See How Ocean City Schools Stack Up Against the State

The results are for ASK (Assessment of Skills and Knowledge) tests taken by public-school students in 2011. They assess "proficiency" in language arts and math for grades three through eight, with an additional science test for students in grades four and eight. The results also include the HSPA (High School Proficiency Assessment), which is mandatory for graduation and typically taken in grade 11.

Results are divided into three categories: PP (partially proficient, generally considered substandard), P (proficient) and AP (advanced proficient).

The use of standardized tests to compare schools and districts has been controversial because so many variables affect results, including gender, ethnicity, native languages and socio-economic status. But whether they are popular or not, the comparisons have become an unmovable part of the nation's education system.

Gov. Chris Christie's (R) administration used the results to point to the disparities between affluent and poor districts in arguing that his reform agenda needs to be put in place.

“We approach these results today with both confidence and humility," acting Department of Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf said. "Overall, New Jersey students continue to perform at extremely high levels, and with few exceptions, the statewide numbers continue to inch upwards. However, we have a persistent achievement gap that leaves our economically disadvantaged, African American and Hispanic students far behind their peers. It is a disgraceful legacy in New Jersey that leaves tens of thousands of students behind each year — and has for decades. We must be honest with ourselves and our communities about this achievement gap, and be impatient and relentless in doing everything we can to close it once and for all.”

Ocean City generally fared well against state averages and saw some increases and some decreases when compared to its own scores from 2010. Click here to see full reports from the state. A summary of Ocean City results are in the following charts:

 

Grade 3, NJ ASK: Language Arts
Partially Proficient Proficient Advanced Proficient Ocean City 2011 33.3 61.9 4.8 Ocean City 2010 35.4 63.4 1.2 Ocean City 2009 31.1 66.2 2.7 State Average 2011 37.0 55.8 7.2 State Average 2010 40.3 54.1 5.6 State Average 2009 37.3 56.9 5.8 Grade 3, NJ ASK: Math Ocean City 2011 23.8 42.9 33.3 Ocean City 2010 23.2 35.4 41.5 Ocean City 2009 20.3 40.5 39.2 State Average 2011 21.1 40.5 38.4 State Average 2010 21.9 41.1 37.1 State Average 2009 24.8 43.3 31.9

 

Grade 4, NJ ASK: Language Arts

Partially Proficient Proficient Advanced Proficient Ocean City 2011 38.1 57.7 4.1 Ocean City 2010 52.1 43.8 4.1 Ocean City 2009 36.4 57.1 6.5 State Average 2011 37.3 55.5 7.2 State Average 2010 40.4
50.3
9.3
State Average 2009 37.0
56.3
6.7
Grade 4, NJ ASK: Math
Ocean City 2011 18.6 43.3 38.1 Ocean City 2010 21.9 47.9 30.1 Ocean City 2009 26.0 50.6 23.4 State Average 2011 20.7 47.2 32.1 State Average 2010 23.0
42.2
34.8
State Average 2009 27.0
45.5
27.5
Grade 4, NJ ASK: Science Ocean City 2011 9.4 31.3 59.4 Ocean City 2010 4.1 57.5 38.4 Ocean City 2009 5.3 46.7 48.0 State Average 2011 10.0 42.3 47.7 State Average 2010 6.6
49.2
44.2
State Average 2009 9.1
44.0 47.0

 

Grade 5, NJ ASK: Language Arts

Partially Proficient Proficient Advanced Proficient Ocean City 2011 47.7 51.2 1.2 Ocean City 2010 46.2 50.0 3.8 Ocean City 2009 35.4 58.3 6.3 State Average 2011 39.1 54.8 6.1 State Average 2010 36.9
54.3
8.7
State Average 2009 34.2
57.1
8.7
Grade 5, NJ ASK: Math
Ocean City 2011 12.8 44.2 43.0 Ocean City 2010 24.4 42.3 33.3 Ocean City 2009 13.5 49.0 37.5 State Average 2011 19.4 41.1 39.5 State Average 2010 21.3
42.0
36.8
State Average 2009 22.7
45.3
32.1

