2010 Top High Schools

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How do you or do you calculate the County Vocational-Technical Schools comprehensive high schools. I am the Director of Development for Hudson County Schoools of Technology and I did not read any statistics on High Tech or County Prep HS? NJ Monthly has calculated our schools of choice in the past--our schools are similiar to MaNair. Is there a way to discuss the process?? 201 835-3893 Thank you

Posted by: Linda Quentzel, Secaucus | Aug 26, 2010 01:57:43 AM |

How about Bergen County Academies?? This is by far the best school in the State and it’s not even ranked? How is that possible?

Posted by: Dulcinea, Bergen | Aug 26, 2010 04:15:31 AM |

The Top High Schools rankings are based entirely on information reported by the schools to the NJ Department of Education. As explained in the Methodology, certain charter schools and some academies and magnet high schools did not report enough data to be included in the rankings. A link to the complete methodology is available at the top of this page.

Posted by: New Jersey Monthly, Morristown | Aug 27, 2010 14:25:27 PM |

The US News & World Report rankings of public high schools in the US include Bergen County Academies and High Tech High. http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2009/12/09/americas-best-high-schools-gold-medal-list.html You will see that these two schools rank far better nationally than any of NJ’s public high schools. They’re in a completely different league and have a different way of operating (i.e., must apply to get in), so it’s not surprising that they were left out of this list. In any event, I would trust US News’ methodology much more than the one used in this ranking; they somehow find a way to include schools that are clearly at the top.

Posted by: P., Kinnelon | Aug 27, 2010 16:54:28 PM |

Rank the districts in order of average household income or net worth and see how close that list is to this one. Kids in the affluent suburbs and those lucky enough to win the charter school lottery get first dibs when it comes to an education and an employable future, while the kids in the inner cities or poor rural areas get nothing. No politicians have the backbone to do anything about funding methodologies, then everyone wonders why our urban/poor district schools fail. Same discussion has been going on for decades.

Posted by: DS, Fanwood | Aug 27, 2010 17:47:47 PM |

DS is voicing a common complaint. That schools in affluent communities do a better job in educating than those in inner cities and poorer communities ... and that somehow it’s all about money. Not so fast, DS. The facts show otherwise. Quite a few inner city schools spend more per student than some of the best schools on the list. A lot more. And despite years of Abbott District funding that pushed additional money into inner city and poorer-performing districts, what does the state have to show for it? In reality, many poor performing districts simply haven’t spent their money wisely, overstaffing with highly-paid administrators instead of putting the money into teachers. And many of these same districts have been run by one party for decades, yet the voters keep them in office instead of replacing them with people who offer new ideas and better results. No, it takes more than money to provide a good education. Virtually every one of the top schools on this list sets high standards and enjoys a high degree of parental support and involvement. It’s time for voters in poorer-performing districts to stop blaming and start examining what they can do differently to get the results every parent wants.

Posted by: rob earl, ho-ho-kus | Aug 28, 2010 15:41:21 PM |

The list doesn’t take into consideration the atmosphere of the school due to the quality of the kids who populate it. For example, Marlboro High School doesn’t fare too badly on the list, but your kid would be better off without the nasty, weird, personality-disordered people who go there.

In lieu of this list, just find a ranking of NJ towns by income, then live in the wealthiest one you can afford that has good people residing there.

Posted by: K.A., Central NJ | Aug 29, 2010 14:29:09 PM |

these are the ratings from the ’08 - ’09 year....they were just published within the last 2 weeks....some big surprises of worsened ratings....

Posted by: audrey, hoboken | Aug 30, 2010 11:56:03 AM |

Hoboken still doing surprisingly well--- given last ranking they were the 2nd most improved in the state. 2008-09-- they took at hit. Wonder why?

Posted by: C. Marshall, hoboken | Aug 30, 2010 18:10:41 PM |

Looking at your list, it snot clear why some factors appear to be weighted more heavily than others for your rankings. For instance, in Egg Harbor Township (rank 227), 26 different AP tests are offered, 73% of test takers score a +3, the average SAT is 1445, and 85% of students go on to attend at least a two year institution. However, the average class size is large (24.6). In Hackensack (rank 198), the average SAT is 1336, 26 AP courses are offered, but only 31% of test takers score a +3. Also, 86% of students go on to attend at least a two year institution. In Hackensack, however, class size is somewhat small, with an average class size of 22.1. As someone who looks at data for a living, I would say that the school with a higher SAT and better performance on the AP tests is the better school. However, the algorithm/regression equation you are using appears to place an inordinate emphasis on class size.

