The New Jersey Department of Education today released its 2011-12 School Performance Report. It replaces the old School Report Card format and offers more data, including a score based on how well schools prepare students for college and careers.

Schools are now compared to 30 other schools that are supposed to have similar grade levels and similar percentages of students participating in free or reduced lunch, special education and English-language programs.

Critics have complained the “peer groups” aren't similar enough. Schools with more than 50 percent of English language learners are grouped with schools with none.