Sicomac Elementary Receives Elite Academic Distinction

The New Jersey Department of Education has singled out Sicomac Elementary School for its students' high achievement on standardized state tests.

Sicomac was named one of New Jersey's "Reward Schools" last week for achieving overall test proficiency levels greater than 90 percent and ranking in the top 10 percent in the state for every category of student.

"The Sicomac staff and I have always had a strong commitment to our students, and being recognized among the top schools in the State certainly reinforces the work we do daily," said Sicomac Principal Debbie Kirsch. "As I have frequently stated, at Sicomac School we continually ask ourselves, how do children learn, and what is in the best interest of children?"

It's one of 57 schools in the state to earn the distinction and one of just 10 in Bergen County.

Reward Schools are categorized as either "high performing," for achieving elite levels of student test proficiency or "high growth," for meeting certain growth benchmarks over a three-year period.

Over the past few years, Kirsch said, the school community has been engaged in a best practice known as a "Professional Learning Community." 

"We have met regularly to examine students’ work and collect information and data, using that to inform our instruction," she said, adding that the schools had worked to meet each child's individual needs. "A happy result of that, it seems, turned out to be high achievement on standardized tests." 

"I am very proud of all the work that my staff has accomplished. They are thoughtful practitioners who continually strive to develop their own craft and to address the many diverse needs of children," Kirsch said.

Sicomac was one of eight Bergen County schools named "high performing," joining schools in Alpine, Glen Rock, Old Tappan and Fair Lawn. Two Bergen County Vocational Schools — Bergen County Academies in Hackensack and Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro — also earned a "high performing" distinction.

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