Posted by: FFB, Egg Harbor Township | Aug 30, 2010 22:16:43 PM |

Re: Princeton High School (PHS) rank of 44 this year. There may be an error in the survey on stated % of graduates going to 4 yr college.

NJ Monthly full ranking list shows 66% of PHS graduates going to 4 yr college. PHS website shows 85% of graduates going to 4 yr college (80-90% range has been the case for the last several years). The 85% ,SAT avg. score of 1856 and all other factors should have Princeton much closer to last years ranking of 6. Hopeful NJ Monthy will resolve this and update the rankings.

Posted by: LW, Princeton | Aug 31, 2010 21:20:50 PM |

Every year that I read this list, I am deeply disappointed for my students and staff - the students and staff of "The Mighty" Newark Tech. We are a part of the Essex County Vocational - Technical Schools District. For whatever the reason, you do not recognize the vocational-technical schools, which are also NJ public schools. In ’09, my seniors graduated with 98% proficiency on the Languages Arts portion of the HSPA and 88% proficiency in Math. In 2010, my seniors graduated with 100% proficiency in Language Arts and 88% proficiency in Math. These numbers are phenomenal not only for a school in Newark, but for an inner-city school in which almost 90% of the students are economically disadvantaged. We prove year after year that poverty is an unacceptable excuse. US News and World Report Magazine even recognized us for two consecutive years as one of America’s best high schools. I might add that in my principal capacity, I was a 2009 recipient of the prestigious Milken National Educator Award which speaks volumes to what we have accomplished here. I urge you to consider the vocational-technical schools next year. Many of us are doing a phenomenal job educating the same children as the traditional comprehensive high schools. I might add that one of our sister schools - Bloomfield Tech is a Blue Ribbon School, a National Title 1 Distinguished School and recognized by US News and World Report for two consecutive years as well. I thank you in advance for your consideration.

Principal Baruti K. Kafele

Posted by: Principal Baruti Kafele, Jersey City | Aug 31, 2010 22:27:11 PM |

Great Report and very useful for my real estate practice.

Thanks.

Danny

Posted by: Danny Kahn, Upper Saddle River | Sep 02, 2010 15:48:30 PM |

Princeton ranks 44??? this can only prove that your ranking has problem. also, Ridge school ranks top in the national ratings.

Posted by: Harry, bERNARDS | Sep 08, 2010 00:33:37 AM |

Criteria used to rank Princeton as been identified and pointed out. Why hasn’t NJmonthly corrected this error? Bergenfield better than New Milford or Wall? Definitely some holes in this list.

Posted by: Rick, Hillsborough | Sep 09, 2010 01:12:09 AM |

Of the ’top’ 100 schools in the NJ Monthly ranking, the vast majority are found in towns in which more than 90% of the population is white or Asian. Only eight schools in the top 100 are found in towns with a combined "white and Asian" population percentage that matches or falls below the overall U.S. average (which was 79% in the 2000 census) for these populations.

Here are some more granular breakdowns:

--60 of the top 100 schools are in towns in which the combined white and Asian population percentage is 95% or higher;

--85 of the top 100 schools are in towns in which the combined white and Asian population percentage is 90% or higher;

--Perhaps more importantly, only 2 of the top 50 schools drop below this 90% threshold (McNair and Highland Park);

--92 of the top 100 schools are in towns in which the combined white and Asian population is 80% or higher.

