From 88 to 57: What Happened to Hardyston?
Hardyston Elementary's rating dropped from 88 to 57 in one year. It happened on Donna Carey's watch as board president. The public deserves to know why.
The numbers are stark enough that you can’t miss them. Last year, Hardyston Elementary had a summative rating of 88. This year, it’s 57. That’s not a dip. That’s a cliff.
Donna Carey was board president when that cliff happened.
So where’s the explanation?
What the Data Shows
The state released its official school ratings for 2024-25 in May. Here’s what Hardyston Elementary looks like:
| School Year | Rating |
|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 88 |
| 2024-25 | 57 |
A 31-point drop in one year isn’t noise. It’s a signal that something changed-for the worse.
The Timeline Matters
Donna Carey was board president during the 2024-25 school year. The ratings tied to that year reflect what happened under her leadership. She’s no longer president, but she held the top job when the school went south.
This matters because the board sets priorities. The board controls what gets resourced and what doesn’t. The board controls the budget and sets the pace. One person doesn’t control every classroom, but leadership does set the temperature.
When the temperature drops this fast, people notice.
Questions That Need Answers
Residents want to know:
- What specific decisions shifted between last year and this year?
- Who approved them?
- Did anyone push back? Did anyone speak up?
- What’s the plan to fix it-and how long will it take?
This isn’t about finding someone to blame. It’s about understanding what went wrong and what comes next. The board has been on record saying it puts kids first. So let’s see what that means when the data goes the other way.
The Other Conversation
There’s also a second thing people have noticed: while test scores were sliding, board meetings were consumed with internal politics and conflict. Board members squabbling with each other. Arguments over procedure. Online drama.
Nobody’s saying the board caused the rating drop directly. But when your leadership energy is split between academics and infighting, something has to give. Usually it’s the classroom.
That’s worth acknowledging.
What Happens Now
The board should be ready to explain this publicly-not in a closed-door meeting, not in a friendly email, but at a board meeting where parents can ask questions.
They should have specifics. What went wrong. Who’s responsible for the turnaround. How long it will take. What success looks like.
Because right now, it just looks like last year people said “kids first,” and this year the data says something else.