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### Study Reveals New Jersey Ranks Among Top Educated States in the U.S.

If there’s anything we can take pride in here in New Jersey, it’s our robust education system, isn’t it? New Jersey stands out as one of the most educated states in the country, as indicated by the latest Census data.

New Jersey ranks eighth in the U.S. in terms of residents holding college degrees. According to the census data from October 23, 2023, over half of New Jersey’s population possesses an associate degree or higher.

It’s undeniable that we have a reason to boast when New Jersey shines as a beacon of education among the states, right?

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A comprehensive analysis conducted by education experts evaluated each state in the U.S. based on 18 criteria to assess their educational standards.

Each state was assigned individual scores for academic achievement and the overall education index.

These criteria encompassed various aspects such as average ACT and grade 8 scores, adult education engagement, library utilization, high school dropout rates, college enrollment numbers, and the proportion of residents holding bachelor’s degrees.

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New Jersey emerged as the third-best state for education, scoring 69.28 in academics and 65.42 overall.

Noteworthy statistics include 5.2 percent of New Jersey’s public students enrolled in gifted and talented programs, significantly surpassing Rhode Island’s 0.2 percent. Moreover, New Jersey boasts a minimal high school dropout rate of 3.25 percent, contrasting with New Mexico’s 8.51 percent.

The state excels in higher education, with a rating of 72.55 out of 100. Its public high schools achieve remarkable adjusted cohort graduation rates, averaging 91 students per school.

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According to Teach Simple’s research, the top five most educated states are Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Utah, and Virginia.

Is it any wonder that New Jersey consistently ranks near the top in educational achievements?

New Jersey High School Graduation Rates

The following lists present the 4-year graduation rates for New Jersey public schools during the 2020-21 academic year. The statewide graduation rate experienced a slight decline, dropping from 91% in 2019-20 to 90.6%.

These lists are categorized by county and include a separate section for charter schools. They also feature a secondary graduation rate that excludes students eligible for diplomas under special education IEPs, despite not meeting standard coursework and attendance criteria.

Columns marked with an asterisk or ‘N’ indicate either missing data or data that was suppressed to safeguard student privacy.

Gallery Credit: Michael Symons

Top NJ High Schools for Sports

A compilation of the best high schools for sports in New Jersey, based on data from Niche, which considers sports championships, family feedback, student enrollment, athletic participation rates, and sports offerings. Here are the top 25 schools.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

Opinions expressed in the post above are solely those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Judi Franco.

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