New Providence reports high NJGPA proficiency, AP gains and plans ACT tutoring partnership

Mister Keeney, staff member who presented the district assessment report, told the board the district’s statewide graduation proficiency results were strong.

“I'm delighted to report this year that our numbers are high with regards to ELA and math,” Keeney said, adding both components are above 90 percent. He explained state data privacy rules require reporting “above 90%” rather than exact figures in public materials when numbers exceed that threshold.

Keeney summarized additional measures of college‑ready performance: the district’s five‑year ACT average has ranged between 25.2 and 25.8; the district is pursuing a partnership with Pollock Tutoring to provide ACT strategies and supports. AP performance rose notably: 95 percent of students who took AP exams earned scores of 3 or higher, 94 percent of all AP exams taken were passed this year, and the average AP exam score increased to 4 — the highest average in five years. He also reported an increase in students recognized as AP Scholars with distinction (60 students this year, up from 41 last year).

Keeney credited high school administration, department heads and AP teachers for professional development and stability in AP classes after recent turnover. He also described summer academic programming funded by a combination of federal funds and the operating budget aimed at rising ninth and eleventh graders, middle school and Roberts students, and noted the district offers tutoring for students who did not pass the NJGPA.

The board did not take action on the assessment report; Keeney said a fuller packet with more detailed numbers is available to board members and a fuller assessment update will follow in October.