On behalf of the Fort Lee Board of Education, I am pleased to invite you to review the district’s 2011-2012 New Jersey School Report Card. This report of progress details various aspects of our school such as enrollment, class size, student/faculty ratios, revenues, and student achievement, and it is provided by the New Jersey Department of Education as a service to parents and interested community members who wish to gain an understanding and appreciation for the Fort Lee Public Schools.
The Fort Lee Public Schools have a long tradition of success in the classroom, as well as in the extra-curricular and co-curricular arenas. In addition to rigorous curricula, numerous programs enrich the quality of the education of the children of the Borough of Fort Lee. Most importantly, the Fort Lee Public Schools remain committed to providing challenging instruction for each student that is differentiated to address his or her intellectual, social, and emotional needs; to following best instructional practices that engage all students in relevant learning activities; and to developing students who are prepared to be 21st century global citizens.

Within the New Jersey School Report Card, you will find indicators of progress we in the Fort Lee Public Schools are making toward achieving our vision as well as toward achieving the NJ Core Curriculum Content and Common Core standards with fiscal responsibility. Here are some of the most notable accomplishments of our students and faculty:

• Fort Lee High School graduated ninety-nine percent (99%) of our students. Ninety-five percent (95%) went on to pursue higher education. Our schools are represented at three Ivy League Schools and many of the nation’s most prestigious colleges.

• More than $4.0 million in scholarships were awarded to our graduating class of 2012.

• Two hundred sixty five students participated in Advanced Placement courses at the high school. One hundred percent (100%) of the students who completed an AP course participated in their respective Advanced Placement test.

• Our Freshman Academy at Fort Lee High School remains a great success. Because of this innovative program, data displayed continued improvement in freshman academic achievement over the previous year, as students demonstrated more confidence and transitioned faster into the high school experience.

• Fort Lee High School has offered the IB Diploma Program to students in 11th & 12th grade since September of 2010. Our IB courses are small and rigorous and are not limited to those students seeking an IB diploma. The first class of IB Diploma candidates earned IB diplomas in June of 2012.

To fulfill our belief that classroom instruction is the most important element of the education of a child, teachers in the Fort Lee Public Schools are involved in extensive and rigorous professional development. Our teachers strive to improve their skills through attendance at district led courses in language arts, brain-based learning, curricular technology infusion, and multiple Intelligences, among others. Teachers also attend local colleges and universities to pursue higher learning in their fields of instruction. Additionally, our teachers work together in teams to share their talents and skills with one another. We see this so effectively implemented in our mentoring program, but we also see it in lesson study groups, curriculum development teams, and grade level or department teams, where our teachers are sharing their collective experience to develop an instructional model based on research and best practices. Quality schools need committed parents. Our active PTA’s and other parent groups are valued for the extra support they provide to our students and our schools. We look forward to having you join in the ongoing efforts to keep the Fort Lee Public Schools at the forefront of education.

As always, please contact us at 201-585-4612 if you have any suggestions, questions, or thoughts to further enhance our district.

With Fort Lee Pride,

Mr. Steven Engravalle
Superintendent of Schools