Summary:
The 08741 zip code has only one school, Pine Beach Elementary School, which serves grades K-5 and is part of the Toms River Regional School District. While the school has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, it has faced declining performance and rankings over the past three years, with academic achievement consistently below district and state averages.
Pine Beach Elementary's statewide ranking has dropped from 929 out of 1,347 elementary schools in 2024-2025 to 1,025 out of 1,342 in 2022-2023, and its SchoolDigger rating has also declined from 2 stars to 1 star. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is high at 14.9%, and a significant portion of its students, 42.19%, are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, which can be associated with socioeconomic challenges that impact academic performance.
While the low student-teacher ratio at Pine Beach Elementary could be a positive factor, it does not seem to be translating into stronger academic outcomes. The school's performance on NJSLA tests is generally below the district and state averages, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Addressing the root causes of the school's declining performance, high chronic absenteeism, and academic struggles should be a priority for the district and school leadership to improve the quality of education for students in the 08741 zip code.
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