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Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School

Q: Is Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School a good school?

Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School ranks 834 th of 1331 New Jersey elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 3-4

834^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,331 New Jersey Elementary Schools

Better than 37% of New Jersey elementary schools

Summary

Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School serves 524 students in grades 3–4 in Barnegat, NJ. Its 2025–2026 test results were below state rates in both grades and subjects, though slightly above reported district rates. The clearest concern is grade 3: Donahue ranked fifth of six nearby schools in both ELA and math.

Grade 3 proficiency was 43% in ELA and 38% in math, about 5 and 11 points below state rates. Grade 4 was more competitive with nearby schools: its 43% math rate was third of six and about 6 points above the nearby-school average; its 39% ELA rate also ranked third, near the local average. Both grade 4 results remained below state rates, by 4 points in math and 7 in ELA. Donahue was just above the Barnegat Township School District in all four grade-and-subject comparisons.

Scores have improved from last year but remain below earlier levels: the average of grades 3 and 4 fell about 11 points in ELA and 8 in math between 2022–2023 and 2025–2026. SchoolDigger rated Donahue at the 37th percentile and 2 stars in 2025–2026, up 5 percentile points from the prior year but below its recent high of 56. Its 2024–2025 student-teacher ratio was 11.9, lower than the nearby-school average of 12.9. The school’s free/reduced lunch eligible share was 50% in 2024–2025, the highest among nearby schools. SchoolDigger’s statewide ranking for how well the school serves Hispanic students fell to the 29th percentile in 2025–2026, from the 62nd percentile two years earlier.

524

Students ?

11.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,265

Per pupil spending ?

49.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

200 Bengal Blvd
Barnegat, NJ 08005

(609) 660-8900

District: Barnegat Township School District

Students who attend Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Robert L. Horbelt Elementary School
	Russell O. Brackman Middle School
High:	Barnegat High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

60.1%

Hispanic:

21.4%

African American:

9.4%

See top rated New Jersey elementary schools

Compare Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 56th percentile in 2023 → 37th in 2026

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the New Jersey average (41% vs 48% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped from its 56th-percentile peak (2023) to 37th (2026)

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school41%

District avg41%

New Jersey avg48%

834^th of 1,331

New Jersey public elementary schools ?

Bottom 37%▲ up 16 pts since 2016

From bottom 21% (2016) to bottom 37% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of New Jersey Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

429^th of 607Barnegat 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
2026	37.7	834 of 1331	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	32.5	920 of 1347	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.9	667 of 1338	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.7	590 of 1342	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	50.2	665 of 1345	50.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	43.0	692 of 1317	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.0	786 of 1360	42.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.3	990 of 1353	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	33.4	936 of 1352	30.8%	★★☆☆☆
2016	24.8	1058 of 1346	21.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	31.7	956 of 1357	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	49.7	817 of 1363	40.1%	★★☆☆☆
2013	53.9	755 of 1367	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2012	64.0	613 of 1363	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.0	558 of 1360	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2010	58.7	683 of 1354	49.6%	★★☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	61.5	135 of 434	68.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.0	190 of 463	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.2	93 of 469	80.2%	★★★★☆
2023	65.5	126 of 463	72.8%	★★★★☆
2022	35.9	326 of 494	34.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	55.6	154 of 456	66.2%	★★★☆☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	27.1	446 of 581	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	36.7	354 of 597	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.9	326 of 559	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	56.5	162 of 499	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	69.5	103 of 489	78.9%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	37.0	837 of 1311	36.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	35.2	855 of 1326	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	49.5	654 of 1317	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.7	529 of 1318	59.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	48.7	669 of 1326	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	38.3	754 of 1290	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.9	686 of 1331	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.6	938 of 1333	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	33.0	708 of 991	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	35.6	661 of 1032	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.5	379 of 989	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	74.1	200 of 982	79.6%	★★★★☆
2022	68.3	237 of 953	75.1%	★★★★☆
2021	49.5	384 of 896	57.1%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	46.4	528 of 1002	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	41.1	625 of 1023	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	63.9	251 of 939	73.3%	★★★★☆
2023	65.7	228 of 910	74.9%	★★★★☆
2022	65.2	224 of 863	74.0%	★★★★☆
2021	56.1	274 of 839	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.8	301 of 948	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	19.1	844 of 942	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	40.0	793 of 1306	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	30.7	901 of 1318	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.6	635 of 1313	51.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	53.2	607 of 1315	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	51.8	621 of 1324	53.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	49.1	588 of 1297	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	41.1	810 of 1335	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.7	926 of 1334	30.6%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	11.9	71 of 78	9.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	46.8	442 of 970	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	29.0	694 of 1023	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2024	47.3	436 of 989	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.0	526 of 958	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	41.4	475 of 949	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	31.0	564 of 868	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	26.4	713 of 1007	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.9	829 of 1001	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2026	27.1	746 of 951	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	22.0	798 of 970	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	35.9	644 of 963	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.8	575 of 975	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.0	673 of 976	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.1	656 of 964	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	32.5	734 of 1023	28.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	22.5	847 of 1022	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆

