Hardyston Township School District is celebrating significant progress on its ambitious district goals, according to updates shared by Superintendent Mike Ryder at the recent Board of Education meeting.
Academic Achievement Soars
The most impressive gains have been in elementary school performance, where proficiency rates jumped from 39% to 52% in math - a remarkable 13-point improvement in just one year. Language arts scores also increased by 6 points during the same period.
“These improvements aren’t happening by accident,” Superintendent Ryder explained. “They’re the result of dedicated teachers implementing best practices in the classroom, ongoing professional development, and targeted intervention strategies.”
The district has partnered with programs like Schoolwide for ELA coaching and has implemented specific intervention schedules at both the elementary and middle school levels. Fourth-grade math tutoring is being provided in April and May as a booster leading up to state testing.
Dramatic Improvement in Attendance
Another area of impressive progress is student attendance. Like many districts nationwide, Hardyston struggled with chronic absenteeism following the pandemic, with rates reaching the mid-20% range. Through focused initiatives and parent partnerships, the district has steadily reduced that rate to around 12% and is on track to reach single digits soon.
“Students need to be here if they’re going to achieve success,” noted Superintendent Ryder. “Our approach combines holding people accountable while also making school engaging and the place to be so students don’t want to miss it.”
Staff Collaboration and Recognition
The district’s third goal focuses on improving staff collaboration and school culture. Initiatives include team-building events, staff spirit weeks, and innovative professional development opportunities like the “Front Porch” virtual discussions that allow staff members to engage in conversations about educational topics.
Board members expressed satisfaction with the district’s trajectory, with Nick Demsak emphasizing that “the data now shows we are improving and growing, and we need to build off of that.”
Looking Forward
As the district continues to implement these successful strategies, the leadership team remains committed to transparency and sharing their progress with the community.
“When you have that laser focus on student achievement,” as one Board member put it, the results speak for themselves. Hardyston’s progress demonstrates what can be accomplished when administrators, teachers, board members, and parents work together toward common educational goals.
For more information about Hardyston Township School District’s initiatives and progress, parents and community members are encouraged to attend Board of Education meetings, which are held monthly and open to the public.