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Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School

Q: Is Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School a good school?

Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School ranks 501 st of 1347 New Jersey elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

501^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,347 New Jersey Elementary Schools

Better than 63% of New Jersey elementary schools

Summary

Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Wharton, New Jersey, serving grades K-5 with a student population of 309. It is part of the Rockaway Township School District, which is ranked 205 out of 609 districts in New Jersey and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Over the past 10 years, Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School has consistently ranked in the top 25-30% of New Jersey elementary schools, with a 4-star rating for most years. However, its ranking has declined in recent years, dropping to the top 40% in 2020-2021 and the top 50% in 2024-2025, with a 3-star rating. The school performs well for White students, ranking in the top 15-30% of New Jersey elementary schools for this subgroup, but its performance for Hispanic students and English Language Learners is more mixed, with rankings in the top 20-40% of schools. The school's performance for Special Education students is a standout, ranking in the top 10% of New Jersey elementary schools in 2023-2024 and 2022-2023.

In terms of test scores, the school's 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade proficiency rates in English Language Arts are generally above the state and district averages, with some fluctuations over the years. In Mathematics, the school's 3rd and 4th-grade proficiency rates are also above the state and district averages, but 5th-grade proficiency lags behind. The school's 5th-grade proficiency rates in Science are below the state and district averages. Additionally, the school's chronic absenteeism rate has increased from 4.1% in 2020-2021 to 16.6% in 2022-2023, which is a concerning trend. Compared to nearby schools, Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School generally outperforms Birchwood Elementary School and Marie V. Duffy Elementary School, but lags behind the higher-performing Katharine D Malone Elementary School and Stony Brook Elementary School, which are also part of the Rockaway Township School District.

346

Students ?

9.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,158

Per pupil spending ?

27.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

665 Mt Hope Avenue
Wharton, NJ 07885

(973) 361-7450

District: Rockaway Township School District

Students who attend Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Copeland Middle School
High:	Morris Knolls High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

52.3%

Hispanic:

37.6%

Asian:

4.9%

See top rated New Jersey elementary schools

Compare Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 74th percentile in 2015 → 63rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the New Jersey average (54% vs 46% meeting standards)

✓Above the New Jersey median (63rd percentile)

✓Small classes — about 10 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 11 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school54%

District avg59%

New Jersey avg46%

501^st of 1,347

New Jersey public elementary schools ?

Top 37%▼ down 11 pts since 2015

From top 26% (2015) to top 37% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of New Jersey Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 5Elementary Schools in the Rockaway Township School District

205^th of 609Rockaway Township School District among New Jersey districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	63.1	501 of 1347	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.6	386 of 1338	71.2%	★★★★☆
2023	81.1	254 of 1342	81.1%	★★★★☆
2022	77.4	326 of 1345	75.8%	★★★★☆
2021	55.0	529 of 1317	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	78.2	300 of 1360	77.9%	★★★★☆
2018	77.8	304 of 1353	77.5%	★★★★☆
2017	84.2	191 of 1352	85.9%	★★★★☆
2016	74.8	362 of 1346	73.1%	★★★★☆
2015	75.2	353 of 1357	74.0%	★★★★☆
2014	64.7	582 of 1363	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	75.6	359 of 1367	73.7%	★★★★☆
2012	68.8	523 of 1363	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	72.0	416 of 1360	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	78.9	241 of 1354	82.2%	★★★★☆
2009	80.3	197 of 1346	85.4%	★★★★☆
2008	77.0	269 of 1338	79.9%	★★★★☆
2007	68.9	496 of 1329	62.7%	★★★☆☆
2006	70.3	456 of 1314	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	66.8	535 of 1303	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2004	59.5	667 of 1298	48.6%	★★☆☆☆
2003	76.3	316 of 1204	73.8%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	56.4	200 of 597	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	32.9	368 of 559	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.2	190 of 499	61.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	11.4	481 of 489	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	60.8	516 of 1326	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.1	410 of 1317	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	78.3	280 of 1318	78.8%	★★★★☆
2022	82.4	232 of 1326	82.5%	★★★★☆
2021	49.6	596 of 1290	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	76.2	316 of 1331	76.3%	★★★★☆
2018	79.8	249 of 1333	81.3%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	54.3	404 of 1032	60.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.4	381 of 989	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.6	193 of 982	80.3%	★★★★☆
2022	55.2	354 of 953	62.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	23.4	766 of 896	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	56.7	340 of 899	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	76.5	149 of 870	82.9%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	49.7	479 of 1023	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	71.4	180 of 910	80.2%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	64.7	473 of 1318	64.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.9	343 of 1313	73.9%	★★★★☆
2023	81.4	243 of 1315	81.5%	★★★★☆
2022	73.0	352 of 1324	73.4%	★★★★☆
2021	60.3	443 of 1297	65.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	76.0	314 of 1335	76.5%	★★★★☆
2018	73.5	370 of 1334	72.3%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	38.7	550 of 1023	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	87.8	75 of 989	92.4%	★★★★★
2023	86.4	89 of 958	90.7%	★★★★★
2022	75.6	161 of 949	83.0%	★★★★☆
2021	62.0	234 of 868	73.0%	★★★★☆
2019	76.0	180 of 1007	82.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	68.9	288 of 970	70.3%	★★★★☆
2024	77.9	170 of 963	82.3%	★★★★☆
2023	82.0	130 of 975	86.7%	★★★★☆
2022	83.0	121 of 976	87.6%	★★★★☆
2021	47.0	484 of 964	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.0	248 of 1023	75.8%	★★★★☆
2018	73.8	238 of 1022	76.7%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

