1. Graduation – 2013 Cohort New Jersey Department of Education

2. The 4-Year, Adjusted Cohort Rate Beginning with Cohort 2011, New Jersey calculated subgroup, school, district, and state graduation rates using the adjusted cohort calculation, based on student-level data submitted by districts over the past four years in NJSMART. The Adjusted Cohort Methodology is mandated under No Child Left Behind. The numerator is the count of kids who graduated within four years of beginning high school. The denominator is the students who started 9 th grade four years earlier, adjusted to reflect student mobility. Performance Division New Jersey Department of Education 2

3. Graduation Formula In equation form, the rate calculates: Performance Division New Jersey Department of Education 3 4-Year Cohort Graduates in Year 2013 [First-Time 9 th Graders in Fall 2009] + [Transfers In] – [Verified Transfers Out] – [Excluded From Cohort]

4. Understanding how the denominator is “Adjusted” Performance Division New Jersey Department of Education 4

5. Outreach to School Districts 42 NJSMART Webinars and ‘reminder’ emails to districts. In August, letter to districts that had greater than 5% point difference from 2012. In August, targeted outreach to districts with a high count of unverified transfers. In September, broadcast memo about the opening of the Appeals Process. Approximately 150 districts submitted an appeal. In early October, targeted outreach to 74 districts who had not logged in to NJSMART to check on their graduation data. Throughout the appeals process, direct support to districts that had submitted incomplete appeals. In mid-November, Graduation data was refreshed in NJSMART. Performance Division New Jersey Department of Education 5

6. Describing the cohorts 201120122013 Count of Graduates95,18593,81895,091 Count in Adjusted Cohort114,449108,510108,676 Statewide, 4-year Graduation Rate 83.3%86.5%87.5% Drop out5,3834,7714,452 Unverified Transfers6,8023,8403,452 Continuing7,0805,7765,681 Exempt from Cohort6,5196,8546,883 Performance Division New Jersey Department of Education 6

7. Grad rates by cohort, year and subgroup 2011, 4-year2012, 4-year2013, 4-year Statewide83.3%86.5%87.5% Limited English Proficient67.5%73.1%70.5% Special Education73.2%74.5%75.9% Economically Disadvantaged71.0%75.3%77.1% Non-Econ Disadvantaged87.4%90.6%91.8% African American68.9%74.6%76.4% Asian92.7%95.3%95.9% Hispanic73.2%76.7%78.6% White90.3%92.6%93.1% Performance Division New Jersey Department of Education 7

8. Four and Five Year Graduation Rates, by Cohort 201120122013 4-year Rate83.3%86.5%87.5% 5-year Rate86.3%88.8% Performance Division New Jersey Department of Education 8

9. Graduation Pathways 2011, 4-year2012, 4-year2013, 4-year HPSA graduate82%80%84% AHSA/Appeal/Other14%17%10% Exempt from Passing4% 6% Performance Division 9 New Jersey Department of Education Appeals: NJDOE processed 1,566 student-level appeals. Math only – 1,013 English Language Arts only – 319 Both Math and English Language Arts – 234