Report Cards Compare Brick Schools With State Counterparts

Brick schools ranked around the state average in a number of categories under which they were surveyed in a round of report cards out Tuesday from the state Department of Education. The township's two high schools, however, lagged significantly in the number of students taking advanced classes. Still, most high school students from Brick said they planned on attending college after graduation.

Report cards on each of New Jersey’s school districts, including Brick, were released by the Department of Education Tuesday.

The report cards, produced for each of Brick Township’s 12 schools, categorize data collected by the state on school environment, students, student performance indicators, staff and district finances. The state has released report cards each year since 1995.

Data from this year’s report card included:

• At BTHS, the average SAT scores for last year were 502 for math, 484 for verbal and 483 for the essay portion. At BMHS, the average SAT scores were 502 for math, 482 for verbal and 487 for the essay portion. The average scores statewide last year were 520 for math, 497 for verbal and 499 on the essay portion.

• Of graduating seniors last year, 79.9 percent of BTHS students said they planned to attend either a two or four year college. At BMHS, 86.6 percent said they planned on attending college.

• The high schools both significantly lagged state averages in the number of students taking Advanced Placement classes. At BTHS, 5.6 percent of students took AP classes, while at at BMHS, 8.8 percent of students took AP classes. On average, 19.9 percent of students in a New Jersey high school took one or more AP classes.

• At Veterans Memorial Middle School, 22.3 percent of students were considered disabled in some way last year. At Lake Riviera Middle School, 20.6 percent of students were considered disabled.

• At the elementary school level: Drum Point Road Elementary had an average class size of 17.8 students, Emma Havens Young had an average class size of 20.9 students, Herbertsville had an average class size of 17.9 students,  Lanes Mill had an average class size of 16.5 students, Midstreams had a 20.2 student per class average, 19.3 students filled each class at Osbornville and Veterans Memorial Elementary had an average class size of 20.2 students.

• Teachers in Brick earned an average of $54,830 during the 2009-10 school year. Administrators made $115,123, on average. Both salary levels were slightly below state averages.

• Local taxpayers funded 65 percent of the school district budget for the 2009-10 school year. The state kicked in 28 percent of the funds required to run the district. On average statewide, the state funded 40 percent of school district costs for the same year.

• The total cost per pupil during the 2009-10 school year was $13,468 in Brick. The state average was $15,538.