 

Grade 6, NJ ASK: Language Arts
Partially Proficient Proficient Advanced Proficient Ocean City 2011 28.2 67.9 3.8 Ocean City 2010 32.1 64.2 3.8 Ocean City 2009 18.6 76.7 4.7 State Average 2011 33.3 59.4 7.3 State Average 2010 34.7 57.7 7.6 State Average 2009 30.2 62.6 7.2 Grade 6, NJ ASK: Math
Ocean City 2011 17.9 57.7 24.4 Ocean City 2010 16.0 55.7 28.3 Ocean City 2009 14.0 44.2 41.9 State Average 2011 22.7 49.8 27.6 State Average 2010 28.2 48.3 23.5 State Average 2009 29.1 45.6 25.3

 

Grade 7, NJ ASK: Language Arts
Partially Proficient Proficient Advanced Proficient Ocean City 2011 27.8 60.2 12.0 Ocean City 2010 25.5 61.8 12.7 Ocean City 2009 15.8 57.4 26.7 State Average 2011 36.7 51.0 12.3 State Average 2010 30.8 51.7 17.5 State Average 2009 28.1
53.7 18.2 Grade 7, NJ ASK: Math
Ocean City 2011 24.1 45.4 30.6 Ocean City 2010 34.0 42.7 23.3 Ocean City 2009 16.8 37.6 45.5 State Average 2011 34.3 41.4 24.3 State Average 2010 35.7 39.9 24.4 State Average 2009 33.7 42.6 23.7

 

Grade 8, NJ ASK: Language Arts
Partially Proficient Proficient Advanced Proficient Ocean City 2011 7.5 65.1 27.4 Ocean City 2010 7.3 64.5 28.2 Ocean City 2009 8.9 75.6 15.6 State Average 2011 17.8 63.0 19.1 State Average 2010 17.6 64.1 18.4 State Average 2009 18.1 70.9 11.1 Grade 8, NJ ASK: Math
Ocean City 2011 18.9 38.7 42.5 Ocean City 2010 16.5 41.3 42.2 Ocean City 2009 17.8 37.8 44.4 State Average 2011 28.5 41.1 30.4 State Average 2010 31.5 39.4 29.1 State Average 2009 28.8 41.7 29.5 Grade 8, NJ ASK: Science Ocean City 2011 7.6 52.4 40.0 Ocean City 2010 3.7 45.9 50.5 Ocean City 2009 5.6 50.6 43.8 State Average 2011 18.8 51.9 29.3 State Average 2010 17.0 51.5 31.4 Stage Average 2009 15.9 53.8 30.4

 

HSPA (Typically Given in Grade 11): Language Arts
Partially Proficient Proficient Advanced Proficient Ocean City 2011 6.5 70.4 23.1 Ocean City 2010 4.3 77.0 18.7 Ocean City 2009 9.3 79.6 11.1 State Average 2011 10.5 68.8 20.8 State Average 2010 12.9 68.7 18.4 State Average 2009 16.4 70.2 13.4 HSPA (Typically Given in Grade 11): Math
Ocean City 2011 16.8 56.1 27.1 Ocean City 2010 14.6 57.6 27.7 Ocean City 2009 13.3 56.7 30.0 State Average 2011 24.8 49.9 25.3 State Average 2010 25.9 50.1 24.0 State Average 2009 27.2 49.7 23.0

 

New Jersey Biology Competency
Partially Proficient Proficient Advanced Proficient Ocean City 2011 37.6 45.8 16.7 Ocean City 2010 19.3 59.7 21.0 State Average 2011 42.7 38.0 19.3 State Average 2010 44.1 41.7 14.2

 

Full release from the governor's office: http://www.state.nj.us/education/news/2011/0105sat.htm