Summary:
The Hillside, New Jersey school district consists of 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. The district as a whole is ranked 474 out of 609 in New Jersey and is rated 1 star out of 5 by SchoolDigger, indicating significant room for improvement.
Within the district, a few schools stand out. Hillside Innovation Academy, a middle school, has consistently ranked among the top 25% of New Jersey middle schools over the past 3 years, with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger and significantly higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics compared to the district and state averages. Hurden Looker Elementary School has also performed better than the district and state averages in English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency across multiple grade levels, with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. In contrast, other schools like Deanna G. Taylor Academy and Walter O. Krumbiegel Middle School are struggling, with proficiency rates well below the state averages.
The Hillside Public School District faces significant challenges, including high rates of chronic absenteeism across all schools and a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population, as evidenced by the high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. However, the data also reveals pockets of success within the district, suggesting that identifying and replicating the practices and strategies used in higher-performing schools could help improve outcomes for the entire district.
Thank you for your feedback!