There is still no other town in NJ where I'd like to live!

I'd agree with the above statement, but as a parent looking to put my child into school next year, those numbers are unacceptable. The numbers in general for Collingswood High School have not been favorable recently. This combined with the SAT scores for Collingswood High School are nowhere near commendable.

As a a parent and a homeowner, the Board of Education and township need to address this issue face on. What will Collingswood become if this downward spiral continues with these numbers? I certainly think of Collingswood as a town comparable to Haddon Township, and Audobon vs Camden, and Lindenwold. What type of families/students will be attracted to Collingswood if these numbers continue?

I'd really be interested to see what the SAT scores and graduation rates would be if they were broken down by sending district to Collingswood (Collingswood, Woodlynne, vs. Oaklynn students). Not that the numbers would shine, but I have long believed that Collingswood should not be a receiving high school for those districts. In addition to the various programs that Dr. Oswald and team have implemented, not renewing the agreement with those districts would improve Collingswood High School greatly in my opinion.

Easy lesson for parents...rent an apartment in Haddonfield for the 4 years your kid is in high school-bang! Going to Princeton!

Dear Kevin,
As a lifelong public educator in NJ, I also feels that their is another statistic that never comes into play when these numbers are made that may surprise an involved parent like yourself. Simply stated is the abominable lack of parenting taking place today. To those who say "it's not really changed, we have always had bad parents", I strongly disagree. I am amazed at the staggering amount of broken homes that kids come from now days. I have respect for single moms but only the single moms WHO PUT THEIR KIDS FIRST; not the ones dating on Fridays with school aged kids. And the dads that just get to "walk away"?? I probably can't use that kind of language on here. Those stats never make it into the numbers but they are climbing under the surface. You might not see the affect in Haddonfield and Moorestown where education and money are higher, but in towns like ours, we will continue to deal with it. The systems in place at Collingswood High are exceptional but like other places, only stop at the constant involvement of parents.

Collingswood cut back on their student social/ substance abuse counseling services. Parental involvement is very important but there are not many professionals in place to help fill and gaps. Collingswood schools don't have the reputation it once did. Great staff but teachers can't do it all. Academic guidance counselors can't do it all. School social workers/psychologist with high caseloads of developmental disabilities cant do it all. Getting rid of the position of Student Assistance Coordinator hurt that high school. I just hope by the time my children get into the secondary school it resolves itself. Private school will be really hard to swing, but I will do everything I can to make sure my child attends a school that gives educational/social supports to deal with the ever changing challenges high schools face.

@Chrissy, I get your concern. Again, you are an involved parent so you will be on top of what your kids do, who they interact with and when they get home. You mentioned teachers, counselors, psychologists and social workers not being able to get it done but somehow you think the eradication of ONE position would make a difference? I think a SAC would be a benefit everywhere but because of the band known as "Chris Christie & the Reformers", positions like that are cut and duties are shared. Remember, we as educators get them 7 hours a day but the parents get them the other 17. I tell you that you would be shocked at the excuses parents give to allow parties in their basements, allowing kids out til midnight on school nights...you name it. These are largely parents in my own age group and I see it every day; even among a friend or two that I grew up with. We expect the schools to babysit way too much today and it is getting way out of hand. I know their are exceptions out there; good kids from bad homes but the onus on the parents to "step up and be parents" is a lost art.

@Kebvin, again..another concerned and involved parent. Don't be too sure you can buy problems away with paying tuition at Paul VI or some other "values" school. Think those kids don't drink and do drugs? Don't be so sure because those parents have the means to pay down "bad reps". Many of those schools fly under the radar because they are not as scrutinized as the public system. If you have motivated kids who have good self esteem and involved parents, they will peer around with the same kids and end up in the same classes at Colls where they will make the very best of it. Buying an education at a private school can cost you more than you think if they find the "bad group" in that school. EVERY SCHOOL has those groups.

As a recent graduate from Collingswood High School, I would like to think I have a better idea than most of you about what really goes on in the school nowadays. With this understanding in mind, I would not choose to go to any other school if I had the choice. Not Haddonfield, not Paul VI, not Bishop Eustace. While Collingswood may not have the highest SAT scores or graduation rates, it is an experience much more in tune with the real world than many of the surrounding districts. The diversity that CHS offers is one of its strongest points, and to suggest that it should be broken up would be more detrimental than helpful. The teachers are outstanding and willing to put in any extra time they can. These days everybody wants to let numbers define things, but the numbers cannot define CHS. They dont even begin to touch upon the great things that happen there.

I hope that these programs work and can be expanded. Parental involvement is very important, and each student is an individual. However, I think the counselors and staff should also be looked at carefully too. A percentage may give their all, but some definitely do not. Also, you hear a lot about fights at the school or nearby park and things being stolen from lockers. Not an environment where students can flourish. Maybe a more realistic approach to these issues should be acknowledged and addressed.

@Sean, those instances you describe are here in Collingswood too. I have a student who graduated from CHS so I've had direct knowledge about the fights and the stealing. I've been very involved with meetings with teachers and counselors and some are very dedicated, but some are not. People sometimes don't want to acknowledge the darker side out of fear of looking not as good. Other parents and students know about these things and discuss them. My wish is that there is more opening their eyes about it-- maybe increasing peer/teacher mediation/family meetings.

Strange how we never actually take it from the kids who put in the 4 years? Here we have a graduate who "would never trade her education (at Colls) in for anything" and we are still looking for answers why OTHER kids steal and destroy property? I can tell you exactly why they do that: because the consequences AT HOME are non existent. The climate of "don't ever let me hear you did that" does not exist. We just hear "not MY kid and ..."he's a good boy". We hear that in Haddonfield too...remember the infamous "house party" in Haddonfield about 9 years ago? The same #1 on the list? It is not counselors who "don't care", it takes a village and it all begins and ends in the home.

taken back by those numbers.

I have been a teacher in Philadelphia's public schools for 7 years. I can tell you that student success has three components: you need a staff of dedicated teachers working in a functional school; you need parents who are committed to their child's success; and you need a kid who's bought in. If the school is dysfunctional or the teachers not committed, if the parents enable their child or fail to be present, or if the kid isn't picking up what the teachers are putting down, forget it. People are always looking for a one-part solution: fire the bad teachers, punish parents, do more testing... but the true solution is much more holistic.

As for me, I don't have kids right now, but when I do, I will be sending them to Collingswood's public schools!

I'm a graduate of chs.....I could only speak on graduation year 2003... great supports teachers ect... also worked at chs in 2009..... the question isn't who is to blame. ... budgets are tight everywhere. . Don't think I could have made it to a graduate degree without extra supports at chs...I share credit with them for my success. Easier to hire more support staff then force parental involvement. ..sad but true

Taxes are way up and graduation rates are way down. Collingswood, the place to be!

I would not say taxes are "way up" nor grad rates are "way down" It is so easy to see this and blame those "overpaid teachers". I wish Iwas able to ask the state to police the parents for their care as well as the state is allowed to cite educators. SO many kids that come to school unclean, up all night playing video games, parents who say, "Oh we don't go in their room! It is his/her personal space!", you name it. I know tons of teachers and to be honest, very, very few are poor performers and 99% of the time, the districts knows who they are. The breakdown of the family unit, parents who don't prioritize are the number one reason why things are slipping.