Where Do Cinnaminson Schools Rank In 2020 NJ State Report

CINNAMINSON, NJ — For the third year in a row, New Jersey has released its controversial rating system that graded every school on a 1-100 scale — a system educators say paints an incomplete picture of the state's 2,100 schools, including those in Cinnaminson.

The new 2020 ratings were established to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced the controversial No Child Left Behind Act. Patch obtained scores that are supposed to compare all schools together, although some complain that it's unfair to rate elementary schools against high schools.

The ratings were also determined before the coronavirus outbreak and the shutting of school buildings in March. Many districts plan to begin the coming school year with remote instruction. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

The ratings for high schools have been based on graduation and absenteeism rates and standardized scores, while elementary and middle school scores are based on absenteeism, standardized test scores and student progress, according to the state Department of Education.
PARCC scores were factored into past scores. Now the test is named as the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA).

The ESSA was enacted in 2015, and it was intended to "build on key areas of progress in recent years, made possible by the efforts of educators, communities, parents, and students across the country," according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The New Jersey School Boards Association has said a single number or letter grade by itself "draws an incomplete picture of school performance and the quality of education provided to its students."

On the other hand, the New Jersey PTA president has said "parents now have more information than ever before."

"They have the tools to ask questions of their teachers and other stakeholders such as the superintendent, principal, and Board of Education," the PTA said.

Based on the reports, it appears that schools that finished with at least a 50 score could be considered average. Schools that finish in the top 20 percent are considered above average.

Patch obtained the "summative determination" scores from the state Department of Education, which shows schools in Manalapan, Millburn and Cherry Hill as having the highest scores, getting a 96.75 or higher. Some schools got a 1.84 or lower (see below).

Some of the analysis gives elementary schools more weight in their scoring because they don't have the exact same criteria as high schools (like graduation rates).

Here's how Cinnaminson schools ranked, with their scores:

• 448. Cinnaminson High School, Cinnaminson Township School District, Burlington 78.59
• 825. Eleanor Rush Intermediate School, Cinnaminson Township School District, Burlington 60.56
• 1275. Cinnaminson Middle School, Cinnaminson Township School District, Burlington 38.91

With reporting by Tom Davis, Patch Staff