ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION School District

The ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION School District consists of 12 schools, including 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools, serving a predominantly African American and Hispanic student population with high poverty levels. While the district as a whole struggles, with most schools performing well below state averages, there are stark differences in performance between the schools.

The standout school in the district is the STEM Innovation Academy of the Oranges, a high school that ranks 53 out of 422 high schools in New Jersey and is rated 4 out of 5 stars. This school has exceptional performance metrics, including a 97.8% four-year graduation rate, 0% dropout rate, and strong test scores, particularly in English Language Arts and Geometry. Another relatively high-performing school is Orange Preparatory Academy School of Inquiry and Innovation, a middle school that ranks 476 out of 748 middle schools in the state and is rated 2 out of 5 stars.

However, the majority of schools in the ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION School District face significant challenges, with low test scores, high chronic absenteeism rates, and high poverty levels. For example, at Orange High School, only 30.2% of 9th graders are proficient in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 52.1%. Addressing these systemic issues and replicating the practices of the high-performing schools will be crucial for improving educational outcomes across the district.