Low-Income School Districts in New Jersey and Beyond Show Promising Academic Recovery

Targeted interventions like tutoring and summer programs have helped some districts surpass pre-pandemic achievement levels, though challenges persist with funding and equity.

Nine low-income school districts in New Jersey have exceeded pre-pandemic levels in reading, math, or both, according to the Education Recovery Scorecard.
Key strategies include high-impact tutoring, summer learning programs, and additional instructional time, which have shown measurable success in accelerating student progress.
Federal relief funds played a critical role in supporting these programs, but the expiration of these funds poses challenges for sustaining the gains.
Higher-income districts are recovering faster than lower-income ones, with significant disparities persisting along racial and economic lines, particularly in math scores.
Chronic absenteeism remains a major obstacle, with some districts implementing community support and incentives to improve attendance and sustain academic recovery.