Best Public Schools in Zip Code 08853

Summary:

The 08853 zip code in New Jersey is home to a single standout elementary school, Whiton Elementary School, which serves grades PK-3 and is part of the Branchburg Township School District. With a total enrollment of 627 students, Whiton Elementary has consistently ranked in the top 26% of New Jersey elementary schools over the past 3 years and maintains a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Whiton Elementary's academic performance is particularly impressive, with 54% of 3rd graders proficient or better in ELA and 71.6% proficient or better in Math, significantly higher than the state averages. The school also boasts a relatively low chronic absenteeism rate of 14.9% and spends $15,143 per student, which is higher than the state average. Additionally, Whiton Elementary has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 10.6, suggesting smaller class sizes and more individualized attention for students.

Overall, Whiton Elementary School appears to be a high-performing and well-resourced elementary school that is providing a quality education to its students. The school's consistent top-quartile rankings, strong academic results, and favorable resource allocation indicate that it is a model for other elementary schools in the state. While the relatively low free/reduced lunch rate of 7.02% suggests the school serves a relatively affluent student population, Whiton Elementary's success can be attributed to the Branchburg Township School District's investment in supporting student learning at the school.

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School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				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 English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 3rd Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Whiton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-3	470 Whiton Road	Neshanic Station	08853	Somerset County	Branchburg Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(908) 371-0842	617	67	9.2	13.1%	379 (61.4%)	28 (4.5%)	76 (12.3%)	97 (15.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (5.8%)	74.8	357^th of 1347 public elementary schools	73.5%		80.5	274^th of 1338 public elementary schools	79.5%	83	54.0	71.6	$15,143	$90	$15,053

Cities Near Zip Code 08853

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Hillsborough	2.3 mi	9	84^th
Neshanic Station	2.54 mi	1	156^th
Three Bridges	4.24 mi	1	80^th
Branchburg	4.53 mi	2	194^th
Bridgewater	4.71 mi	13	116^th

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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.