Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 08609

The zip code 08609 in New Jersey is home to three elementary schools: Patton J. Hill Elementary School, Carroll Robbins Elementary School, and Greenwood Elementary School. These schools serve predominantly low-income student populations within the Trenton Public School District and the Hamilton Township Public School District.

Based on the data, Greenwood Elementary School stands out as the top performer in the area. The school consistently outpaces the other two schools, as well as the district and state averages, on academic measures such as proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 31.4% of Greenwood's 3rd graders were proficient in ELA, compared to just 7.9% for the district and 44.9% statewide. In math, 30.1% of Greenwood's 3rd graders were proficient, compared to 12.4% for the district and 49.8% statewide.

In contrast, Patton J. Hill Elementary School and Carroll Robbins Elementary School have much lower proficiency rates, often in the single digits, well below the district and state averages. These schools also have higher chronic absenteeism rates and lower per-student spending, suggesting they may be struggling to provide a high-quality education to their students. The data highlights the importance of school-level factors beyond just demographics in driving student success and the need for further analysis to understand the root causes of the performance gaps between these schools.