NJSLA 2026 Results Are Out: How to Read New NJSLA-A Scores

NJSLA 2026 results are out. You can see them now in the NJ Family Portal. Your school must send the paper report by November 9, 2026. This year's test was new, so the scores use a new scale.

We checked every official NJDOE document and web page for this blog. Below, you'll find the key dates, how to log in, and how to read your child's new report.

Why Did NJSLA Change to NJSLA-A in 2026?

New Jersey moved to a computer-adaptive test. The state had three goals: a better fit for each child, faster results, and a closer match to the 2023 NJ learning standards. New to the test? Read What Is NJSLA? for the basics.

• NJSLA-A stands for New Jersey Student Learning Assessment-Adaptive. It tests ELA in grades 3 to 9. It tests math in grades 3 to 8, plus Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II.
• How "adaptive" works: the test starts with medium questions. After each group of questions, it gets harder or easier based on your child's answers. Only grade-level questions count toward the score.
• NJSLA-S is the science test. It is given in grades 5, 8 and 11. It did not change this year, but its results came out at the same time.
• NJGPA-A is the separate graduation test for 11th graders. Schools got those results on August 17, 2026. They reached the Family Portal on August 31.

Here is what changed from the old test:

When Was the NJSLA 2026 Test?

The NJSLA-A and NJSLA-S window was from April 27 to May 29, 2026. Each school picked its own test days inside that window. The next spring test runs from April 19 to May 21, 2027.

Grade 9 ELA and high school math also have a Fall Block test, from November 30 to December 16, 2026. Schools get those results on January 20, 2027.

Why Were NJSLA 2026 Results Late?

A new test needs new pass marks. The state could only set them after students took the test in spring 2026.

• New pass marks. Panels of New Jersey teachers studied real answers from spring 2026. They decided what score counts for each level. The State Board approved these scores on September 9, 2026.
• Hand-scoring the writing. People, not computers, scored each child's ELA writing task.
• Review steps. Statisticians checked the results. The state then reviewed the levels before approving them.
• The state says this delay happens only once. Spring 2027 results will reach schools by June 30, 2027. That is almost two months earlier than before the change.

NJSLA 2026 Results Timeline

Schools got results on September 18. The Family Portal opened around September 28. Paper reports must reach parents by November 9.

How Did New Jersey Students Do on the 2026 NJSLA?

NJDOE posted the statewide 2026 NJSLA-A results on November 4, 2026. In grades 3 to 8, 51.1% of students met or exceeded expectations in ELA, and 41.4% did in math.

Met or exceeded means Level 4 or Level 5. The table shows the share of students at those two levels in each grade.

High school results:

• Grade 9 ELA: 51.4% met or exceeded expectations.
• Algebra I: 39.9% met or exceeded expectations.
• Geometry: 51.7% met or exceeded expectations.
• Algebra II: 52.3% met or exceeded expectations.

Math scores drop grade by grade, from 49.2% in Grade 3 to 22.6% in Grade 8. Grade 8 looks lowest partly because about a third of New Jersey 8th graders take the Algebra I test instead of the Grade 8 math test. Those students are taking a high school course a year early, so the Grade 8 number leaves many of them out.

Don't compare these numbers with 2025. NJSLA-A is a new test with new cut scores, so 2026 is a new starting point. The spring 2027 results will be the first fair year-on-year comparison.

What this means for your child: compare your child's level with the state numbers. Only 40.4% of Grade 6 students in New Jersey met or exceeded expectations in math, so a Grade 6 student at Met Expectations scored higher than most Grade 6 students in the state. Your district must share its own results at a public school board meeting by December 8, 2026, and NJDOE's spreadsheets list the results for every school.

How to Read Your Child's New NJSLA Report

Look at three things. The level (1 to 5), the scale score, and the skill icons. "Met" or "Exceeded" means your child met grade-level expectations. To see how New Jersey districts use these scores for math placement, read Does the NJSLA Math Score Decide Placement?.

The five levels kept their names. Only one changed: "Approached Expectations" is now "Approaching Expectations."

What does each level mean?

Level 3 says your child is likely to succeed "with targeted support." For many families, that means a few weeks of 1:1 help on the weak skills. Compare the best online math tutoring programs by grade and price.

How do I find my child's level from the score?

1. Find your child's grade in the table below.
2. Read along the row.
3. Your child's level is the highest column their score reaches.

Example: a grade 5 math score of 1450 is past 1438 but under 1463. So it is "Approaching Expectations."

NJSLA-A ELA scores needed for each level (2026)

NJSLA-A math scores needed for each level (2026)

What do the skill icons mean?

The report splits each subject into skill areas. For example, grade 5 math shows Base Ten, Fractions, and Operations with Measurement. Each skill area gets one icon:

• ! Below Expectations
• ↔ Near or Within Expectations
• ✓ Above Expectations

Watch out: "Near or Within" covers a range. It runs from a little below the bar to a little above it. So a child can get ↔ in every skill area and still miss "Met" overall. The state's own FAQ says this. A private tutor can focus only on the ↔ and ! areas. See what online private math tutors cost and how to check them.

What is the growth score (SGP)?

Children in grades 4 to 8 may see a Student Growth Percentile, from 1 to 99. It compares your child's growth with New Jersey students who scored like them in the past. A score above 65 is high growth. A score below 35 is low growth.

The state says SGP still works across the test change. It is the one number you can use to compare this year with last year.

How is writing scored?

Your child wrote one essay. The report shows their writing score next to a "Just Proficient Mean." This is the average writing score of students who scored right at the proficient line. If your child's score is higher, their writing was stronger than a just-proficient writer's.

