The school report cards, released by the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) compare SAT scores with the state average and the average scores for the district’s "District Factor Group." Districts with similar demographics, which include percent of adults with no high school diploma, percent of adults with some college education, occupational status, median family income, poverty rate and unemployment rate are placed in the same district factor group.

District factor group "J" includes the wealthiest districts and "A" includes Abbott districts, which qualify for the highest amounts of state financial assistance.

Becton Regional

Henry P. Becton Regional High School students were ahead of schools in its district factor group on the math and essay sections. Becton’s district factor group, "CD," also includes Clifton, Hackensack and Belleville. Still, Becton’s scores are below the state average in every category. "We are cognizant of the test scores," said Superintendent Jim Jencarelli. "We know what we need to do better."

Rather than focusing on the tests themselves, the district plans to make the curriculum more rigorous and relevant. The district is working on a new math curriculum for next year and is working with Carlstadt and East Rutherford school districts to create a seamless K-12 math curriculum. Becton only serves grades 9 through 12. From Kindergarten through eighth grade, public school students in Carlstadt and East Rutherford attend two separate districts with separate curriculums. "The transition year, freshman year, is very difficult for students," said Jencarelli.

Next year, the guidance department recommended sophomores take PLAN, a test taken the year before the American College Test (ACT), much like the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) prepares students for the SAT. All juniors take the PSAT. The district also offers an SAT prep course elective.

Rutherford

Rutherford was the only school in the area to score higher than the state average on every section of the SAT. Rutherford scores also improved from the previous year, but still fall short of the average for the district factor group. Rutherford’s district factor group, "GH," also includes Teaneck, Paramus and Fair Lawn.

Superintendent Leslie O’Keefe believes Rutherford’s scores fall below average for its district factor group because a higher percentage of students take the SATs in Rutherford than in other districts. Ninety-three percent of Rutherford students took the SAT in the 2006-2007 school year. In other area districts, between 70 and 75 percent of students took the SAT last year.

"We encourage a very high percentage of our kids to take the test. Even our weakest students take the test, which tends to suppress the average score," she said.

Community colleges do not require students to take the SAT, but Rutherford encourages students to take them regardless.

To prepare for the SAT, the district employs a rigorous curriculum. For example, Rutherford now requires all seventh grade students to take pre-algebra and all eighth grade students to take Algebra. This way, most students will have completed geometry and Algebra II by 11th grade, said O’Keefe. For writing and language, Rutherford employs strong vocabulary programs.

While Rutherford does not offer an SAT preparation elective, the district integrates test preparation in regular classes and advises students of commercial courses they can take on their own.

Lyndhurst

Lyndhurst High School students averaged higher than the state as a whole and other schools in their group on the math portion of the SAT. However, verbal and writing scores fell below state and group averages. Lyndhurst’s district factor group, "DE," also includes North Arlington, Secaucus and Ridgefield, among others.

Oddly enough, scores for the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) were reversed with students excelling in the language arts category and lagging in math. Lyndhurst has essay writing classes in every subject, according to assistant superintendent Tracey Stellato.

The school has a consultant who works with students on writing from Kindergarten on.

Elementary school students work with professionals from Montclair State University on math and teachers attend professional development courses to introduce them to the "latest and greatest standards," she added.

Kaplan test preparation services has a deal with the school to offer Lyndhurst students SAT prep courses at night for $300. Courses normally cost $1,200, said Stellato.

As an added incentive, students who attend every class are reimbursed $100. Lyndhurst also holds PSAT score night annually to explain to parents and students how to read their scores and go over sample problems with help from the math and language arts department heads.

Next year, Lyndhurst plans to require every student to take the PSAT. On April 15, the administration will unveil a plan of action on improving test scores.

Scores for the 2006-2007 school year increased from the previous year in every category.

North Arlington

SAT scores in North Arlington remained nearly the same from last year, below state and district factor group averages. North Arlington belongs to district factor group "DE" with Lyndhurst.

The district has reviewed and revised its SAT prep class and create an action plan to embed SAT material in math and language arts classes, according to Superintendent Oliver Stringham.

For next year, the district has been exploring the SAT College Board online program so students can practice for the SAT at home, he added.

                         Math Verbal Essay

Becton Regional 499     454      467

Rutherford          529     507      493

Lyndhurst          512     454       464

North Arlington  490     452        450

All New Jersey  509     491        489