Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Classes of 2023–2025 High School Graduation Assessment Requirements
Class of 2023 (Updated July 2022)
On Tuesday, July 5, 2022, Governor Murphy signed P.L.2022, c.60 (ACS for A-3196/S-2349), which requires the State Board of Education to administer the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) as a field test for the class of 2023. There is no graduation assessment requirement for any student who is expected to graduate with the class of 2023. Students in the class of 2023 must still meet all the other State and local graduation requirements, including but not limited to credit, curriculum, and attendance requirements. The graduation assessment requirements for the classes of 2024 and 2025 remain in place.
Class of 2024 and 2025 (Updated May 2023)
On May 3, 2023, the State Board of Education approved the graduation ready cut score for the ELA and mathematics components of the NJGPA, as well as the menu of alternative assessments and aligned cut scores.
The requirements in this section were adopted by the New Jersey State Board of Education on September 8, 2021 for the classes of 2023–2025.
English Language Arts and Literacy (ELA)
If, after completing the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11, students did not demonstrate proficiency by passing the ELA component, such students may access the following pathways:
- Second Pathway: By meeting the designated cut score on a substitute competency test such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER; or
- Third Pathway: By submitting, through the district, a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department of Education.
Mathematics
If, after completing the required New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11, students did not demonstrate proficiency by passing the mathematics component, such students may access the following pathways:
- Second Pathway: By meeting the designated cut score on a substitute competency test such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER; or
- Third Pathway: By submitting, through the district, a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department of Education.
Under the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA), all students with disabilities must be included in all general state and district-wide assessments. IEPs of students with disabilities will address whether the student must meet the passing score on the state assessments or demonstrate proficiency through an alternate pathway. Students with disabilities whose IEPs specify an alternative way to demonstrate proficiencies, will continue to follow the graduation assessment requirements set forth in their IEPs. It is the responsibility of the student’s IEP team to ensure that the IEP is implemented as written, including components addressing state graduation assessment requirements.
IEP teams should reserve the exemption of the statewide assessment graduation requirement for students with significant intellectual disabilities and for students with disabilities who have made repeated unsuccessful attempts to meet statewide assessment requirements through New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment, a substitute competency test, or a student portfolio appeal. Districts are encouraged to begin convening meetings of the student’s IEP team when the student is in grade 9, or as early as possible. The IEP team includes the student, and the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) to discuss the student’s specific graduation requirements.
Questions about IEP components concerning graduation assessment requirements should be directed to the Office of Special Education Policy and Dispute Resolution at oseinfo@doe.nj.gov.
Students must take and demonstrate proficiency in grade 11 on the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment, which includes content aligned to the grade 10 New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) in ELA, and the NJSLS in Algebra 1 and Geometry. If after completing the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment a student does not demonstrate proficiency on the ELA or mathematics section, the student may retake the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in the following summer or fall.
A student with disabilities whose IEP states that they are not eligible for the alternate assessment (Dynamic Learning Maps) must take the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11.
First Pathway—NJGPA
Note: Cut Scores Approved by the New Jersey State Board of Education on May 3, 2023
| ELA | Mathematics |
|---|---|
| New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment—ELA ≥ 725 (Graduation Ready) | New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment—Mathematics ≥ 725 (Graduation Ready) |
Note: This pathway is only available to students who completed the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11.
Students who sat for the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11 and did not demonstrate proficiency are able to demonstrate proficiency in ELA and/or mathematics by meeting the designated cut score on one of the assessments on the menu of substitute competency tests in the table for the second pathway (below).
Second Pathway—Menu of Substitute Competency Tests
Note: Cut Scores Approved by the New Jersey State Board of Education on May 3, 2023
| ELA | Mathematics |
|---|---|
|
One of the following:
|
One of the following:
|
Note: This pathway is only available to students who completed the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11.
Students who completed the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11 and did not demonstrate proficiency are able to demonstrate proficiency in ELA and/or mathematics through a portfolio appeal in grade 12.
Third Pathway—Portfolio Appeals
| ELA | Mathematics |
|---|---|
| Meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for ELA | Meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for Math |