More Sayreville Students Fell Short After State Set New Graduation Score
Sayreville’s passing rate dropped from 91% to 82% in English and from 81% to 61% in math when the state applied its final score to the new graduation exam.
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SAYREVILLE, NJ — A decision by the state has made the path to graduation more difficult for some Sayreville students—particularly in math.
The Class of 2027 was the first to take New Jersey’s new adaptive graduation test. When the State Board of Education established the passing score at 450, Sayreville’s results changed considerably.
At a score of 425:
- 91% of Sayreville students would have passed English
- 81% would have passed math
At the state-approved score of 450:
- 82% passed English
- 61% passed math
That represents a 9-percentage-point decrease in English and a 20-point decrease in math.
District officials reported that 99 students still needed to meet the math requirement and 41 still needed to meet the English requirement.
That does not mean those students will be unable to graduate. They will have additional opportunities to satisfy the state requirement.
Why Did The Passing Rates Change?
New Jersey replaced its previous graduation exam with the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment-Adaptive, commonly called the NJGPA-A.
The adaptive format changes the difficulty of questions based on a student’s answers. It also uses a scoring scale ranging from 300 to 650.
After students took the new test in spring 2026, the State Board of Education needed to decide what score would qualify a student as “Graduation Ready.”
On Aug. 5, the board selected 450 as the passing score for both English language arts and math. The decision applies to the Class of 2027.
Because this is a redesigned exam with a new scoring scale, the score of 450 should not be directly compared with the 725 required on the previous version of the graduation test.
What Happens If A Student Did Not Pass?
A student who did not earn a 450 is not automatically prevented from graduating.
Students may retake the NJGPA-A during the summer or fall. After attempting the exam, they may also satisfy the requirement by earning an approved score on another test or completing the state’s portfolio-appeal process.
The alternative assessments can include tests such as the SAT, ACT or Accuplacer, depending on the subject and score earned.
According to the New Jersey Department of Education, students must attempt the NJGPA-A before using one of the alternative pathways.
Why Math Remains An Important Issue In Sayreville
The graduation-test results follow a broader pattern seen in Sayreville’s other state assessments.
Separate results presented to the Board of Education in October 2025 showed that 54% of district students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments. That was an improvement from 50% the previous year.
In math, 39% of Sayreville students met or exceeded expectations.
Results varied by grade and course. Approximately 95% of Sayreville’s Algebra II students met expectations, while Algebra I and Geometry results remained below statewide levels.
The NJSLA and NJGPA-A are different tests. The NJSLA measures performance across several grade levels, while the NJGPA-A is the graduation assessment first taken during a student’s junior year.
Both sets of results, however, show stronger overall performance in English than in math.
What Comes Next For The Class Of 2027?
Sayreville students who still need to satisfy the graduation requirement will have more than one opportunity to do so.
The district can provide targeted support before students retake the exam. Students may also work toward qualifying through an approved alternative test or the portfolio process.
Families should speak with their child’s school counselor to understand which requirement remains outstanding and which pathway may be available.
More information is available on the state’s Class of 2027 graduation requirements page.
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