Elementary Schools in Newark Public School District

The Newark Public School District in New Jersey contains 44 elementary schools serving grades pre-kindergarten through 8th, with student populations ranging from 35 to 1,236. The district as a whole is ranked 534 out of 609 districts in the state and is rated 1 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger.

A few schools stand out in the data, including Michelle Obama Elementary School, which ranked 264 out of 1,347 New Jersey elementary schools and earned a 4-star rating. This school had exceptional test scores, with 79.4% of 3rd graders, 76.9% of 4th graders, and 66.6% of 5th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, and 67.7% of 3rd graders, 92.3% of 4th graders, and 83.3% of 5th graders proficient or better in math. In contrast, Ivy Hill Elementary School ranked 881 out of 1,347 and earned a 2-star rating, with 41.2% of 3rd graders, 52.4% of 4th graders, and 55.3% of 5th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, and 27% of 3rd graders, 32.5% of 4th graders, and 17% of 5th graders proficient or better in math.

Overall, the data reveals significant performance gaps between the highest and lowest-performing schools in the district, which correlates with socioeconomic status as measured by free and reduced-price lunch rates. Chronic absenteeism is also a concern, with all schools having a rate of 14.9%. While many schools struggled, the data shows that high performance is possible within the Newark Public School District, and addressing the challenges of poverty and attendance could lead to improved outcomes for all students.