The eight schools in the top 100 whose hometowns are either at or below the national average for white + Asian populations (79%) are the following. (I’ve put their NJ Monthly ranking in parentheses before each one, and have put the name of their town and the percentage of their town’s population that is white + Asian in parentheses after:)

(2) McNair Academy (Jersey City; 50.2%*)
(61) Red Bank Regional (Red Bank; 70.4%)
(66) Morristown (Morristown; 70.9%)
(69) Science Park (Newark; 27.7%)
(75) Columbia (Maplewood; 61.7%)
(77) Somerville (Somerville; 78.5%)
(83) Dwight Morrow (Englewood; 47.7%)
(94) Montclair (Montclair; 63%)

(*Apparently, as a matter of admissions policy, McNair enrolls exactly 25% white, 25% Asian, 25% black, and 25% Hispanic students)

I should point out that I don’t believe in racial "explanations" for the by-now-well-documented "achievement gap". But there’s no denying that the gap exists. (see http://bit.ly/86WnB) Acknowledging that gap, and then also acknowledging that the eight schools above are the only ones in the "top 100" in NJ whose student body includes a percentage of black and Hispanic students at or above the national average, and thus are more likely than the others to reflect that gap in their assessments, complicates the picture that this NJ Monthly ranking paints.

The one totally unambiguous conclusion that I’ve made so far is that the real shining star in New Jersey’s educational firmament is McNair Academy. Everything else is open to debate and interpretation.

Posted by: Pete, Montclair | Sep 10, 2010 14:50:03 PM |

per Princeton Regional web site "The September issue of New Jersey Monthly ranks all of the state’s high schools annually. Princeton High School is traditionally in the top several schools; last year was #6. One of the major factors for the ranking is the percentage of graduates going to four year colleges and universities. The PHS class of 2009 had 85% going to four -year post-secondary schools; 8% attending two-year schools. Unfortunately, the magazine had 66% as our four-year rate; thus, they show a ranking for PHS this year at #44....an anomaly that jumps off the page! New Jersey Monthly will note this in the November 2010 issue.:

Posted by: Ken Verbeyst (Realtor Prudential Fox&Roach, Princeton), Princeton | Sep 27, 2010 15:17:16 PM |

Instead of complaining, why don’t the students and schools participate in fundraisers?? All I recall getting in school were textbooks. Everything else was funded by my parents. School supplies, ice cream money, field trips, etc. I recall fundraising for anything additional. Why don’t the teachers use the budget as a tool to demonstrate how to achieve with limited means, rather than complaining about not getting handouts on the backs of the taxpayers?? It shows a strong work ethic. Is there something wrong with teaching hard work as a route to success??

Posted by: Cheryl A. Wright, Buena Boro/Landisville | Sep 29, 2010 18:09:33 PM |

Most of the whining is emanating from Princeton proper and Bergen County. What a surprise. Some status symbols just can’t be purchased like a house or a car.

Posted by: Larry Jones, Montgomery | Nov 01, 2010 19:05:13 PM |

What about PCTI. In my opinion we have a great school, better than eastside and Kennedy high school put together. PCTI always beat out the "inner city" schools what happened now.

Posted by: Ariell Towles, Paterson | Nov 04, 2010 16:41:32 PM |

Given that your data is 2008 it is hard to see it as relevant when the district administration will just say, well they are using two year old data and here are our results from last spring. Why can’t you use a more recent data set? Or at least, not tag your article as a 2010 ranking, which is somewhat misleading.

Posted by: Patricia Fantulin, Midland Park | Nov 17, 2010 13:10:44 PM |

unfortunately the Obama administration pulled down all school performance data and scoring information from public sites. I’m not sure why they did that, other than knowing that they do no really care much for measuring actual performance and care more about how hard you try. This is probably in the master plan of their future scheming plans so nobody has data to the contradict what they say as they continue to back their political supporters from the teachers Unions.

All these sites are using incomplete or old data now
IES is averaging data from as far back as 1986 http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/ccddata.asp

School Matters is shutdown due to the CCSSO no longer releasing data publicly since shortly after Obama took office http://www.schoolmatters.com/ you can find the same message can be found on http://www.schooldatadirect.org/ where the data is usually published for syndication or download by all the other sites who then examine the data.

Never trust what people tell you, never trust polls if you don’t know where or how that data was collected. It is extremely easy to be manipulated to paint a picture the way you want it to look and have backup for an agenda. Remember everything is run by politics even if you don’t like politics it injects itself in the matters you care about most. That’s how they get you involved.

The one thing I noticed about how schools have changed their scoring and how they’re ranked by many sites (not sure if this site does it) is they give extra points and higher ranking for things like "diversity", WHAT!!!!