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)

African American (2026)69th percentile+32 vs school

Special Education (2026)54th percentile+17 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)47th percentile+10 vs school

Male (2026)39th percentile~ school

Female (2026)36th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2026)29th percentile-9 vs school

English Language Learner (2026)23rd percentile-14 vs school

White (2026)22nd percentile-16 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)9th percentile-28 vs school

By subject vs New Jersey (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts41%-6 vs state

Mathematics41%-7 vs state

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, January 6, 2017

This school is beyond great for my two children. The teachers definitely care and go that extra mile when my children need any help. I couldn't be more happier with results. Close Quote

Schools Near Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				NJSLA-S Science (2026)	NJSLA English Language Arts (2026)				NJSLA Mathematics (2026)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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
Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School	Public	3-4	200 Bengal Blvd	Barnegat	08005	Ocean County	Barnegat Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(609) 660-8900	524	44	11.9	49.6%	315 (60.1%)	49 (9.4%)	112 (21.4%)	13 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	33 (6.3%)	37.7	834^th of 1331 public elementary schools	37.3%		32.5	920^th of 1347 public elementary schools	31.7%	86		42.7	39.1			38.4	43.1			$9,265	$625	$8,640
Cecil S. Collins Elementary	Public	K-2	570 Barnegat Blvd North	Barnegat	08005	Ocean County	Barnegat Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(609) 698-5832	744	61	12.1	48.1%	464 (62.4%)	57 (7.7%)	170 (22.8%)	10 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	42 (5.6%)								(n/a)										$8,757	$440	$8,317
Frederic A. Priff Elementary School	Public	3-6	139 Wells Mill Road	Waretown	08758	Ocean County	Ocean Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(609) 693-3131	241	15	16.1	44.4%	181 (75.1%)	5 (2.1%)	36 (14.9%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.2%)	35.6	859^th of 1331 public elementary schools	35.5%		36	871^st of 1347 public elementary schools	35.3%	12	30.3	45.9	30.2	48.3	53.2	29.5	11.3	32.2	31.1	$12,508	$1,176	$11,332
Waretown Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	64 Railroad Avenue	Waretown	08758	Ocean County	Ocean Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(609) 693-3131	317	22	14.6	38.2%	246 (77.6%)	8 (2.5%)	48 (15.1%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.8%)								(n/a)										$16,652	$1,221	$15,431
Ocean Acres Elementary School	Public	1-2	489 Nautilus Drive	Manahawkin	08050	Ocean County	Stafford Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(609) 978-5700	747	58	12.9	27.2%	603 (80.7%)	9 (1.2%)	111 (14.9%)	6 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	17 (2.3%)								(n/a)										$8,405	$863	$7,542
Forked River Elementary School	Public	1-5	110 Lacey Road	Forked River	08731	Ocean County	Lacey Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(609) 971-2080	479	36	13.3	43.2%	367 (76.6%)	9 (1.9%)	75 (15.7%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (5.2%)	40.9	788^th of 1331 public elementary schools	40.8%		34.7	885^th of 1347 public elementary schools	34.3%	97	16.5	57.4	38.4	44.5		52.0	35.5	41.2		$16,732	$504	$16,228
Ronald L. Meinders Primary Learning Center	Public	PK-K	1000 McKinley Avenue	Manahawkin	08050	Ocean County	Stafford Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(609) 978-5700	332	26	12.7	25.0%	265 (79.8%)	3 (0.9%)	50 (15.1%)	6 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.4%)								(n/a)										$10,348	$424	$9,924
McKinley Avenue Elementary School	Public	3-4	1000 McKinley Avenue	Manahawkin	08050	Ocean County	Stafford Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(609) 978-5700	630	50	12.6	29.7%	491 (77.9%)	13 (2.1%)	106 (16.8%)	6 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (2.1%)	48.9	680^th of 1331 public elementary schools	48.9%		51.4	663^rd of 1347 public elementary schools	50.8%	17		45.3	47.6			47.5	47.5			$9,107	$358	$8,749
Mill Pond Elementary School	Public	PK-K	210 Western Blvd	Lanoka Harbor	08734	Ocean County	Lacey Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(609) 971-2070	599	53	11.3	28.2%	487 (81.3%)	7 (1.2%)	70 (11.7%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	28 (4.7%)								(n/a)										$15,283	$172	$15,111
Cedar Creek Elementary School	Public	1-5	220 Western Blvd	Lanoka Harbor	08734	Ocean County	Lacey Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(609) 971-5850	432	38	11.2	26.9%	355 (82.2%)	6 (1.4%)	41 (9.5%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (5.6%)	35.9	854^th of 1331 public elementary schools	35.8%		48.8	699^th of 1347 public elementary schools	48.1%	155	9.6	53.6	39.0	40.9		51.8	35.4	28.9		$19,370	$554	$18,816

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