TRENTON-Governor Phil Murphy today acknowledged that under his predecessor, Governor Chris Christie, high school graduation rates were increasing across the Garden State. Murphy
Murphy used his visit to the West Orange School District to spotlight the improved state graduation rate of 90.9 percent for 2018– an all-time high. Now, it’s up to Murphy to continue on the success of the Christie administration’s policies that got the state to where it is today.
The rate which has steadily advanced since 2011, when it was 83 percent. Christie became Governor in 2008 and instituted sweeping school reforms when taking office.
Governor Christie’s Reform Agenda helped move public education in New Jersey away from an antiquated, ineffective model that props up failing schools and toward a system that demands accountability, rewards highly effective teachers, utilizes performance measures and ensures each and every child receives the quality education they deserve.
“This continual improvement in our graduation rate translates to a tangible impact on real lives,” said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. “Each year, hundreds upon hundreds of additional young people are earning their high school diploma, which is a passport that offers a greater opportunity for postsecondary success. We applaud the educators who remain steadfast in their commitment to continue increasing the graduation rate for students of all backgrounds.”
The following is a summary of 2018 graduation rates by subgroups of students:
- African-American students graduated at a rate of 84.22 percent in 2018, an increase of more than 15 percentage points from 2011, when it was 69 percent.
- 84.79 percent of Hispanic students graduated in 2018; in 2011 it was 73 percent.
- 94.96 percent of white students graduated in 2018, an increase from 90 percent in 2011.
- 97.14 percent of Asian students graduated last year, an increase from 93 percent in 2011.
- Economically disadvantaged students graduated at a rate of 84.6 percent in 2018, an increase from 71 percent in 2011.
- 75.82 percent of Limited English Proficient (LEP) students graduated in 2018, an increase from 68 percent in 2011.
- Students with disabilities graduated at a rate of 80.14 percent last year, an increase from 73 percent in 2011.
New Jersey has consistently held among the highest graduation rates in the nation; in 2017, New Jersey’s rate of 90.5 percent was second only to Iowa’s rate of 91.0 percent.
“Public schools are vital to our democracy and the cornerstone of the middle class,” said Assemblywoman Mila Jasey.