Recent rankings of New Jersey public schools by Niche.com placed High Schools North and South among the best in the state. South was the top-ranked among area schools at No. 8, ahead of Princeton High School at No. 10 and North at No. 17.
Niche’s rankings derive from a number of factors, including academics, health and safety, culture and diversity, teachers, resources and facilities, extracurriculars and activities, and sports and fitness. Academics, based on statistics and student, parent, and alumni surveys, is weighted 50 percent, while the others are weighted between 2.5 and 10 percent.
In addition to overall rankings, Niche also ranked schools based on individual categories, including “outcomes,” which is based on enrollment in advanced classes, performance on standardized tests, and preparation for college and careers.
Ranked based on outcomes, Princeton High School was top in the state with South at No. 5, Montgomery High School at No. 6, and North at No. 9.
In rankings of whole school districts released in January by Niche, the WW-P district was 11th, with Princeton at No. 2 and Montgomery at No. 9.
Visit www.niche.com for more rankings and information on methodology.
#b#New Safety Measures for Student Athletes.#/b# While school does not begin until Wednesday, September 2, preseason practices are already underway for WW-P’s fall athletes. As has always been the case, no one can practice without an up-to-date physical examination. And this year new requirements are in place for physicians administering those exams.
Under the Scholastic Student-Athlete Safety Act, signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie in June, 2013, a cardiac assessment must now be part of pre-participation physicals for all student athletes. To comply with the law, which takes effect this school year, physicians must complete a professional development program — based on a 43-minute video available on the state Department of Health website — prior to administering physical exams.
The goal, according to state materials, is “the detection of silent cardiovascular abnormalities that can lead to sudden cardiac death.” Approximately 100 deaths are attributed annually to sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes. Men are more commonly affected than women, African Americans more than other racial or ethnic groups, and basketball and football players more than other athletes.
For more information visit www.state.nj.us/education/students/safety/health/services/athlete/PDModule.shtml
#b#Information Management.#/b# Genesis has replaced Infinite Campus as the WW-P district’s student information system. The web-based program, available to parents, students, and staff through the district website, includes information on attendance, schedules, grades, teacher contact information, emergency information, bus routes, and more.
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Grover Middle School.
