Brookdale Avenue Elementary School has been recognized as one of the highest-performing schools in New Jersey by the state Department of Education, officials said.

Brookdale was named as a Reward School by the state and is one of only 112 schools to receive the recognition this year.

"We are proud of Brookdale making the list," Superintendent Steven Forte said Monday. "It is an accomplishment to be proud of."

The Verona elementary school was recognized as a High Growth school. The rankings are determined by analyzing data from the 2008-11 school years, including NJASK, HSPA and APA exams.

High Performing Reward Schools are the highest performing in the state in terms of schoolwide proficiency and graduation rates. High Growth Reward Schools have high levels of student growth during the past three years.  

The school was one of 10 schools in Essex County to get the award. The other eight schools were: 

• Deerfield Elementary School in Millburn, classified as High Performance
• Glenwood Elementary School in Millburn, classified as High Growth
• Essex City Vocational School in Bloomfield, classified as High Performance
• Essex Fells Elementary School, of Essex Fells Borough, classified as High Performance
• Collins Elementary School, of Livingston, classified as High Performance
• Watchung Elementary School of Montclair, classified as High Performance
• Science Park High School, of Newark, classified as High Performance
• American History High, of Newark, classified as High Performance
• Gould Mountain Elementary School of North Caldwell, classified as High Performance