Summary:
The Hillside Public School District in New Jersey consists of 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school, serving a diverse student population. While the district faces some challenges, such as high chronic absenteeism rates and generally lower test scores compared to state averages, there are a few standout schools that are worth highlighting.
Hillside Innovation Academy, a middle school, ranks 198 out of 748 New Jersey middle schools and is rated 4 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger. It significantly outperforms the district and state averages in both English Language Arts and Mathematics, with 66-75.5% of students proficient or better in ELA and 30-35.9% in Math. Another strong performer is Hurden Looker School, an elementary school with the second-best student-teacher ratio in the district and relatively higher test scores compared to its peers.
However, the district as a whole faces challenges, with most schools receiving 1-star ratings from SchoolDigger and struggling to meet proficiency levels in core subjects. The high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 19% to 32.5%, and the significant population of economically disadvantaged students, as indicated by the free/reduced lunch rates of 52.76% to 72.34%, suggest that the district may need to allocate more resources and support to address these issues. By focusing on the strengths of the standout schools and addressing the district-wide challenges, the Hillside Public School District can work towards providing a high-quality education for all its students.
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