•  NJ students achieve among the best reading, writing and math scores in the nation on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).    Called “Nation’s Report Card,” given to representative samples of fourth and eighth graders in US
  
• NAEP results, July 2009, NJ was one of only three states that narrowed achievement gaps in reading between black and white fourth graders while raising the scores of both. 
• Center on Education Policy (independent Washington think tank)  - achievement gaps for minority and low-income groups in NJ have narrowed in reading and math in both elementary and high schools to a greater degree than most state.
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• NJ students’ Advanced Placement scores are among the nation’s highest, with public school students scoring better than private school students.
• According to Linda Darling-Hammond, a Stanford University expert of school improvement and teacher education, “NJ is arguably now the highest achieving state in the nation.”
• NJ is first in ranking in US in the percentage of students graduating high school (83.3% vs 70.6 %)  Education Week, “Quality Counts 2009.”
• NJ is first in ranking in US in percentage of three-and four-year-olds who are enrolled in preschool ( 63% vs 46.2%)    Education Week, “Quality Counts 2009.”
• NJ – 1st National ranking of NJ 8th graders Writing on 2007 NAEP writing test     
• NJ – 3rd National ranking of NJ 4th graders Math on 2009 NAEP math test
• NJ – 5th National ranking of NJ 8th graders Math on 2009 NAEP test
• NJ – 2nd National ranking of NJ 4th graders Reading on 2007 NAEP reading test
• NJ – 3rd National ranking of NJ 8th graders Reading on 2007 NAEP reading test
(Source:  National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, US. Dep. Of Education)

Full article in NJEA Reporter February 2010

2011 DEA Awarded Student Scholarships