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Little Egg Harbor reports gains in ELA and math but flags weak fifth‑grade science results
Summary
The district’s 2023–24 NJSLA results show measurable improvement in ELA and math since 2022, driven by new curriculum programs and interventions; district leaders warned that fifth‑grade science proficiency remains well below target and outlined next steps for instruction and supports.
Melissa Gallagher, the district’s director of curriculum, told the board that Little Egg Harbor students made measurable gains on the 2023–24 New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) in English language arts and math while noting that fifth‑grade science remains a concern.
"We're going in the right direction," Gallagher said, presenting charts showing shifts out of the lowest performance levels and notable gains in fourth and sixth grades. Gallagher reported that 781 students were tested in ELA and 785 in math and credited implementation of the Wonders ELA program, year‑two implementation of the new math program and targeted interventions for the improvements.
Gallagher said districtwide ELA showed a net shift of 2.2 percentage points from low performance (level 1–2) into higher levels (4–5) compared with 2022, and sixth grade recorded a double‑digit improvement in higher proficiency bands. In math, the district reported a 7.3 percentage‑point increase in students scoring in the top categories across grades and a decline in the lowest bands.
However, Gallagher and board members highlighted that fifth‑grade science remains weak: only a small share of fifth graders tested as proficient or advanced. Gallagher said 148 fifth‑grade students were tested in science and that the district’s distribution was concentrated in "below proficient" and "near proficient" bands. She noted this is a statewide challenge for the assessment year and that comparisons are complicated because science testing occurs on a different cycle.
To address gaps, the district intends to keep the new core programs in place, continue tiered interventions (Orton‑Gillingham, Heggerty phonics work, targeted Lexile supports), expand high‑impact tutoring and Summer Splash offerings, and integrate science content into ELA units to give students earlier exposure to science concepts. Gallagher said professional development and in‑class coaching are scheduled to support teachers during rollout.
Board members asked whether sixth grade was piloting alternate ELA materials and how the district is preparing fifth graders for an assessment that is often their first exposure to a statewide science test. Gallagher said the district is piloting materials in some classes, adding consumable student workbooks and scheduling consultant support and training sessions.
Superintendent Dr. Antunes and administrators also warned that reductions in some ASI (academic support) staffing could affect growth trajectories and emphasized the need to monitor implementation and outcomes. The district will present formal NJSLA district scores when the New Jersey Department of Education posts official results in spring 2025.
What’s next: the administration will continue professional development, monitor pilot results for sixth‑grade ELA options, and pursue targeted preparation for fifth‑grade science as part of curriculum and intervention planning.