I know when I have kids and send mine to school, that will be very low on the importance factor list to me. I care more about grade scores, if the bar was raised or lowered to obtain higher grade scores, the % of students that go on to college and then the percentage of students who go on to attend ivy league schools, the average SAT scores by category. Important subjects, math, science, history (real history and not the re-written agenda driven type), languages, English being a major one that should include grammar.

The problems with NJEA, NEA and many liberal groups and unions is they look to lower the bar for the teachers they represent or have an agenda driven interest to see scores rise but don’t really want to do much or spend much to achieve that goal and in doing so makes it appear they are performing better when in all actuality they simply lowered the achievement level to reach. This will also make some seem like they are excelling to extremes.

While the extra curricular activities and diversity are good,they should in no way whatsoever replace actual education curriculum.

But that’s just my opinion for whatever it’s worth.

Posted by: YIRMASTER, New Jersey | Nov 17, 2010 16:17:47 PM |

Check this out!

Posted by: Darrylwashington, Willingboro | Jan 10, 2011 04:34:57 AM |

In Union city we no longer have two high school’s. What is going on here?

Posted by: Adam, Union city | Feb 06, 2011 20:30:48 PM |

Does anyone here have a problem with the fact that all the affluent areas are ranked at the top? I find this disgusting. This is discrimination. We all have a right to the same education for our children, do we not? Talk about misappropriation of funds!

Posted by: dee, new jersey | Mar 03, 2011 03:27:31 AM |

McNair Academic is the only magnet high school (admission requirements include PSAT, middle school grades) on this list. Why is this school on a list of public schools, but no other magnets like High Tech High or Bergen Academies??

Posted by: Jillian, Englewood NJ | Mar 14, 2011 23:20:11 PM |

cranford high school is a joke..

Posted by: William, Cranford | Apr 09, 2011 18:45:16 PM |

Where is the Academy for the Advancement of Science and technology (which i am going to next year), or any of the academies in Bergen County Academies? We have a nationally ranked math team that is better than that of any high school on the list (we got 9th at ARML last year, and we beat thomas jefferson, the number 1 high school in america), we have a very smart student body (you have to apply to get in), and we are the only high school in america that has THREE electron microscopes. Some university professors even come to the school to use the equipment. By the way, BCA is a public school, not a private school, even though you have to apply to get in.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:45:27 AM |

Where is the Academy for the Advancement of Science and technology (which i am going to next year), or any of the academies in Bergen County Academies? We have a nationally ranked math team that is better than that of any high school on the list (we got 9th at ARML last year, and we beat thomas jefferson, the number 1 high school in america), we have a very smart student body (you have to apply to get in), and we are the only high school in america that has THREE electron microscopes. Some university professors even come to the school to use the equipment. By the way, BCA is a public school, not a private school, even though you have to apply to get in.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:45:27 AM |

Where is the Academy for the Advancement of Science and technology (which i am going to next year), or any of the academies in Bergen County Academies? We have a nationally ranked math team that is better than that of any high school on the list (we got 9th at ARML last year, and we beat thomas jefferson, the number 1 high school in america), we have a very smart student body (you have to apply to get in), and we are the only high school in america that has THREE electron microscopes. Some university professors even come to the school to use the equipment. By the way, BCA is a public school, not a private school, even though you have to apply to get in.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:45:27 AM |

Where is the Academy for the Advancement of Science and technology (which i am going to next year), or any of the academies in Bergen County Academies? We have a nationally ranked math team that is better than that of any high school on the list (we got 9th at ARML last year, and we beat thomas jefferson, the number 1 high school in america), we have a very smart student body (you have to apply to get in), and we are the only high school in america that has THREE electron microscopes. Some university professors even come to the school to use the equipment. By the way, BCA is a public school, not a private school, even though you have to apply to get in.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:45:28 AM |

Where is the Academy for the Advancement of Science and technology (which i am going to next year), or any of the academies in Bergen County Academies? We have a nationally ranked math team that is better than that of any high school on the list (we got 9th at ARML last year, and we beat thomas jefferson, the number 1 high school in america), we have a very smart student body (you have to apply to get in), and we are the only high school in america that has THREE electron microscopes. Some university professors even come to the school to use the equipment. By the way, BCA is a public school, not a private school, even though you have to apply to get in.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:45:32 AM |

