Sabatini School In Elite Company

MADISON, NJ—Torey J. Sabatini School ranked 35th out of 2,088 in a controversial state system which scored every public school in New Jersey on a scale of 1-100. Sabatini was given a 98.39, placing it in the top 2 percent of all those ranked.

The 2020 data, established before the coronavirus shut schools in March, has drawn criticism from some who say it is unfair to compare elementary and high schools. The New Jersey School Boards Association has said a single grade by itself "draws an incomplete picture of school performance and the quality of education provided to its students."

But others, such as the New Jersey PTA, say it gives parents better tools to evaluate their child's education.

"They have the tools to ask questions of their teachers and other stakeholders such as the superintendent, principal, and Board of Education," the PTA said.

The new 2020 ratings were established to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced the controversial No Child Left Behind Act.

Torey J. Sabatini is the third-ranked public school in Morris County, behind Mendham Township Middle School, which scored a 100 and was ranked #2 overall, and Riverview Elementary School in Denville, which was ranked 7th overall with a 99.76 score.

Marine Academy of Science and Technology in Monmouth County was ranked first overall. You can see the full list here.

—With reporting by Tom Davis