NEWS SERVICE
CONTACT: Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
(609) 278-5202
Back to School 2008
New Jersey Public Schools Fact Sheet
Students
Number of public schools, 2007-08: 2,427
Number of students, 2007-08: 1.39 million
Academics
Reading: Second highest scores among the 50 states in fourth-grade reading on the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the "Nation's report card." New Jersey’s eighth graders ranked fourth in the nation.
Writing: Best among all states in eighth-grade writing (the most NAEP writing assessment did not test fourth graders).
Math: Second highest math scores in the nation among fourth graders, and sixth highest in eighth-grade math scores, according to the NAEP.
Graduation: Highest graduation rate in the nation (according to Education Week magazine, which describes the graduation rate as the percentage of ninth graders graduating on time four years later).
Advanced Placement: The number of New Jersey public school students taking an Advanced Placement (AP) course, which allows high school students to earn college credit, has increased 69 percent from 2000 to 2007, according to the College Board. New Jersey was fourth in the nation in the percentage of students (71%) who scored a grade 3 or higher, which qualifies for college credit.
Teachers
Number of full-time teachers, 2006-07: 127,153
Average years of experience: 13
Average teacher’s salary: $60,937
School administration/Leadership
Number of school administrators (principals, superintendents, etc.) in 2006-07: 9,338
Average school board member’s length of service: 7.81 years
School board members, by gender: 57% male, 43% female
Costs
Average per pupil cost, 2006-07: $11,942
New Jersey’s rank in overall per-pupil costs: 2nd (to New York State)
Percentage of public school expenditures that go toward administration: 9.9
New Jersey’s national rank in administrative expenses: 41st highest
Information compiled by NJSBA from state and federal Education Departments, unless otherwise noted. All statistics are the most recent available.
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The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education, advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.
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