Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Assessments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Toms River reports modest gains on state tests; AP pass rates and SAT means rise
Summary
District officials told the board that NJSLA ELA proficiency rose about 4 percentage points districtwide and math about 5 points over two years; AP students posted a 78.3% rate of scores of 3 or higher, and the Class of 2025 posted a district SAT mean of 1,082.
The district’s director of testing and funded programs presented spring 2024–25 assessment results, saying the district saw steady cohort growth across grade levels and modest increases in proficiency. “We’ve seen a district-wide increase of 4% in English language arts proficiency over the last two school years,” the presenter said, and noted cohort-level growth at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
The director told the board 7,340 students in grades 3–9 were tested on the NJSLA this year and the district’s overall proficiency across grades 3–9 was reported at 46%, compared with a state average of 53% (prior-year state figure cited). Officials emphasized cohort measurements—tracking the same students year to year—to show growth even when grade-level averages fluctuate because of course placement and enrollment changes.
On mathematics, the district reported a roughly 5-point gain districtwide and highlighted stronger performance in algebra and geometry at middle and high school levels. District officials cautioned that grade-level math percentages can undercount high-achieving students who take accelerated courses (for example, students taking Algebra I in middle school are not counted in the same grade-level pool).
District guidance staff reported Advanced Placement program gains: 693 students participated districtwide in 2024–25 and 1,471 AP exams were administered. The percent of AP exam-takers scoring a 3 or higher rose to 78.3% from 69.3% the prior year; officials noted that the district rate has risen substantially over a five-year span.
Regarding the SAT, district guidance reported 458 test-takers in the Class of 2025 and a three-year mean score of 1,082. The district mean was presented as higher than both the state and national averages (district approximately 9 points above the state and roughly 41 points above the national mean in the figures presented).
Presenters said full slide decks and individual-level reports would be posted on the district website and encouraged families to contact school administrators with questions. The board did not take any formal votes on assessment policy during the meeting; the materials will guide ongoing curriculum and intervention planning.
