Unbelievably, 64% of NJ 6th graders are below grade level in math. As a result, too many recent graduates start college unprepared: 49% of them need to pay for remedial classes. But pointing fingers won’t solve the problem — coming together will.

Here are three voices of those who see the challenges firsthand: a district director of curriculum, a dedicated principal, and a passionate parent leader. While they all started as classroom teachers in unique settings, they share one common belief: together, we can fix it.

Math isn’t just about numbers — it’s about opportunity. A study in the journal “Plos One” shows that individuals with strong math skills earn more over their lifetimes and report greater job satisfaction. Isn’t that what we want for our kids?

Yet, in the Garden State, many students are struggling to keep up. If we want to set our children up for success, we need real transparency from schools about their kids’ math proficiency.

Our goal at Wake Up Call NJ is to shine a light on the truth about education in New Jersey. Over the last few weeks, the reaction has been overwhelming – parents are shocked to learn that 55% of NJ fourth graders can’t do math at grade level. More concerning? Parents are being told everything is ok.  

We’re here to educate other New Jersey parents about their children’s schools and promote common sense solutions. 

So let’s start with the myths your school is telling you about your student’s learning.  

Most New Jersey students can’t do math at grade level - and their parents don’t even know.

Most New Jersey students can’t do math at grade level. In fourth grade, 55% of our students are already behind; by sixth grade, it jumps to 64%. This means that most of the students who were behind in fourth grade continue to struggle, and even more kids fall behind by sixth grade.