What about science?

NJSLA-Science did not change. It still uses a 100 to 300 scale, and 200 means Proficient. Its four levels are Below Proficient, Near Proficient, Proficient and Advanced Proficiency.

How Do I Check My Child's NJSLA Results Online?

Log in to the NJ Family Portal with the access code from your child's paper report.

1. Go to nj-familyportal.cambiumast.com
2. Enter the access code from the paper report. If you don't have it, ask your school.
3. Enter your child's first name and date of birth.
4. The portal shows your child's results, what each level means, a glossary and tips for families.

Paper report: by law, your district must send it within 30 days of getting it from the state. This year, that means by November 9, 2026.

The "CRS" link on the state website is for school staff only. Parents can't log in there. For questions about your child's results, the state says to contact your child's teacher, school counselor or district test coordinator.

What Should Parents Know Before the 2027 NJSLA?

The new test has new rules. Your child must answer every question, and answers lock after each session.

• No skipping. Your child must answer each question before moving on.
• Don't rush. Your child can change answers, but the test won't adjust again. Answers lock when the session ends.
• Calculators: none in grades 3 to 5. A basic calculator in grades 6 and 7. A scientific calculator in grade 8. A graphing calculator for Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II.
• Test length: ELA reading is two 75-minute sessions. Writing is one 90-minute session. Math is two 75-minute sessions.
• Spanish: the math test is available in Spanish.
• Practice tests: free at nj.portal.cambiumast.com. Choose "Continue as Guest." The state says they help children learn the platform, not study content.

For extra practice at home, Cuemath's free NJSLA math curriculum is organized by topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I get my child's NJSLA 2026 results?

NJSLA 2026 results are in the NJ Family Portal now, since about September 28, 2026. Your school must also send a paper report by November 9, 2026.

Where do I check my child's NJSLA results online?

Go to nj-familyportal.cambiumast.com. You need the access code from the paper report, plus your child's first name and date of birth.

Why were the NJSLA 2026 results late?

NJSLA-A was a new test in 2026, so the state had to set new pass marks first. The State Board approved them on September 9, 2026.

What is a passing score on NJSLA 2026?

"Met Expectations" is the passing level. In ELA, it starts at 1446 (grade 3) up to 1535 (grade 9). In math, it starts at 1399 (grade 3) up to 1577 (grade 8), and at 2500 for Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II.

My child got "Approaching Expectations." What does that mean?

Your child is close to grade level. The state says a child at this level is likely to succeed next year with targeted support.

What does the ↔ icon mean on my child's NJSLA report?

It means "Near or Within Expectations" for that skill area. It covers a range, so a child can get ↔ in every area and still miss "Met" overall.

Can I compare my child's 2026 NJSLA score to their 2025 score?

No. The 2026 test uses a new scale and new pass marks. Use the growth score (SGP) to see year-to-year progress instead.

How did New Jersey students do on the 2026 NJSLA?

In grades 3 to 8, 51.1% of New Jersey students met or exceeded expectations in ELA on the 2026 NJSLA-A, and 41.4% did in math. NJDOE posted these statewide results on November 4, 2026.

What is the difference between NJSLA-A and NJSLA-S?

NJSLA-A tests ELA in grades 3 to 9 and math in grades 3 to 8, plus Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II. NJSLA-S tests science in grades 5, 8 and 11.

What does "adaptive" mean on the NJSLA test?

The test changes difficulty based on your child's answers. It adjusts after each group of questions, not after every single question.

When is the NJSLA test in 2027?

The spring 2027 NJSLA runs from April 19 to May 21, 2027. Your school picks the exact days.

Will next year's NJSLA results also be late?

No. The state expects spring 2027 results to reach schools by June 30, 2027. That is almost two months earlier than before the change.

Sources

• NJDOE: School Year 2025-26 Assessment Reports (posted November 4, 2026): statewide NJSLA-A results by grade
• NJDOE: Spring 2026 NJSLA-A and NJSLA-S Results and Reporting (Sept 16, 2026): results dates and the paper report deadline
• NJDOE: NJSLA-A Performance Level Cut Scores (Sept 9, 2026): score tables by grade
• NJSLA Score Interpretation Guide (Sept 18, 2026): levels, skill icons, SGP and writing scores
• NJDOE: NJSLA-Adaptive and NJGPA-Adaptive FAQ: how the adaptive test works, test rules and the Family Portal
• NJDOE: 2026 Standard Setting presentation to the State Board (July 2026): why results were late and the 2027 timeline
• NJDOE: Statewide Assessments Testing Schedule 2026-2027: 2027 test windows
• NJDOE: NJSLA ELA and Mathematics Technical Report 2025: the old 650 to 850 scale and old level names

Kanishka

SEO Content Writer & Editor

I was never the kid who loved math. I was much more interested in books, stories, and writing, and, somewhere along the way, I became even more curious about people. Why do we learn differently? Why does something make sense to one child but not another? And what makes a student feel confident enough to keep trying?

That curiosity led me to study Applied Psychology, where I learned more about how children think, learn, and make sense of the world around them.

My love for writing did the rest. What started as something I simply enjoyed became a career. Over the past five years, I've worked as a freelance writer across edtech, SaaS, B2B, travel, lifestyle, and healthcare, learning how to write for very different audiences without losing the human side of the story.

Today, I'm an SEO Content Writer & Editor at Cuemath, where I get to bring many of these interests together. Working in education, and especially around math, has made me even more curious about what happens behind the screen or textbook: what parents worry about, what students struggle with, and what actually helps them learn.

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