Graduation & Postsecondary
Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rates
New Jersey introduced the adjusted cohort graduation rate calculation in 2011 to align with federal requirements. All states are required to use adjusted cohort graduation rate methodology so that rates can be compared across states.
Districts annually submit graduation data in NJ SMART SID Management by August 31. NJDOE currently calculates and reports on four-year, five-year, and six-year adjusted cohort graduation rates in the School Performance Reports. New Jersey’s ESSA accountability system currently includes four-year and five-year graduation rates as indicators. For information about graduation requirements, see the NJDOE course requirements and graduation assessment requirements.
Graduation Rate Resources
- An Introduction to the Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate Calculation in New Jersey (detailed guide)
- Understanding Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rates (overview with examples)
- NJ SMART Graduation FAQs (commonly asked questions)
- Graduation Data Quality Checklist (list of ways to review and check district graduation data in NJ SMART)
- ESSA (federal non-regulatory guidance from January 2017)
Postsecondary Enrollment
The New Jersey Department of Education currently receives annual data from the National Student Clearinghouse, which collects data from at least 97% of higher education institutions nationwide. This data shows whether New Jersey graduates are enrolling in two-year or four-year institutions, in-state or out-of-state, or in public or private institutions.
NJDOE reports on postsecondary enrollment in the School Performance Reports.