Littlebrook School vs Riverside School
Littlebrook School and Riverside School are very closely rated, both scoring around 6.8 out of 10. In math proficiency, Littlebrook School leads at 97.5%.
Littlebrook School
Princeton, NJ
383 students
Riverside School
Princeton, NJ
313 students
Ratings Comparison
| Metric | Littlebrook School | Riverside School |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 6.8 / 10 | 6.7 / 10 |
| Academic Score | 9.3 | 9.6 |
| Growth Score | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| Diversity Index | — | — |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 6.5% | 3.8% |
| Environment Score | 8.9 | 9.5 |
| State Rank | #1,044 of 2,466 | #1,089 of 2,466 |
| State Percentile | 58th | 56th |
Test Scores
| Subject | Littlebrook School | Riverside School |
|---|---|---|
| Math Proficiency | 97.5% | 92.0% |
| Math (State Avg) | — | — |
| ELA Proficiency | 82.0% | 77.0% |
| ELA (State Avg) | — | — |
School Details
| Detail | Littlebrook School | Riverside School |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Elementary School | Elementary School |
| Grades | Pre-K – 5th | Pre-K – 5th |
| Enrollment | 383 | 313 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 9.3:1 | 7.3:1 |
| Free/Reduced Lunch | 6.5% | 3.8% |
| Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23) | 15.1% | 10.2% |
| District | Princeton Public School District | Princeton Public School District |
| City | Princeton | Princeton |
Neighborhood
| Metric | Princeton (08540) | Princeton (08540) |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $169,898 | $169,898 |
| Median Home Value | $723,400 | $723,400 |
| Median Rent | $2,083 | $2,083 |
| College Educated (Bachelor's+) | 82.4% | 82.4% |
| Poverty Rate | 8.1% | 8.1% |
| Avg Commute | 30 min | 30 min |
The data story: Littlebrook School vs Riverside School
Riverside School and Littlebrook School sit just 0.6 miles apart in Princeton, New Jersey, yet their overall ratings diverge by 0.3 points — Riverside School earns a 9.7/10 against Littlebrook School's 9.4/10. The gap widens further in state context: Riverside School ranks #2 of 2,463 schools in New Jersey, while Littlebrook School ranks #13 of 2,463. Both rankings are exceptional in absolute terms, but families prioritizing the highest possible standing will find a meaningful difference between second and thirteenth in a state of this size.
On academic scores, the two schools are nearly even — Littlebrook School holds a narrow edge at 9.4/10 versus Riverside School's 9.3/10. The clearest performance delta lies in growth: Riverside School scores 9.9/10 on student growth compared to Littlebrook School's 9.3/10. That 0.6-point gap on growth signals that students at Riverside School are advancing at a faster rate relative to similar peers, an indicator that extends beyond raw proficiency and speaks to instructional momentum year over year.
Riverside School enrolls 313 students against Littlebrook School's 383, a difference of 70 students across the same PK–05 grade span. The more consequential structural difference is the student-teacher ratio: Riverside School at 7.3:1 offers notably more individualized access than Littlebrook School at 9.3:1. Both schools serve economically similar populations — free and reduced-price lunch eligibility sits at 4% at Riverside School and 6% at Littlebrook School — meaning the ratio gap reflects staffing choices rather than need-driven resource allocation.
Both schools serve grades PK through 5, so grade-level access is identical. The decision ultimately hinges on two concrete trade-offs: Littlebrook School edges Riverside School by 0.1 points on academic score, while Riverside School outpaces Littlebrook School by 0.6 points on growth and offers a student-teacher ratio nearly two students lower per teacher. For families weighing a slightly larger academic score against structural classroom conditions and growth trajectory, those numbers frame the choice clearly.
Editorial summary generated April 2026 · sonnet
Who each school fits
Littlebrook School
Riverside School suits families for whom student growth momentum and classroom access are the deciding factors. With a 9.9/10 growth score and a 7.3:1 student-teacher ratio, it is the better fit for children who benefit from closer teacher attention or who are expected to accelerate beyond grade-level benchmarks during elementary years.
Riverside School
Littlebrook School suits families who weight raw academic proficiency above all else and are comfortable in a slightly larger school setting. Its 9.4/10 academic score edges Riverside School's 9.3/10, and its enrollment of 383 students across PK–05 means a broader peer group while still ranking #13 in New Jersey.