Summary:
The city of South Orange, New Jersey is home to 4 schools, including 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. The schools in this area show a stark contrast in performance, with STEM Innovation Academy of the Oranges consistently ranking among the top schools in the state, while the other schools in the South Orange-Maplewood School District are more average performers.
STEM Innovation Academy of the Oranges is a standout, ranking 14th out of 426 high schools in New Jersey in 2023-2024. The school has impressive test scores, with 93.6% of 9th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and 89.7% proficient or better in Geometry. In contrast, South Mountain Elementary School ranks 309th out of 1,338 New Jersey elementary schools, with 76.8% of 4th graders and 73.8% of 5th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts.
The data also reveals that all schools in the area have a chronic absenteeism rate of 16.6%, which is higher than the state average. Spending per student varies significantly, from $4,860 at Marshall Elementary to $6,366 at South Orange Middle School. The district may want to examine the practices and strategies employed at STEM Innovation Academy of the Oranges to see if they can be replicated at other schools in the district.
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