Princeton Public Schools Ranks Among Highest SAT Scores In NJ

PRINCETON, NJ — In a school year marked by major pandemic disruptions, students from Princeton Public School District averaged 1301 on their SATs, according to data recently released by the New Jersey Department of Education.

Specifics about test scores were not broken down by town or school.

Overall, PPS ranked 6th in the state. Neighboring West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District came in 4th with students averaging 1338 on their SATs.

A perfect score would be a combined 1,600, or 800 in each section.

The district that scored the highest on the overall average combined score was Bergen County Vocational Technical School District with a score of 1381.

Meanwhile, the lowest-ranking district was Irvington Public School District with an average combined score of 796 out of 1600.

The SAT is still considered the primary standardized test that judges a student's college qualifications.

And even in the middle of a pandemic, they play an important role for New Jersey seniors who are already looking at colleges – even as testing has been delayed, or centers have been closed because of the coronavirus.

The SAT scores were part of the state Department of Education's School Performance Reports for the 2019-20 school year.

The reports include figures on enrollment, proficiency scores, PARCC scores, graduation rates, substance abuse rates SAT scores.

These reports are designed to inform parents, educators, and communities about how well a school is performing and preparing its students for college and careers, according to the DOE.

"We have always stated that the annual School Performance Reports serve as a springboard for discussion," said Angelica Allen-McMillan, acting commissioner of education. "These discussions are more important now than ever before as students, staff, and others in the school community navigate this difficult time."

With reporting from Tom Davis, Patch Staff.

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