Here’s how Voorhees did on the state report card
Class sizes throughout Voorhees Township’s one middle and four elementary schools continues to stay close to the state average of 19.1 students per class, according to the 2010–2011 School Report Card issued by the New Jersey Department of Education late last month.
Eastern Regional High School maintains a class size of 23.1. At Voorhees Middle School, classrooms average 23.3 students.
Kresson, Osage and Signal Hill elementary schools keep smaller class sizes, around 17 per classroom. E.T. Hamilton, with a class size of 21.1, is the lone elementary school with an above average class size.
Voorhees School District Superintendent Raymond J. Brosel said he was pleased overall with the results of the report card.
“This past year provided the community with an opportunity to demonstrate its support for the Voorhees Township Public Schools. The fiscal climate in the country and specifically in the State of New Jersey forced all schools and communities to carefully re-evaluate their priorities,” Brosel said. “I am proud to say that the Voorhees community again recommitted itself to both educational excellence and fiscal responsibility.”
Testing and scores
Students in the district continue to surpass state scores on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK), as well at on the High School Proficiency Assessments (HSPA) and the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).
High School students scored far more proficient on the HSPA test as compare to the state average.
The state average for the math portion shows about 25 percent of students scored below average, 50 percent finished with an average score and another 25 percent finished above average. Students at Eastern Regional High School placed 13.4 percent below average, 48.3 percent average and 28.4 percent above average.
High School principal Robert Tull said one tool that promotes educational success in the classroom is the list of both standard and unique classes students in the district can choose from.
“Eastern is a comprehensive high school that strives to meet the needs of all its students. We offer more than 200 courses, including twenty Advanced Placement courses, a professional staff recognized for excellence on state and local levels, class size average of twenty-four students, and a safe and supportive learning environment,” Tull said.
High school students excelled on the SAT, with students averaging 567 in math, 535 in verbal and 543 in essay. A 518 in math, 494 in verbal and 496 in essay is what students from across the state averaged.
The class of 2011 graduated 94.25 percent of its student population, a class Tull had much to boast about.
Tull said students last year were awarded more than $1.6 million in academic and athletic scholarships and grants. Three students were named National Merit Finalists.
“We are extremely proud of our students and recognize their achievements regularly through special programs and publications, such as honor societies, academic awards programs, press releases, sports awards, band awards, and student of the month programs,” Tull said. “Our students are regularly recognized for achievements in academics, athletics, and fine and performing arts.”
Compared to the state average, at the middle school level, eighth graders had more students score proficient on the NJASK exam in Language Arts, math and science.
“Academics in the Voorhees Middle School are excellent. Our students continue to score very high on standardized tests,” said middle school principal Diane Young. “Accelerated courses and an Enrichment Program are offered in the middle school curriculum. Related Arts, physical education and world languages help to give VMS students a well-rounded education.”
Fifth graders at each of the elementary schools had more students, compared to the state average, score advanced proficiency on the NJASK math exam.
On the Language Arts exam, fifth graders from each school had more proficient scores compared to the state average.
No Child Left Behind
Under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the NJASK and HSPA exams are given to students across the state to measure proficiency Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
Every school is evaluated annually to see if AYP has been met and state benchmarks reached.
Each of the four elementary schools made AYP this year.
Voorhees Middle School did not make AYP this year. This is the first year the middle school missed the state’s benchmarks, resulting only in a warning.
The high school missed AYP for the second consecutive year. Eastern received the “school in need of improvement status,” which requires parent notification, supplemental education services, a school improvement plan and technical assistance from the district.
Finances/Salaries
For the 2010–2011 school year, the Voorhees School District spent $16,169 per student. The average amount spent by districts with a similar budget type was just a bit less, spending $16,053 per pupil.
Eastern spent $15,724 per student, close to $3,000 less than districts with a similar budget type.
The components that make up the cost per pupil include faculty and administration salaries, classroom instructional costs and support services, among other items.
Administrators in the Voorhees School District averaged a salary of $143,412. Statewide, administrators averaged $111,133. Administrators at Eastern averaged $123,548.
Across the state, faculty averaged a $59,575 salary, while Voorhees School District faculty averaged $87,985. Faculty at the high school average $66,260.
Brosel said the Voorhees School District has faced cuts in state aid and a reduction of $23 million in township ratables. An additional $1.8 million was cut to meet the 2 percent budget cap. Still, the district, he said, continues to look for ways to provide quality education.
“With these facts, we went out into the community and listened to the priorities and suggestions of parents, teachers and the public. This difficult scenario produced a budget that reduced 12 certified teaching positions, two administrators and 10 support staff personnel,” Brosel said. “Through many cost savings measures, the Board of Education presented a well–balanced and thoughtful budget to the voters. The Voorhees community soundly passed the budget.”
To see your child’s School Report Card, visit http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc10/index.html.
