Roxbury superintendent outlines steps after 2025 NJGPA results show drop in math proficiency

Roxbury Township School District Superintendent Dr. Christopher Santora presented the district’s February 2025 New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) results at the July 14 Board of Education meeting, saying the district’s overall graduation-ready rate is 73.3 percent while English language arts (ELA) is 84.2 percent and mathematics is 62.5 percent.

“Why is that important? In mathematics, that means 38 percent did not perform within the graduation-ready band,” Dr. Santora said, describing the scores as a signal that “we have more work to do in preparing our students.”

The presentation put the district slightly above the 2025 statewide rates cited by the superintendent (state ELA 80.7 percent; state math 58 percent) but stressed declines from prior years in both subjects. Dr. Santora singled out results by subgroup: nearly every racial subgroup declined from prior years, Hispanic students showed a 7-point drop, and students receiving English-language-learner (ELL) services posted a particularly large gap (4 percent graduation-ready, 96 percent not graduation-ready in the ELL subgroup for 2025).

Nut graf: The superintendent framed the results not as a judgment of teachers but as a basis for targeted steps. He said the district will use diagnostic data, benchmark assessments and curricular adjustments—starting at middle grades—to increase students’ familiarity with assessment formats and to target standards where students are weak.

In his recommended response, Dr. Santora described several concrete changes the district has begun or plans to start in the fall:

- Curriculum alignment and targeted standards work using LinkIt analytics and benchmark data, with a plan to “embed those standards into our curriculum across not only our high school programming, but…our middle school programming as well.” - Expanded use of benchmark and realtime practice platforms (LinkIt, IXL and similar tools) to identify gaps and inform instruction. - Instructional practice changes to expose students to NJGPA-style item formats and more frequent practice tasks (teacher “do nows,” weekly homeroom challenges at Roxbury High School). - A designated math instructional center at Roxbury High School to provide consistent access to math support. - An emphasis on sheltered instruction and parent-engagement supports for multilingual families, including expanded ESL teacher hours to assist registration and communications.

Dr. Santora credited principal James Crispino, curricular supervisors and teachers for quickly engaging with the results and described planned professional learning community (PLC) work to break down standards and measurable evidence statements. He said curriculum and program structure changes will be coordinated by the secondary supervisor, identified in the meeting as Miss Krauss.

Board members asked how the district would address family-level support differences that affect student outcomes. Board member Eddie Botero recounted his own experience and asked how the district would involve parents; Santora said the district has a multiyear plan that includes parent advisories and targeted trainings for families of multilingual learners, and that communication and scheduling will be adjusted to improve participation.

The superintendent also said the district will continue to use alternative proficiency routes where appropriate (retakes, portfolios) and reiterated that the assessment is only one measure of students’ capacities. He added that the district will bring curricular and instructional changes down to seventh grade to allow skills to build over time.

Ending: Dr. Santora closed by thanking teachers and staff and noting short-term steps the district has already taken; he said action will continue during the 2025–26 school year and that staff will return with progress updates.