3 Of Best K-8 Schools In Country Are In Bergen County, US News Says

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — U.S. News & World Report just released its 2024 Best Elementary and Middle School rankings, based on student proficiency scores in core subjects. The data was obtained from the U.S. Department of Education, they said.

Besides math and language arts achievement, U.S. News also crunched numbers on student backgrounds and student-teacher ratios.

Aside from creating national lists, they also listed the top 10 elementary schools and middle schools in each state.

On New Jersey's top 10 lists, one elementary school and two middle schools in Bergen County were listed among the best.

As far as elementary schools, Clara E. Coleman School, a K-5 school in Glen Rock, was listed 4th out of the top 10 public elementary schools in the state.

US News said: "At Clara E. Coleman School, 82 percent of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 77 percent scored at or above that level for reading.The school’s minority student enrollment is 31 percent. The student-teacher ratio is 13:1, which is worse than that of the district."

In New Jersey, the top 10 public elementary schools on the US News list are:

1. Lincoln-Hubbard Elementary School, Summit Public Schools
2. Glenwood School, Millburn Township Schools
3. Princeton Charter School
4. Clara E. Coleman School, Glen Rock Public Schools
5. Cornelia F. Bradford School, Jersey City Public Schools
6. South Mountain School, Millburn Township Schools
7. Forrestdale School, Rumson Borough Schools
8. Wyoming School, Millburn Township Schools
9. Deerfield School, Millburn Township Schools
10. Mount Prospect Elementary School, Bernards Township Schools

Middle School List

Cresskill Middle School in that town, and Emil A. Cavallini Middle School in Upper Saddle River, made the cut.

At Creskill, a 6-8 middle school, "65 percent of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 77 percent scored at or above that level for reading," said US News.

In Upper Saddle River, "At Emil A. Cavallini Middle School, 72 percent of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 72 percent scored at or above that level for reading."

The top 10 public middle schools in New Jersey are:

1. Princeton Charter School
2. School 28, Paterson Public Schools
3. Forrestdale School, Rumson Borough Schools
4. Infinity Institute, Jersey City Public Schools
5. Millburn Middle School, Millburn Township Schools
6. Thomas Edison Energysmart Charter School, Somerset
7. Mendham Township Middle School, Mendham Township Schools
8. Roosevelt Intermediate School, Westfield Public Schools
9. Cresskill Middle School, Cresskill Public Schools
10. Emil A. Cavallini Middle School, Upper Saddle River Schools

The U.S. News list includes data on more than 79,000 public elementary and middle schools nationwide.

LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News, said the state and district-level rankings are intended to give parents a snapshot of their child’s school and how well it’s doing within its community.

“Easily accessible data on student-teacher ratio, district spending, and the number of school counselors available at the school can keep parents informed and involved,” Jones said.

To be included in district-level rankings, at least two of the top performing schools must rank in the top 75 percent of the overall elementary or middle school rankings to qualify for district-level recognition.

Related article:

• NJ's Top 100 Public High Schools Ranked By U.S. News

Editor Michelle Rotuno-Johnson contributed reporting to this story.