Weehawken Superintendent of Schools Kevin McLellan doesn’t worry about receiving the district’s comprehensive test scores anymore. He might have been concerned 12 years ago, when Weehawken was classified by the state as a Level 3 school district, one in need of serious repair. But that is not the case now.
The Weehawken Board of Education has enjoyed a complete transformation in the past decade, when a once-troubled district blossomed into one of the best in the area. Still, McLellan could not have anticipated the news he received last week that the fourth, eighth, and 11th grade students in the district who took their comprehensive tests last October would all place among the best in Hudson County.
Exactly 87.7 percent of the fourth graders who took the Elementary School Proficiency Assessment either received a grade of proficient or advanced proficient. That test focuses on language arts, math, and science combined. This was the highest percentage in Hudson County, outdistancing North Bergen district’s score of 67.2 percent. The state average was 67.7 percent.
Exactly 80 percent of the district’s eighth graders taking Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment were either proficient or advanced proficient. Again, the scores were the best in Hudson County, ahead of North Bergen’s 73.2 percent and also ahead of the state average of 64.4 percent.
And not to be outdone, the 11th graders who took the High School Proficiency Test passed at a rate of 97.5 percent. It was the best score for any Hudson County high school with general enrollment and only trailed the rankings in McNair Academic of Jersey City and High Tech High School of North Bergen, both of which have specialized enrollments.
"We’re obviously elated," McLellan said. "The results are exceptional across the board. To get scores like this, we needed cooperation from every level of the community. It takes a total team effort."
McLellan credited the support he has received from Mayor Richard Turner and the Township Council since 1989.
"It’s the culmination of at least a 10-year effort," McLellan said. "You have to have the support of the local government to make it work and we’re fortunate to have a mayor and council that is pro-education. The Board of Education members are committed to high standards and the administration and teachers in the classrooms set their standards, having the children achieve those standards. It’s something to be proud of."
Board of Education President Richard Barsa agreed.
"It’s a great accomplishment," Barsa said. "Considering where we were years ago, we’ve now been able to reach our goals. Everyone has been very supportive of each other. We’ve worked together to get this far. It’s a well-rounded effort. We have the tools to allow our students to go on to the best colleges in the country. This is just a sign of a job done very well."