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#1839 of 2,466 schools in NJ

Benjamin Banneker Academy

Elementary School · East Orange School District

500 South Clinton Street, East Orange, NJ 07018

Enrollment

487

Student-Teacher

13.9:1

Score

5.3

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Jersey schools

#1,839 of 2,466

In East Orange

#15 of 22

public schools

In district

#14 of 20

East Orange School District

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Benjamin Banneker Academy

5.3/10

Elementary School in East Orange · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Joseph Elementary School

5.3/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Langston Hughes Elementary School

6.2/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Benjamin Banneker Academy

Benjamin Banneker Academy is a public elementary school in East Orange, NJ, part of East Orange School District. Benjamin Banneker Academy serves approximately 487 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Benjamin Banneker Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,839 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

Structured state assessment records for Benjamin Banneker Academy show 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.0 pts below district
  • This school 5.3 · Average
  • District avg 6.3
  • NJ avg 6.5

What Parents Should Know

Test scores at Benjamin Banneker Academy sit below average, but its growth scores are strong: students here make above-average progress year over year. The raw numbers haven't caught up, but a school that keeps moving kids forward is doing the harder, more important work.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.6Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change+1.28 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendImproving
Academics4.2Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency15.4% (2025 NJSLA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency40.1% (2025 NJSLA)
Math vs. State Avg-32.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-3.8 pts
Overall Proficiency28% (2025 NJSLA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)34% (model expectation from 2025 NJSLA)
vs. Expected-6.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile23th
Resources & Environment3.8Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$32,491
Chronic Absenteeism27.9%

Benjamin Banneker Academy — Students at Benjamin Banneker Academy score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 34%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

59.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 29.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
39.0% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 45.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.6% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 53 test records from NJ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
87%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
89%
ELA
64%
2011
Math
71%
ELA
54%
2012
Math
75%
ELA
61%
2013
Math
62%
ELA
62%
2014
Math
32%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
32%
ELA
47%
2016
Math
26%
ELA
50%
2017
Math
30%
ELA
52%
2018
Math
29%
ELA
43%
2019
Math
29%
ELA
43%
2020*
Math
3%
ELA
27%
2021*
Math
3%
ELA
27%
2022
Math
17%
ELA
42%
2024
Math
12.6%
ELA
40.4%
2025
Math
15.4%
ELA
40.2%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 6.6/10.

How Benjamin Banneker Academy Compares

See how Benjamin Banneker Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.3/10
26th percentile in NJ
Academic
4.2/10
Below Average
Growth
6.6/10
Average
Environment
3.8/10
Needs Improvement
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
60%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
35 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
27.9%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

500 South Clinton Street, East Orange, NJ 07018

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Benjamin Banneker Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Ivy Hill Elementary School (rated 8.1/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Newark), which scores notably higher. Another option is Speedway Avenue School (rated 7.4/10, 0.5 miles away, in nearby Newark), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Dionne Warwick Institute (rated 7.1/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in East Orange, see our East Orange schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.2 mi
School Distance Rating
ST JOSEPH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL East Orange 0.2 mi 5.3
Langston Hughes Elementary School East Orange 0.3 mi 6.2
Pride Academy Charter School East Orange 0.4 mi 3.4
Speedway Avenue School Newark 0.5 mi 7.4
ZADIE'S EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER East Orange 0.7 mi
Ecole Toussaint Louverture East Orange 0.7 mi 6.5
Lincoln Elementary School Newark 0.7 mi 5.0
Fourteenth Avenue School Newark 0.7 mi 4.1
University Elementary School Irvington 1.0 mi 5.3
University Middle School Irvington 1.0 mi 5.0
Grove Street Elementary School Irvington 1.0 mi 5.7
Oakwood Avenue Community School Orange 1.1 mi 6.5
Newark Sch of Data Science and Information Technology Newark 1.1 mi 5.2
Ivy Hill Elementary School Newark 1.1 mi 8.1
Madison Avenue Irvington 1.2 mi 4.9
Dionne Warwick Institute East Orange 1.0 mi 7.1
Berkeley Terrace Elementary School Irvington 1.3 mi 5.9
Burch Charter School of Excellence Irvington 1.3 mi 4.6
Cicely L. Tyson Community Elementary School East Orange 1.2 mi 6.7
Cicely L. Tyson Community Middle/High School East Orange 1.2 mi 7.0

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 07018 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$59,039

Median Home Value

$314,100

Median Rent

$1,410/mo

Population

28,261

College Educated

24.5%

Homeownership

22.3%

Avg Commute

32.2 min

Poverty Rate

18.1%

Median Age

38.4

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Adlai E. Stevenson School Fairfield, NJ 5.3
Barley Sheaf Elementary School Flemington, NJ 5.3
Bradley Elementary School Asbury Park, NJ 5.3
Cedar Creek Elementary School Lanoka Harbor, NJ 5.3
Chaplain Charles Watters School Jersey City, NJ 5.3
Constable Elementary School Kendall Park, NJ 5.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Benjamin Banneker Academy

What grades does Benjamin Banneker Academy serve?

Benjamin Banneker Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Benjamin Banneker Academy?

Benjamin Banneker Academy has an enrollment of approximately 487 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Banneker Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Banneker Academy is 13.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Benjamin Banneker Academy rank in NJ?

Benjamin Banneker Academy ranks #1,839 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is Benjamin Banneker Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Benjamin Banneker Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Benjamin Banneker Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Benjamin Banneker Academy has 29% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Benjamin Banneker Academy a charter school?

No, Benjamin Banneker Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Benjamin Banneker Academy a Title I school?

No, Benjamin Banneker Academy is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Benjamin Banneker Academy?

59.8% of students at Benjamin Banneker Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
79 Very Walkable
Transit Score
53 Good Transit
Bike Score
50 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
487
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
35
Free/Reduced Lunch
59.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Essex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.9%

How we rate schools

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