The results of a the statewide standardized test NJ Ask showed a clear achievement gap between white and black students in the South Orange Maplewood school district, with white students outpacing black ones in almost all categories in both Language Arts and Math.

While there was some positive news, Schools Superintendent Brian Osborne and members of the School Board focused on the achievement gap data after the report was presented in a slide show at the Sept. 21 meeting. Osborne emphasized that the data was new and cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from it now. He did, however, have strong words about the achievement gap data.

“The gap numbers continue to be disturbing,” Osborne said, adding that the district needs to “take a deep look at this.”

The results presented showed reflected student performances grades 3 through 8. Students were grouped as partially proficient, proficient or advanced proficient. In language arts in the 2008-2009 test, a far higher percentage of black students placed in partially proficient than white students.

For example, 48.6 percent of black third graders were partially proficient versus 10.7 percent of white students and 24.6 percent of black eighth grade students were partially proficient versus 3.3 percent of their white counterparts.  3.4 percent of black third grade students placed in advanced proficiency in language arts versus 15.6 percent of white third grade students. The results for eighth graders were similar, with 3.6 percent of black students placing in advanced versus 18.7 percent of white students.

The math results also showed an achievement gap, with 39.8 percent of black third grade students scoring partially proficient versus 5.2 percent of white students. With the eighth grade, 43.3 percent of black students placed in partially proficient versus 6 percent of white students. A higher percentage of black students scored advanced proficient in math than in language, with 20.5 percent of black third graders versus 56.7 percent of their white counterparts and 10.9 percent of black eighth graders versus 50 percent of white students in that grade.

Overall, the district's test scores slightly lagged others in its District factor Group Group (a state determined group of similarly ranked districts) in percentages of students in advanced proficiency and partial proficiency.

After the presentation, Osborne said the racial disparity on the test had implications beyond the school district.

“This is a community issue as well, not just a school issue,” Osborne said.

Board members, who were seeing the results for the first time, expressed dismay at the achievement gap data.

“This discrepancy is almost unacceptable,” Board member Jennifer Payne-Parrish said.