department of Education.

The Livingston school was included in a list of 57 Reward Schools throughout the state released this month. Last year, 112 schools were selected as Reward Schools.

"A Reward School is a school with outstanding student achievement or growth over the past three years," according to a description provided by the state DOE.

The two types of Reward Schools include high-performing, which indicates the school has a high level of schoolwide proficiency and graduation rates, and high-progress, which indicates the school has a high level of student growth, as measured by their median Student Growth Percentiles. Valley View was categorized as a high-performing school.

In calculating which schools are Reward Schools, the state takes into account data from the 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, including NJASK, HSPA and APA exams.

"I think most Livingston residents see all LPS schools as reward schools," said Superintendent Dr. Brad Draeger. "In fact all LPS schools are within a few statistical points of all being reward schools. The NJDOE recognition of Collins Elementary School is a welcome endorsement of the principal, staff and students of Collins for their continued dedication to student achievement."

In 2012, Livingston High School was recognized as a reward school. Other Essex County schools on this year' list include schools in Millburn and Montclair.