Millburn on top while Berkeley Heights behind neighboring districts in SAT Math, Reading & Writing

-Written by a non-politically connected Educator in the Community

Following the March 18th Berkeley Heights Board of Education (BHBOE) meeting where SAT scores were presented (video linked here), we would like to conduct a further analysis of SAT scores to the seven-district dashboard typically used at this site.

The BHBOE report compared Berkeley Heights to eight other school districts, which were Summit, New Providence, Westfield, Chatham, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Clark, Cranford, and Springfield, with the latter four typically not as high performing as the first four listed.

It is important to include Madison. Madison is a very comparable district to Berkeley Heights and New Providence in size, socioeconomic status, and demographics.

One major observation prior to presenting the below data is that there are many discrepancies between the numbers presented at the March 18th, 2025 BOE meeting by the Interim Assistant Superintendent and the numbers reported from the state as explored in our prior article. Numbers from Mr. Phillips’ report are identical with New Providence, Summit, and Cranford. However, there are discrepancies with all other districts mentioned below and in the report. Nonetheless, the below data is reported directly from the state for SAT tests taken during the 2023-24 school year (link to nj.com data table).

One note: Millburn High School SAT scores are ranked 9th in the state. In the 21 schools with the highest SAT scores article on nj.com, 19 of the top 21 schools are magnet, admit-only schools. The other top public high school is J.P. Stevens High School in Edison.

Note that two of the solutions offered at the BHBOE meeting to raising SAT scores include in-school classes for SAT/ACT prep as well as tutoring sessions. However, work should primarily be done in the math classroom where students receive the core of their instruction. Instructional improvements for GLHS math have been written about here and here.

If an SAT/ACT prep class is offered at GLHS, this could take up time in a student’s schedule (versus taking an elective) and the teacher’s schedule (payment for teaching a sixth class). Additionally, the SAT/ACT prep may only last a marking period or a semester, while students are enrolled in math for at least three years (and most students for all four years). 

As for tutoring, while teacher-to-student and peer-to-peer tutoring (National Honor Society, for example) can be helpful, not all students may be able to attend directly after school due to sports, clubs/activities, and transportation. Don’t forget to mention that students are burned after a long day of school.

While an SAT/ACT prep class and tutoring can benefit students seeking to take the SAT/ACT, strategies to improve SAT scores should be done primarily in the classroom before adding any additional support.

Advice for your current high school student

Please note that not all high school students opt to take the SAT nor do all high school students fully apply themselves to take the SAT. Meaning, students who are not college-bound (vocational education, military, law enforcement, direct to employment) or even students who are applying to test optional colleges are not included in these SAT scores. However, it is recommended that all students considering college take the SAT and/or ACT at least once in the event that either a) their selected college goes from test-optional to test-mandatory or b) The high school student decides to add a college at the last minute/not on their original list that requires a SAT/ACT score submission.

NJ21st allows for confidentially sourced articles from employees of local government agencies or volunteers of non-profits whose organizations would take retaliatory action against their employees and , in the case of volunteer organizations, officers for exercising their right to express an opinion about local government. We have verified the confidential source for this article and have met with him/her face to face.

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