Change the High School zoning for Silverton


Guest

/ #30

2014-10-21 02:49

I want to respond to those who said this petition is misleading and I did not provide the facts, here are the facts:

High School North has a student enrollment of 2,368 with 161 full time teachers with a student/teacher ratio of 15:1

High School East has a student enrollment of 1,719 with 125 full time teachers with a student/teacher ratio of 14:1

The average 5th grade class at Silver Bay Elementary school is 100 students, give or take.  That adds about 100 students entering high school from Silverton each year.

If you add 100 additional students to HSE each year that brings the ratio to a little below the 15:1 at HSN so no, it would not overcrowd HSE to add the Silverton population.

If you think your children would receive a better education at HSN, take a look at the test scores.  For HSN, Math proficiency is 82% with HSE doing slightly better with 85%.  Language arts HSN and HSE are equal at 95%.  College readiness score is slightly higher for HSE at 17.3% with HSN at 15.8%.

Now the reason for this petition.  Silverton is the only area of Toms River that is asked to split with their peers upon entering HS.  There are 3 intemediate schools in Toms River; North goes to North, South goes to South so why is it that East does not go to East?  These kids are asked to start a new school without any support from a majority of their friends.  High school is already a difficult time with social, peer, athletic and academic pressures, why do we need to make it any more difficult than it needs to be?  Of course they will "adjust" if they have to, but why should they have to?

Everyone has a right to their opinion and what they feel is best for their child.  If you dont wish to sign the petition, that is your right.