Schools Report Cards indicate that South Brunswick students fare well compared to other districts’ standardized test scores.
By: Melissa Hayes
Average class size is down from last year in most district schools, however it’s still above the state average, according to the state’s 2003-2004 School Report Cards released Feb. 2.
While class size is still above the state average, so are standardized test scores districtwide according to the report cards.
Every year the state Department of Education issues report cards to provide information on class size, enrollment, standardized test scores, teacher and administrative salaries and other information on instruction and district spending.
Superintendent Gary McCartney said the district tries to keep class size under 23 students in the elementary schools and under 25 students in the secondary schools.
The district has an overall average class size of 21.3 students compared to the state’s average class size of 19.4.
Average class size is 21.7 at Brooks Crossing compared to 22.5 in last year’s report card. Class size at Brunswick Acres is 19.1, down from 21.0 last year, below the state average. Average class size at Cambridge School dropped to 18.2 from 18.9 last year; Crossroads North is down to 21.6 from 22.4; Greenbrook, which had the highest average class size last year with 23.5, is down to 21.5; Monmouth Junction dropped from 22.2 to 21.4; and Indian Fields remained fairly constant dropping from 22.1 to 22 students.
While most schools saw a decrease in average class size, three schools saw increases. Constable school increased from 19.6 to 20.1; South Brunswick High School saw an increase from 22.1 to 23; and Crossroads South had the greatest increase, rising from 21.8 to 24.1.
According to report, students fared well on standardized tests compared to other districts in the state.
According to the cards, 75.6 percent of third-graders in the state who took the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge were proficient in language arts literacy, 20.7 percent were partially proficient and 3.8 were advanced.
At Brooks Crossing, 85.9 percent were proficient, 10.6 percent were partially proficient and 3.5 percent were advanced.
At Brunswick Acres, 84.9 percent were proficient, 5.6 percent were partially proficient and 9.7 percent were advanced.
At Cambridge, 76.4 percent were proficient, 11.2 percent were partially proficient and 12.4 percent were advanced proficient.
At Constable, 87.3 percent were proficient, 9.1 percent were partially proficient and 3.6 percent were advanced proficient.
At Greenbrook, 83.6 percent were proficient, 9.1 percent were partially proficient and 7.3 percent were advanced proficient.
At Indian Fields, 83.3 percent were proficient, 14.4 percent were partially proficient and 2.3 percent were advanced proficient.
At Monmouth Junction, 77.2 percent were proficient, 7.6 percent were partially proficient and 15.2 percent were advanced proficient.
According to the report cards, 53.8 percent of third-graders in the state who took the NJASK3 were proficient in mathematics, 23.4 percent were partially proficient and 22.8 percent were advanced proficient.
At Brooks Crossing, 46.5 percent of students were proficient, 11.3 percent were partially proficient and 42.3 percent were advanced proficient. At Brunswick Acres, 54.8 percent of students were proficient, 8.2 percent were partially proficient and 37 percent were advanced proficient.
At Cambridge, 49.4 percent of students were proficient, 5.6 percent were partially proficient and 44.9 percent were advanced proficient.
At Constable, 43.6 percent of students were proficient, 9.1 percent were partially proficient and 47.3 percent were advanced proficient.
At Greenbrook, 54.5 percent were proficient, 3.6 percent were partially proficient and 41.8 percent were advanced proficient.
At Indian Fields, 53 percent were proficient, 9.8 percent were partially proficient and 37.1 percent were advanced proficient.
At Monmouth Junction, 60.8 percent were proficient, 10.1 percent were partially proficient and 29.1 percent were advanced proficient.
According to the report cards, 77.5 percent of fourth-graders in the state who took the test were proficient in language arts literacy, 17.9 percent were partially proficient and 4.7 were advanced proficient.
At Brooks Crossing, 77.6 percent were proficient, 14 percent were partially proficient and 8.4 percent were advanced proficient.
At Brunswick Acres, 86.4 percent were proficient, 11.4 percent were partially proficient and 2.3 were advanced proficient.
At Cambridge, 89.2 percent were proficient and 10.8 were advanced proficient.
At Constable, 88.7 percent were proficient, 9.7 percent were partially proficient and 1.6 percent were advanced proficient.
At Greenbrook, 87.4 percent were proficient, 6.3 percent were partially proficient and 6.3 percent were advanced proficient.
At Indian Fields, 85.8 percent were proficient, 9.7 percent were partially proficient and 4.5 percent were advanced proficient.
At Monmouth Junction, 80.8 percent were proficient, 11 percent were partially proficient and 8.2 were advanced proficient.
According to the report cards, 46.4 percent of fourth-graders in the state who took the NJASK4 were proficient in mathematics, 27.9 percent were partially proficient and 25.7 were advanced proficient.
At Brooks Crossing, 46.9 percent were proficient, 27.3 percent were partially proficient and 25.9 percent were advanced proficient.
At Brunswick Acres, 48.9 percent were proficient, 23.9 percent were partially proficient and 27.3 were advanced proficient.
At Cambridge, 48.2 were proficient, 10.8 were partially proficient and 41 percent were advanced proficient.
At Constable, 54.8 percent were proficient, 22.6 percent were partially proficient and 22.6 percent were advanced proficient.
At Greenbrook, 48.4 percent were proficient, 15.1 percent were partially proficient and 36.6 percent were advanced proficient.
At Indian Fields, 56.7 percent were proficient, 23.1 percent were partially proficient and 20.1 percent were advanced proficient.
At Monmouth Junction, 47.2 percent were proficient, 16.7 percent were partially proficient and 36.1 percent were advanced proficient.
According to the report cards, 66.3 percent of eighth-graders in the state who took the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment were proficient in language arts literacy, 28.3 percent were partially proficient and 5.5 were advanced proficient.
At Crossroads South, 79.4 percent were proficient, 8.9 percent were partially proficient and 11.7 percent were advanced proficient.
At Crossroads North, 71.4 percent were proficient, 13.7 percent were partially proficient and 14.9 percent were advanced proficient.
According to the report cards, 41.7 percent of eighth-graders in the state who took the GEPA were proficient in mathematics, 38.3 percent were partially proficient and 20 percent were advanced proficient.
At Crossroads South, 44.4 percent were proficient, 18.2 percent were partially proficient and 37.4 percent were advanced proficient.
At Crossroads North, 50.2 percent were proficient, 25.9 percent were partially proficient and 23.9 percent were advanced proficient.
According to the report cards, 53.6 percent of eighth-graders in the state who took the GEPA were proficient in science, 25.3 were partially proficient and 21.1 percent were advanced proficient.
At Crossroads South, 59.1 percent were proficient, 11.9 percent were partially proficient and 29 percent were advanced proficient.
At Crossroads North, 65.5 percent were proficient, 12.9 percent were partially proficient and 21.6 percent were advanced proficient.
According to the report cards, 65 percent of 11th-graders in the state who took the High School Proficiency Assessment were proficient in language arts literacy, 17.8 percent were partially proficient and 17.2 percent were advanced proficient.
At South Brunswick High School, 61.7 percent were proficient, 7.8 percent were partially proficient and 30.4 percent were advanced proficient.
According to the report cards, 45.6 percent of 11th-graders in the state who took the HSPA were proficient in mathematics, 30 percent were partially proficient and 24.5 percent were advanced proficient.
At South Brunswick High School, 48.5 percent were proficient, 20.4 percent were partially proficient and 31.1 percent were advanced proficient.
On the Scholastic Aptitude Tests, the state average was a score of 500 on verbal and 516 on math. Students at South Brunswick High School scored an average of 519 on verbal and 550 on mathematics.

