Superintendent Pawrowski presented assessment results to the Metuchen Board of Education on Dec. 16, saying AP participation and exam registrations have increased and that Metuchen High School’s class of 2025 recorded its highest five-year SAT averages, outperforming state and global means.

Pawrowski said AP exam registrations grew and that “44% of last year’s test results [received] a 5” in at least one cited measure, and that AP offerings and exams with scores of 3–5 remain robust. He described targeted curriculum revisions — including a new textbook for calculus and adjustments in AP Physics — as part of efforts that contributed to gains in several courses.

Board member Brian Glassberg pressed for clarity on a reported drop in seniors taking the SAT. Pawrowski replied the class-of-2025 figures represent students who took the test at any point in high school (as juniors or seniors) and noted many students take the SAT in 11th grade and do not retake it in 12th. “A lot of them may have taken it as a junior,” he said. Glassberg asked whether the district monitors trends year to year; Pawrowski said staff review multi-year cohorts and course-level changes when assessing progress.

Board member Suss highlighted that rising AP participation alongside rising averages suggests broader access without lowering performance. Pawrowski recommended continued teacher training, curriculum refinement, and monitoring to sustain gains. He also noted SAT and ACT participation can be affected by optional score-reporting and students’ testing choices.

The board did not take specific action on assessment policy during the meeting; committee reports said curriculum and policy committees will continue monitoring courses and assessments into the next year.