Dear Editor: Last week Anonymous suggested that Hoboken implement similar programs utilized in the Elysian Charter School and High Tech to “fix” its public schools.
Had the author referenced the February 2, 2006 Star Ledger Report he would have found that both Hoboken High and the public, non-charter Junior High Schools far outscored both Charter Schools.
Current Scores (including special education students) *Demarest: LA: 87 percent passed, MA: 78 percent passed *Elysian: LA: 57 percent passed, MA: 57 percent passed. Regarding the High School Proficiency Tests, *HHS: LA: 77 percent passed, MA:73 percent passed. *HCS: LA: 65 percent passed MA:39 percent passed. *Wallace outscored Elysian in the above average portion of the grade 3 and 4 Language Arts and grade 4 Mathematics tests (NJ School Report Card).
*Hoboken’s public, non-charter junior high schools did better than many suburban schools including Maplewood, Nutley and Clark.
Suggesting that Hoboken be compared with High Tech is ludicrous. High Tech rigorously screens its students. Hoboken does not have this option. Many people criticize Hoboken’s public schools but few research actual hard data indicators. Hoboken’s educators deserve kudos for their hard work.
Possible Improvement * Hoboken public schools have a total of approximately 2000 students (this includes elementary, junior high and high school).
* Pre-K programs in Hoboken, both public and private, educate a minimum of a few hundred 3 and 4 year olds, who could potentially enter our non-charter, public elementary schools.
Test scores could rival the highest scoring suburban schools, if more parents utilized the non-charter public schools. The catalyst for dramatically improving already positive educational practices and test scores in the non-charter public schools is here. I just hope the negative and false information being disseminated by some uninformed people does not dissuade Hoboken’s future students from enrolling in the non-charter public schools.
A concerned parent