Roselle Students Below State Average on New NJGPA Test

The Roselle Board of Education heard results from the spring 2026 New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) during its regular September 28 meeting. The data offers insight into how Abraham Clark High School students performed on the newly redesigned state test and highlights both strengths and areas for improvement.

Test Overview and Results

2026 marked the first year of the redesigned NJGPA, which tests high school juniors in mathematics, reading, and writing. Students must pass all three sections to graduate. At Abraham Clark High School, 213 students took the assessment.

Results showed performance below state and county averages in both subject areas. In reading and writing (English Language Arts), 68 percent of students scored at the "graduation ready" level. In mathematics, 38 percent achieved graduation ready status.

Karen Tanner Oliphant, Office of Data, Research and Assessment Supervisor, presented the findings to the board. She emphasized the importance of individual student reports and personal improvement planning.

"We want parents and students to really look at your individual reports to reflect on where your strengths were," Tanner Oliphant said. "Let's focus on those strengths and let's respond. How are you going to be prepared?"

Demographic Performance

The results revealed notable differences by gender and race/ethnicity. Female students outperformed male counterparts in English Language Arts, with 74 percent scoring at graduation ready compared to 62 percent of males. Mathematics scores were equal between genders, at 38 percent for both.

Among racial and ethnic groups, Hispanic and Latino students achieved 65 percent graduation ready in ELA, while Black or African American students scored 69 percent. In mathematics, African American students scored higher at 43 percent compared to 31 percent for Latino students.

Baseline Year Context

Because 2026 represents the first year of the new test format, direct comparison to previous years' results is not possible. Roselle historically showed steady progress in NJGPA scores.

"We were on the way up. We were making progress in both English language arts and mathematics," Tanner Oliphant said. "This is a brand-new test. This is a baseline year, so we cannot do that comparison other than to say we are moving forward."

Next Steps

Individual reports were sent to each student's home to guide assessment and improvement planning. The Board of Education will use this baseline data to track future year-over-year progress under the new NJGPA format.

FAQ

Q: What is the NJGPA and what changed in 2026?

A: The New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) is a state test given to high school juniors. In 2026, the test was redesigned for the first time. The new format tests students in mathematics, reading, and writing, and students must pass all three sections to graduate. 2026 is the first year of this new format.

Q: How did Abraham Clark High School students perform on the 2026 NJGPA?

A: Of 213 students tested, 68 percent scored at the "graduation ready" level in reading and writing, and 38 percent achieved graduation ready status in mathematics. Both scores are below state and county averages.

Q: Were there differences in performance by gender?

A: Female students outperformed male students in English Language Arts, with 74 percent scoring at graduation ready compared to 62 percent of males. In mathematics, performance was equal, with 38 percent of both female and male students achieving graduation ready status.

Q: What were the results by race and ethnicity?

A: In English Language Arts, Black or African American students scored 69 percent graduation ready, while Hispanic and Latino students scored 65 percent. In mathematics, Black or African American students scored 43 percent graduation ready compared to 31 percent for Hispanic and Latino students.

Q: Can these 2026 results be compared to previous years?

A: No. Because 2026 is the first year of the redesigned NJGPA format, direct comparison to previous years is not possible. The school district considers 2026 a baseline year. Roselle historically showed steady progress in NJGPA scores before this year's test redesign.

Q: What happens next with these results?

A: Individual reports were sent to each student's home to guide improvement planning. Families and students are encouraged to review the reports, identify strengths, and develop strategies for improvement. The Board of Education will use 2026 as a baseline to track future year-over-year progress.