Business coalition honors Princeton schools for test score results

Five schools among 77 in the state.

By: Rachel Silverman
   Five Princeton schools — Community Park Elementary School, John Witherspoon Middle School, Princeton Charter School, Princeton High School and Riverside Elementary School — have been tagged as New Jersey benchmark schools for their soaring test results.
   The "2004 Just for the Kids-New Jersey Benchmark Schools" designation, which is awarded to institutions that demonstrate high student achievement on state assessment tests, was given for the schools’ performance on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge test, Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment and High School Proficiency Assessment.
   While Community Park and Riverside elementary schools were tapped for the results of their New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge test, which is given in fourth grade, Princeton High School students were awarded for their scores on the High School Proficiency Assessment, which is administered in the students’ junior year. The Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment allowed John Witherspoon Middle School to join the honor roll, and Princeton Charter School was rewarded for its scores on both the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment and the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge.
   This benchmark distinction was awarded to 77 New Jersey public schools by The Business Coalition for Educational Excellence, which is an arm of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
   In a news release, coalition President Dana Egreczky praised the Princeton schools for their high level of academic achievement.
   "We are proud to recognize Princeton’s Benchmark Schools for their outstanding performance on the state assessments," Ms. Egreczky said. "This honor truly reflects a strong commitment to excellence in education."
   Princeton Regional School District Superintendent Judy Wilson also said in a phone conversation Thursday afternoon she was "delighted" by the news.
   "I’m very, very proud of this," she said. "It is exceptional there are multiple schools within the district given this honor."
   Ms. Wilson also took a moment to put the distinction into perspective.
   "It compares Princeton schools to similar schools and similar demographics," she said. "It’s saying, ‘Even among districts similar to Princeton, we did extremely well.’"
   "It’s not just saying, ‘Gee, you out-resourced people,’" Ms. Wilson added.