Newark Kids Count 2011 A City Profile of Child Well-Being Advocates for Children of New Jersey 35 Halsey Street Newark, NJ

Newark Kids Count 2011 Special Section – Reading by Third Grade: The Path to School Success Overview of child well-being 2011 Trend data

Special Section – Reading by Third Grade Why does this matter? Students who read proficiently by 3 rd grade are more likely to succeed academically and graduate from high school. Source: Double Jeopardy: How Third-Grade Reading Skills and Poverty Influence High School Graduation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2011.

Special Section – Reading by Third Grade Background Newark students were improving on 3 rd grade language arts tests for several years in traditional and charter schools Test was changed in school year and passing rates significantly dropped Between and Newark District –69% to 41% Newark Charter schools –81% to 49% New Jersey –86% to 63%

Special Section – Reading by Third Grade One year later, some schools improved, many others continued to drop In … 38% of Newark District 3 rd graders passed language arts tests 44% of Newark Charter School 3 rd graders passed 60% of New Jersey 3 rd graders passed

Special Section – Reading by Third Grade Passing rates varied from school to school. In … 85% passed in Branch Brook Elementary 10% passed at Camden Street Elementary

Special Section – Reading by Third Grade Passing Rates by Student Groups Economically disadvantaged students Newark District – 37% passed New Jersey – 40% passed Special education students Newark District – 15% New Jersey – 33% Limited English proficient students Newark District – 36% New Jersey – 33%

Overview Improvements Fewer juvenile arrests and youth detained More eligible children getting school meals Fewer children testing positive for lead and admitted to the hospital for asthma Fewer uninsured children

Overview Concerning trends Significant increase in child poverty from 2009 to 2010 Increases in births to unmarried women and single households Education data show mixed results

Demographics Child population increased 3% Foreign-born children decreased 58% since Increases in births to unmarried women and households headed by one parent Nine percent increase in grandparents responsible for their grandchildren

Child Poverty Significant increase in child poverty between 2009 and % of Newark children in poverty in ,571 children Represents a 32% increase from 2009 Only 8% of families without children lived in poverty; 39% of families with children lived in poverty

Family Economics Average Newark family earns $56,170 less per year than the average NJ family Median rental costs increased 19% in Newark since

Child Health More Newark children received health coverage through NJ FamilyCare between 2007 – 2011: 12% increase Fewer uninsured children – children without health insurance dropped 18% between 2008 and 2010 in Newark

Child Welfare 5% drop in the number of Newark children under DYFS supervision between 2007 and 2011 – on the rise since 2009 Newark children in out-of-home placement dropped 46% during the same time Increase in the number of child abuse/neglect investigations, drop in proven reports

Education Enrollment – to K-12 total enrollment: Decreased 19% in Newark District Increased 130% in Newark Charter Schools Total Newark enrollment decreased 10% Special education enrollment: Decreased 33% in Newark District Increased 65% in Newark Charter Schools Total Newark enrollment decreased 30%

Test Scores Students passing tests vary in Newark, from a low of 11% to a high of 100% passing, depending on the school and grade Mixed results in passing rates on 4 th and 11 th grade tests Improvements across the board on 8 th grade tests

Test Scores 8 th Grade Language Arts – to Newark District – 45% to 58% Newark Charter Schools – 65% to 84% New Jersey – 74% to 83% 8 th Grade Math – to Newark District – 31% to 41% Newark Charter Schools – 48% to 72% New Jersey– 65% to 69%

Graduation and Post-Graduation 55% - Newark on-time graduation rate – updated data not available Newark students continued to score lower on SAT tests, but most planned to attend college College enrollment for Newark students up 11%

Juveniles 13% of Newark births were to a teen in 2008 Newark juvenile arrests down 52% since 2006 Newark admissions to detention down 44% since 2007 – majority African American males

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