On New Jersey's NJSLA, Grade 8 English Language Arts (ELA) is reported on a scale from 650 to 850, and each score falls into one of 5 performance levels. Reaching Met (at 750 or above) is the state's grade-level, on-track benchmark.
| Level | Score range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Did Not Yet Meet | 650–699 | The lowest level, well below grade-level expectations |
| Partially Met | 700–724 | Partway toward grade-level expectations |
| Approached | 725–749 | Approaching grade-level expectations |
| Met | 750–793 | Meeting grade-level expectations (the state proficiency line) |
| Exceeded | 794–850 | The highest level, above grade-level expectations |
Statewide in 2025, about 57% of Grade 8 students reached Met or Exceeded in ELA. The bar above shows the share at each level (left = lowest).
A score's meaning depends on where it lands in the ranges above, and on how it compares to other students. Our free tool turns a score into an estimated percentile versus the child's school, district and the whole state, so you can see exactly where a score stands, not just its level.
Look up your child's percentile →