SOMERVILLE, N.J. – Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is challenging long-held claims that New Jersey’s public school system ranks among the best in the country, arguing that the state’s academic performance lags behind several southern states when adjusted for income and demographics.
Ciattarelli cited a new report by the NJ Education Report, which says New Jersey ranks below Mississippi.
In a post shared Thursday, Ciattarelli said new data from the Urban Institute shows that New Jersey’s adjusted student achievement ranks 16th nationally—far below the #1 spot often cited by education leaders and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA).
He said the findings reveal “two self-serving fallacies”—that New Jersey’s public schools are the nation’s best and that southern states like Mississippi and Louisiana perform worse.
Key Points
- Jack Ciattarelli cited Urban Institute data showing New Jersey ranks 16th in adjusted student performance
- He claimed low-income students in Mississippi and Louisiana outperform similar groups in New Jersey
- Ciattarelli criticized the NJEA and state education spending, saying funding isn’t matching results
Ciattarelli disputes “#1 in the nation” label
Ciattarelli referenced an analysis by education site NJEdReport that questioned the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of New Jersey’s schools. He said the top rating reflects the high test scores of affluent students while masking lower performance among low-income students.
According to Ciattarelli, the Urban Institute’s adjusted data—comparing students with similar demographic profiles—shows New Jersey trailing Mississippi and Louisiana in both 4th and 8th-grade math and reading scores.
Data comparison highlights gaps
In his post, Ciattarelli cited adjusted 4th-grade math results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), where Mississippi students averaged 249, Louisiana 245, and New Jersey 235. The same pattern, he said, appeared across all tested grades and subjects.
Despite spending significantly more—$24,831 per pupil compared to $17,541 in Louisiana and $12,490 in Mississippi—New Jersey’s adjusted results were lower.
Criticism of state spending and union leadership
Ciattarelli argued that the NJEA should address what he called “the enormous disparity between spending and results,” adding that the state’s education budget is not producing proportional outcomes.
He also criticized Democratic leadership in Trenton for what he described as “two years of learning loss” during pandemic-related school closures and a “watered-down curriculum.”
Push for reform in education policy
The former candidate, who has signaled continued interest in state politics, said the analysis underscores the need for educational reform. “It all changes when I’m governor,” Ciattarelli wrote, calling for renewed focus on academic achievement, accountability, and transparency in school spending.
Ciattarelli’s comments come amid ongoing debate over New Jersey’s school rankings, funding formulas, and curriculum standards as the 2025 election cycle gains momentum.