Where is the Academy for the Advancement of Science and technology (which i am going to next year), or any of the academies in Bergen County Academies? We have a nationally ranked math team that is better than that of any high school on the list (we got 9th at ARML last year, and we beat thomas jefferson, the number 1 high school in america), we have a very smart student body (you have to apply to get in), and we are the only high school in america that has THREE electron microscopes. Some university professors even come to the school to use the equipment. By the way, BCA is a public school, not a private school, even though you have to apply to get in.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:45:33 AM |

Sorry My ipad was a bit slow so i touched the submit button multiple times. Also how is west windsor plainsboro south lower than northern valley demarest (the school i would have gone to if i had gotten rejected from AAST)? WWPS won NJ scioly and NVD doesn’t even have a team. Is this study based on the intelligence and achievements of the students (like it should be) or is it based on the school and the faculty? If it were based on the students, west windsor would be at the top of the list, no question.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:51:55 AM |

Where is the Academy for the Advancement of Science and technology (which i am going to next year), or any of the academies in Bergen County Academies? We have a nationally ranked math team that is better than that of any high school on the list (we got 9th at ARML last year, and we beat thomas jefferson, the number 1 high school in america), we have a very smart student body (you have to apply to get in), and we are the only high school in america that has THREE electron microscopes. Some university professors even come to the school to use the equipment. By the way, BCA is a public school, not a private school, even though you have to apply to get in.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:45:31 AM |

Where is the Academy for the Advancement of Science and technology (which i am going to next year), or any of the academies in Bergen County Academies? We have a nationally ranked math team that is better than that of any high school on the list (we got 9th at ARML last year, and we beat thomas jefferson, the number 1 high school in america), we have a very smart student body (you have to apply to get in), and we are the only high school in america that has THREE electron microscopes. Some university professors even come to the school to use the equipment. By the way, BCA is a public school, not a private school, even though you have to apply to get in.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:45:33 AM |

Where is the Academy for the Advancement of Science and technology (which i am going to next year), or any of the academies in Bergen County Academies? We have a nationally ranked math team that is better than that of any high school on the list (we got 9th at ARML last year, and we beat thomas jefferson, the number 1 high school in america), we have a very smart student body (you have to apply to get in), and we are the only high school in america that has THREE electron microscopes. Some university professors even come to the school to use the equipment. By the way, BCA is a public school, not a private school, even though you have to apply to get in.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:45:31 AM |

Where is the Academy for the Advancement of Science and technology (which i am going to next year), or any of the academies in Bergen County Academies? We have a nationally ranked math team that is better than that of any high school on the list (we got 9th at ARML last year, and we beat thomas jefferson, the number 1 high school in america), we have a very smart student body (you have to apply to get in), and we are the only high school in america that has THREE electron microscopes. Some university professors even come to the school to use the equipment. By the way, BCA is a public school, not a private school, even though you have to apply to get in.

Posted by: Jonathan Chan, closter | Apr 18, 2011 02:45:34 AM |

You are correct in addressing the fact that the Academy High Schools are not on the list. Most people in NJ do not even know that they exist and the way they are funded compared to other high schools in the state. This is one of Nj’s best kept secrets. Just think about how small the class sizes are at the Academy schools (less than 10 the last time I checked). With all the funding they receive and the fact that the class sizes are very small along with testing requirements for admittance, of course these schools will have some of the best and the brightest students and faculty in NJ.

Posted by: Nick Jackson, Mt. Laurel | Jul 22, 2011 20:46:20 PM |

I have strong suspision that there is some error in your model, at least some data error regarding to the rankign of Priceton. It dropped from 6 to 44. If you check your data on SAT average, Priceton has one of teh highest. It almost impossible to drop to so low. Double-check the data of Priceton.

Posted by: Alan Wang, Parsippany, NJ | Aug 22, 2011 18:34:54 PM |

With 15% of the NJ high School population going to private, why would you publish such a skewed list. I understand that adding private schools would take some statistcal work, that perhaps your staff is not capable of, butjust regurgitaing a list from the department of education is a complete waste of time and incredibly misleading. I would have thought NJ Monthly would have a higher level of journalism. Makes me question the quality of restaurant reviews and advertisers.

Posted by: Joe Marazzi, Wayne | Sep 15, 2011 02:36:15 AM |