White (2025)70th percentile+8 vs school

English Language Learner (2025)66th percentile+4 vs school

Male (2025)64th percentile~ school

Female (2025)61st percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)61st percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)53rd percentile-10 vs school

Special Education (2025)46th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs New Jersey (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics60%+13 vs state

English Language Arts57%+7 vs state

Science29%~ state avg

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Sunday, September 8, 2019

Wonderful small school with a feeling of homeyness to it. Close Quote

Schools Near Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NJSLA-S Science (2025)	NJSLA English Language Arts (2025)				NJSLA Mathematics (2025)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NJSLA-S Science 5th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 4th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 5th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 6th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 3rd Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 4th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 5th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 6th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School	Public	K-5	665 Mt Hope Avenue	Wharton	07885	Morris County	Rockaway Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 361-7450	346	36	9.7	27.5%	181 (52.3%)	3 (0.9%)	130 (37.6%)	17 (4.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	14 (4.0%)	63.1	501^st of 1347 public elementary schools	62.8%		72.6	386^th of 1338 public elementary schools	71.2%	115	29.1	44.0	71.9	54.9		59.6	72.4	49.2		$16,158	$76	$16,082
Dennis B O'Brien Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	16 Mineral Spring Drive	Dover	07801	Morris County	Rockaway Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 361-7330	298	32	9.3	25.5%	117 (39.3%)	34 (11.4%)	91 (30.5%)	41 (13.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.7%)	59.5	546^th of 1347 public elementary schools	59.5%		57.9	569^th of 1338 public elementary schools	57.5%	23	25.8	45.7	80.6	62.9		47.2	61.1	48.3		$16,882	$60	$16,822
Stony Brook Elementary School	Public	K-5	44 Stony Brook Road	Rockaway	07866	Morris County	Rockaway Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 627-2411	365	40	9.2	7.1%	241 (66.0%)	5 (1.4%)	79 (21.6%)	13 (3.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (6.8%)	81.5	267^th of 1347 public elementary schools	80.2%		79.7	285^th of 1338 public elementary schools	78.7%	18	47.7	68.4	61.9	66.1		85.7	73.0	66.7		$15,515	$21	$15,494
Birchwood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1 Art Street	Dover	07801	Morris County	Rockaway Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 361-7080	314	31	10.1	21.0%	156 (49.7%)	10 (3.2%)	106 (33.8%)	23 (7.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.1%)	60.3	530^th of 1347 public elementary schools	60.7%		72.4	387^th of 1338 public elementary schools	71.1%	143	45.0	42.1	71.4	61.0		52.6	54.7	35.0		$15,674	$107	$15,567
North Dover Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	51 Highland Avenue	Dover	07801	Morris County	Dover Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 989-2020	640	61	10.5	75.0%	12 (1.9%)	14 (2.2%)	604 (94.4%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.8%)	14.7	1179^th of 1347 public elementary schools	12.5%		19.6	1082^nd of 1338 public elementary schools	19.1%	97	1.4	20.0	37.8	5.7	32.1	29.3	32.5	1.4	21.7	$5,024	$492	$4,532
East Dover Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	300 East McFarlan Street	Dover	07801	Morris County	Dover Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 989-2055	411	38	10.8	71.8%	11 (2.7%)	11 (2.7%)	388 (94.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	34.3	889^th of 1347 public elementary schools	34.0%		38	822^nd of 1338 public elementary schools	38.6%	67	26.4	7.4	27.4	60.6	51.7	11.1	25.8	41.2	38.9	$4,452	$577	$3,875
Lincoln Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	37 Keller Avenue	Rockaway	07866	Morris County	Rockaway Borough School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 625-8602	272	22	12.5	27.9%	126 (46.3%)	10 (3.7%)	108 (39.7%)	22 (8.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)	31.4	936^th of 1347 public elementary schools	30.5%		70.9	406^th of 1338 public elementary schools	69.7%	530		34.9				39.1				$8,637	$54	$8,583
Marie V. Duffy Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	137 East Central Avenue	Wharton	07885	Morris County	Wharton Borough School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 361-2506	434	49	8.8	54.8%	76 (17.5%)	8 (1.8%)	334 (77.0%)	14 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	38.3	838^th of 1347 public elementary schools	37.8%		41.7	773^rd of 1338 public elementary schools	42.2%	65	18.8	42.2	52.7	47.1		40.7	41.6	33.3		$10,879	$284	$10,595
Academy Street Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	14 Academy Street	Dover	07801	Morris County	Dover Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 989-2030	509	41	12.2	83.3%	20 (3.9%)	16 (3.1%)	468 (91.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (0.8%)	10.8	1239^th of 1347 public elementary schools	8.0%		14.6	1151^st of 1338 public elementary schools	14.0%	88	12.5	4.1	23.4	33.4	21.0	5.2	21.3	15.0	14.6	$4,572	$529	$4,043
Riverview Elementary School	Public	K-5	33 St Marys Place	Denville	07834	Morris County	Denville Township K-8 School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 983-6545	465	50	9.3	3.4%	365 (78.5%)	7 (1.5%)	39 (8.4%)	39 (8.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.0%)	82.1	248^th of 1347 public elementary schools	81.6%		84.1	218^th of 1338 public elementary schools	83.7%	30	51.2	69.5	66.2	77.9		75.6	60.3	61.6		$9,403	$18	$9,385

Frequently Asked Questions about Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School

What district is Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School in?

Rockaway Township School District

What is the racial makeup of Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School?

Students at Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School are 52% White, 38% Hispanic, 5% Asian, 4% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Copeland Middle School
High : Morris Knolls High School

How many students attend Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 346 students attended Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School.

Is Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School a good school?

Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School ranks 501^st of 1347 New Jersey elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Catherine A Dwyer Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.