Plainfield Public School District
School District · Plainfield, New Jersey
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
14
9 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$25,788
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
Avg Rating
5.7
out of 10
Schools
14
9 elem, 2 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$25,788
Student-Teacher Ratio
16.8:1
Evaluating Plainfield Public School District?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Plainfield Public School District as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Frederic W. Cook Elementary School
Plainfield · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Emerson Community School
Plainfield · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Jefferson Elementary School
Plainfield · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
New Jersey rank
#314 of 398
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.7
below New Jersey avg
Per-pupil spending
$25,788
+$179 vs New Jersey median
District size
10,436 students
Much larger than New Jersey median
The short answer
Plainfield Public School District ranks #314 of 398 New Jersey districts by overall school rating. Plainfield Public School District's schools with real test data average 5.7/10 across 14 schools. Its top-rated schools are Frederic W. Cook Elementary School (7.8/10), Emerson Community School (7.6/10), and Jefferson Elementary School (7.0/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.8/10 despite 63% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Plainfield Public School District schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Plainfield Public School District
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (14 of 14). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frederic W. Cook Elementary School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Emerson Community School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Jefferson Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Hubbard Middle School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 5 | Dewitt D. Barlow Elementary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Plainfield Academy for the Arts & Advanced Studies | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Maxson Middle School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Clinton Elementary School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Cedarbrook Elementary School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | Washington Community School | 5.2 / 10 |
See all 14 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Plainfield Public School District
Plainfield Public School District is a Plainfield, New Jersey school district serving 14 schools. The district educates 10,436 students with a student-teacher ratio of 16.8:1. The district invests $25,788 per student annually.
With an average rating of 5.7/10, Plainfield Public School District demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Frederic W. Cook Elementary School, which has a composite score of 7.8/10.
In standardized testing, Plainfield Public School District students show an average math proficiency of 27.7% and ELA proficiency of 29.9%.
The district includes 9 elementary schools , 2 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Plainfield Public School District, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Plainfield Public School District with test data.
Schools in Plainfield Public School District
14 schools Elementary Schools 9
Middle Schools 2
District Details
- State
- New Jersey
- City
- Plainfield
- Total Enrollment
- 10,436
- Teachers (FTE)
- 620
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.2%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Plainfield Public School District?
Plainfield Public School District has 14 schools in total — 9 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Plainfield Public School District?
The average composite rating for Plainfield Public School District is 5.7/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Plainfield Public School District?
Plainfield Public School District spends $25,788 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Plainfield Public School District?
The average student-teacher ratio in Plainfield Public School District is 16.8:1.
What is the top-rated school in Plainfield Public School District?
Frederic W. Cook Elementary School is the highest-rated school in Plainfield Public School District with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What are the test scores in Plainfield Public School District?
Across schools in Plainfield Public School District with test data, the average math proficiency is 27.7% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 29.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Plainfield Public School District compare to other districts in New Jersey?
Plainfield Public School District has an average school rating of 5.7/10 across 14 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in New Jersey by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 5.7/10
- Math Proficiency
- 27.7%
- ELA Proficiency
- 29.9%
Resources
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in NJ
Compare Plainfield Public School District with neighboring districts in the state.
- Newark Public School District (64)
- Paterson Public School District (43)
- Jersey City Public Schools (39)
- Elizabeth Public Schools (37)
- Trenton Public School District (25)
- Woodbridge Township School District (24)
- Hamilton Township Public School District (23)
- East Orange School District (20)
- Cherry Hill School District (19)
- Clifton Public School District (19)
- Edison Township School District (19)
- Passaic City School District (19)
- Toms River Regional School District (18)
- Camden City School District (16)
- Middletown Township Public School District (16)
- Wayne Township Public School District (15)
- Old Bridge Township School District (14)
- Parsippany-troy Hills Township School District (14)
- Union City School District (14)
- Vineland Public School District (14)
- Bayonne School District (13)
- West Orange Public Schools (13)
- Brick Township Public School District (12)
- Howell Township Public School District (12)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New Jersey Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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