By Nicole Cosentino, Special Writer
Cranbury, Monroe, and Jamesburg schools have all earned average scores compared to respective District Factor Groups (DFG’s), according to this year’s New Jersey Department of Education Report Card for 2011.
The annual state report lists each school’s enrollment, test scores, salaries and cost per student for the year. It also rates schools compared to districts of similar size and socio-economic status as well as the state average.
Overall, Jamesburg’s teacher and school administrator salaries make up 84 percent of the budget, which is only 1 percent greater than the state average. The total cost per student in Jamesburg is $14,318, according to the report.
John F. Kennedy Elementary School’s New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK) scores hold its own against DFG schools in Dunellen, Sayreville, Woodbridge, Hazlet, Bloomfield, and Jackson, according to the report.
One exception to these overall positive marks is the percentage of students who scored advanced placement in the NJASK fourth grade language arts assessment.
Only 1.6 percent of the school’s students scored advanced placement in comparison to the DFG’s 5.9 percent in that test.
According to the report, the school has a ratio of 8.2 students for each computer, while the state ratio is currently 3.6 students per computer.
The school has not met the requirements for adequate yearly progress according to its No Child Left Behind report for 2011. It does not, however, fall under the “in need of improvement” category.
It recorded fewer suspensions than both the district and state averages, and the teacher to student ratio is 12.9 students to a teacher. The state average is 11.1 students per teacher.
The Grace M. Breckwedel Middle School has average NJASK scores compared to its DFG, which is the same as John F Kennedy Elementary School’s.
Grace M. Breckwedel Middle School saw 9 percent of its students suspended in 2010-11 in comparison to the district average of 3 percent and the state average of 4 percent.
The student to computer ratio at the school is 2 students for each computer, which is better than the state average of 3.6 students per computer. The ratio of students per teacher is 8.8 and the state ratio is 11.1.
The school did not meet the requirements for the federal No Child Left Behind act’s adequate yearly progress guidelines and is also on its fourth year of needing improvement.
Cranbury Township spends 65 percent of its budget on teacher and administrator salaries, which is 3 percent less than the state average, and the total cost per student was $20,012, according to the report.
At the Cranbury School, NJASK scores are average in comparison with other schools in its DFG, which includes Princeton, East Brunswick, South Brunswick, Colts Neck, Holmdel, and Marlboro.
Cranbury School’s strength lies in its science scores; the 4th grade NJASK science scores revealed that zero students fell under the proficient cutoff in comparison with the DFG’s 2.3 percent. Eighth grade NJASK science scores also showed zero percent of students achieving less than proficient, while the DFG average was 3.8 percent.
The student to computer ratio at Cranbury School is 1.4 students per computer, which is much better than the state’s average of 3.6 students per machine.
The ratio between students and teachers is 9.4 students per teacher. The state’s ratio is 11.1.
Sixty-four percent of Monroe Township’s budget is spent on teacher and administrator salaries, which is less than the state average by 2 percent.
The total cost per student in Monroe is $18,155.
Two of Monroe’s elementary schools –Woodland Elementary School and Oak Tree Elementary School – showed high amounts of advanced placement scores on the NJASK exams in comparison to the DFG.
Townships in the DFG include South Amboy, Freehold, Bound Brook, Franklin, and Hillside.
Oak Tree Elementary School has the smallest class sizes in comparison to the other elementary schools in Monroe; an average of 20.7 pupils per classroom.
Monroe High School’s Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores were consistently 10 to 20 percent higher than the DFG.
Out of the five elementary schools in Monroe, four of the schools’ students to computer ratios are better than the state average.
Oak Tree Elementary School consistently scored better than the DFG on advanced placement NJASK testing in all subjects.
The school’s student to computer ratio is 4.5, while the state average is 3.6. For every teacher at Oak Tree Elementary School, there are 12.7 students, about two higher than the state average, according to the report.
Oak Tree Elementary School made adequate yearly progress according to No Child Left Behind.
Woodland Elementary School’s NJASK advanced placement percentages are slightly higher than the DFG’s.
The student to teacher ratio at Woodland Elementary School is 11.3, only 0.2 more than the state’s average.
The student to computer ratio at Woodland Elementary School is 3.0 per computer, while the state average is 0.6 more, according to the report.
Woodland Elementary School was on its second year of needing improvement, but it made adequate yearly progress for No Child Left Behind.
Applegarth Middle School has a student to computer ratio of 2 in comparison to the state’s average of 3.6.
The teacher to student ratio at Applegarth Middle School is exactly even with the state’s average of 11.1.The NJASK scores reflect average performance in comparison with the DFG.
Applegarth Middle School did not meet the yearly progress requirements for No Child Left Behind.
Brookside Elementary School’s NJASK scores are slightly above the DFG.
The student to teacher ratio is 11.5 to one, which is just above the state average of 11.1. For every computer at Brookside Elementary School, there are 2.5 students, better than the state average of 3.6 students for each computer.
Brookside did not make adequate yearly progress for the federal No Child Left Behind law, according to the report.
Mill Lake Elementary School’s student to computer ratio is 3.6, which is equal to the state average.
The student to teacher ratio, on the other hand, is 11.4 in comparison to the state’s 11.1 average.
NJASK scores at Mill Lake Elementary School are slightly higher than the DFG, and the school made adequate yearly No Child Left Behind progress.
Barclay Brook Elementary School has a student to computer ratio of 2.4 in comparison to the 3.6 state average.
The student to teacher ratio also fares better than the state average at 10.1 students per teacher.
The state average is 11.1.Monroe High School’s High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) scores were just barely above the DFG. The school’s SAT scores, on the other hand, were notably higher than the DFG’s average scores.
The student to teacher ratio at Monroe High School is 8.9, which is much better than the state average of 11.1.
Monroe High School’s 2.8 student to computer ratio is also better than the state average of 3.1.However, Monroe High School did not achieve No Child Left Behind acceptance and is in year three of “needs improvement.”

