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#1378 of 2,466 schools in NJ

Central Avenue School

Elementary School · Madison Public School District

50 CENTRAL AVENUE, Madison, NJ 07940

Enrollment

498

Student-Teacher

10.2:1

Score

6.2

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Jersey schools

#1,378 of 2,466

In Madison

#4 of 5

public schools

In district

#4 of 5

Madison Public School District

Equity

9.1 / 10

Excellent

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Central Avenue School

6.2/10

Elementary School in Madison · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Vincent Martyr School

5.2/10

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

Madison Montessori School

Nearby

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

About Central Avenue School

Central Avenue School is a public elementary school in Madison, NJ, part of Madison Public School District. Central Avenue School serves approximately 498 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Central Avenue School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,378 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

Structured state assessment records for Central Avenue School show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.2 · Average
  • District avg 6.1
  • NJ avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.0Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-2.92 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency72.4% (2025 NJSLA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency77.9% (2025 NJSLA)
Math vs. State Avg+24.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+34 pts
Overall Proficiency75% (2025 NJSLA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)66% (model expectation from 2025 NJSLA)
vs. Expected+8.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment7.7Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$24,792
Chronic Absenteeism10.6%

Central Avenue School — Students at Central Avenue School score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

3.6%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 69.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.8% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 73.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
49.9% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 41 test records from NJ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2009
Math
88%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
89%
ELA
78%
2011
Math
87%
ELA
78%
2012
Math
85%
ELA
80%
2013
Math
81%
ELA
78%
2014
Math
48%
ELA
65%
2015
Math
53%
ELA
65%
2016
Math
59%
ELA
65%
2017
Math
60%
ELA
66%
2018
Math
63%
ELA
71%
2019
Math
63%
ELA
71%
2020*
Math
48%
ELA
60%
2021*
Math
48%
ELA
60%
2022
Math
68%
ELA
74%
2024
Math
75.9%
ELA
80.3%
2025
Math
72.4%
ELA
77.9%

* 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: 4.0/10.

How Central Avenue School Compares

See how Central Avenue School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.2/10
44th percentile in NJ
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
4.0/10
Below Average
Environment
7.7/10
Very Good

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
4%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
49 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
10.6%

Location

50 CENTRAL AVENUE, Madison, NJ 07940

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Central Avenue School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Briarwood School (rated 7.1/10, 1.9 miles away, in nearby Florham Park), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Lafayette Avenue School (rated 6.8/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby Chatham), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Brooklake School (rated 6.5/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby Florham Park), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Madison, see our Madison schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.0 mi
School Distance Rating
ST VINCENT MARTYR SCHOOL Madison 0.3 mi 5.2
MADISON MONTESSORI SCHOOL Madison 0.4 mi
RAINBOW MONTESSORI Madison 0.3 mi
Madison Junior School Madison 0.4 mi 8.7
Madison High School Madison 0.7 mi 7.4
Kings Road School Madison 1.0 mi 5.8
Torey J. Sabatini School Madison 0.9 mi 6.3
Ridgedale Middle School Florham Park 1.3 mi 6.4
CHATHAM DAY SCHOOL Chatham 1.4 mi 6.4
Chatham Middle School Chatham 1.6 mi 7.5
THE MONTESSORI CHILDRENS ACADEMY Florham Park 1.8 mi
MAGIC KINGDOM DAY NURSERY Florham Park 1.5 mi
Southern Boulevard School Chatham 2.1 mi 5.5
ACADEMY OF SAINT ELIZABETH Convent Station 1.9 mi 6.2
Chatham High School Chatham 2.2 mi 6.3
Lafayette Avenue School Chatham 2.2 mi 6.8
Briarwood School Florham Park 1.9 mi 7.1
Washington Avenue School Chatham 2.1 mi 5.2
THE MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S ACADEMY OF CHATHAM Chatham 2.1 mi
Brooklake School Florham Park 2.0 mi 6.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 07940 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$168,520

Median Home Value

$883,200

Median Rent

$2,248/mo

Population

17,675

College Educated

70.7%

Homeownership

64.2%

Avg Commute

26.3 min

Poverty Rate

2.8%

Median Age

35.2

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bee Meadow School Whippany, NJ 6.2
Beverly City School District Beverly, NJ 6.2
Clinton Elementary School Plainfield, NJ 6.2
Delran Intermediate School Delran, NJ 6.2
Dr. Charles P. DeFuccio School Jersey City, NJ 6.2
Francis A. Desmares Elementary School Flemington, NJ 6.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Central Avenue School

What grades does Central Avenue School serve?

Central Avenue School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Central Avenue School?

Central Avenue School has an enrollment of approximately 498 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Central Avenue School?

The student-teacher ratio at Central Avenue School is 10.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Central Avenue School rank in NJ?

Central Avenue School ranks #1,378 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is Central Avenue School's MySchoolScout rating?

Central Avenue School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.2 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 Central Avenue School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Central Avenue School has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 73% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Central Avenue School a charter school?

No, Central Avenue School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Central Avenue School a Title I school?

No, Central Avenue School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Central Avenue School?

3.6% of students at Central Avenue School 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
90 Walker's Paradise
Bike Score
53 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
498
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
49
Free/Reduced Lunch
3.6%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Morris County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
10.6%

District

Madison Public School District
District Enrollment
2,485
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$24,792
District Rank
#4 of 5

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