Millburn Middle School Ranks in 97th Percentile Statewide in Academics

Millburn Middle School tops of state list in academic achievement and tested in highest percentile throughout the district according to the recent school performance reports issued by the Christie administration.

The report card said the middle school tested in the 97th percentile statewide and in the 90th among its peers. Out of the 12 state targets for peformance, the school missed two — pass rate of students with disabilities in math and chronic absenteeism. 

The reports ranks the school on three different categories: Academic achievement on the Language Arts Literacy and Math sections of the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK), college and career readiness which measures how many students are chronically absent and student growth measures the performance of students from one year to the next on the NJASK tests. 

It also ranks schools against 30 peer schools based on free and reduced lunch, limited English proficiency programs or special education programs.

The following chart summarizes the middle school's report card (Full report card attached as PDF):

The school achieved half of its targets in college and career readiness, because 9 percent of students were considered being chronically absent — the state goal is 6 percent. 

Although the school tested very high on the NJASK exams and met 88 percent of state targets, the school did not meet the target in math for student with disability. Out of 144 students who took the HSPA 59.1 percent passed the test — the state target in 68 percent.

Superintendent Dr. James Crisfield previously said the district will use this information to supply extra help for those struggling in math. 

The state defines levels of achievement as: "Very High" achievement is for any school in the 80th percentile or higher; "high" achievement is granted to schools between the 60th and 79.9th percentiles; "average" covers percentiles 40 through 59.9. Between percentiles 20 through 39.9 is considered "lagging," and any score at or below the 19.9th percentile is defined as "significantly lagging."

According to the report, the middle school's academic performance is very high when compared to schools across the state and when compared to its peers.

The report also states, the school's college and career readiness is about average when compared to schools across the state but lags in comparison to its peers. Its student growth performance is very high when compared to schools across the state and is about average when compared to its peers.