FRHSD reports 2,442 graduates; district outperforms state on new NJGPA-A

The Freehold Regional High School District reported 2,442 graduates in the Class of 2026, of whom 1,852 met the state'defined NJGPA proficiency threshold in both English language arts and mathematics. Superintendent Dr. Hazel told the board the district reconciles summer coursework in September and that the figure reflects final cohort data.

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Howell outlined the new adaptive New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA-A), which scores students on a 300'650 scale and sets 450 as the proficiency cutoff. "The NJGPA is administered to all 11th grade students across the district and the primary objective of this assessment is to determine whether students have demonstrated graduation readiness in both English and mathematics," Dr. Howell said. He said the adaptive format adjusts question difficulty in clusters and that state standard-setting delayed score reports until August.

The district also reported alternate pathways for students who do not meet the cutoff: a fall retest window in mid'late October, substitute competency exams such as the ACT/SAT/Accuplacer, and a portfolio option reviewed by the state. Dr. Howell emphasized that portfolios are district-administered, prepared over multiple weeks, and submitted for state review as a later opportunity to demonstrate proficiency.

Board members voted on routine personnel and program items later in the meeting that included approvals related to student support and testing timelines; the board did not take further immediate action on the district'level graduation data at this meeting.