Historically, New Jersey’s K-12 education system has consistently ranked among the top in the nation, recognized for its high graduation rates and well-qualified teachers. In recent years, the state has adopted policies to advance work-based learning and a broader definition of college and career readiness and high school success. In addition, to address the well-being of the state’s K-12 students, the state has invested heavily in mental health support and services. In 2025, the state’s Department of Health launched the SAFE NJ Program to provide trauma-informed mental health and safety resources for schools across the state.
At the same time, persistent achievement gaps remain a challenge, particularly in the state’s larger urban centers. In general, the average New Jersey student today is two-thirds of a grade level below 2019 levels in math and half of a grade level below in English Language Arts (ELA). These challenges are a clear call to strengthen academic results, and they invite innovation—particularly for our high schools, which look much the same as they did over a century ago.
The state’s largest district, Newark, has adopted high school redesign as a core focus of its improvement efforts. In its 10-year strategic vision, the Newark Board of Education points to high school transformation as a catalyst for improving the district's middle, elementary, and early learning schools. The new career-focused high schools that the district is opening with higher education institutions and industry partners are designed to provide students with practical, real-world experiences that prepare them for a rapidly changing workforce.
These redesign efforts in Newark, along with investments in student well-being and college and career readiness, provide jumping-off points for further high school innovation and redesign efforts in New Jersey.
