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Very Good

#134 of 535 private schools in NJ

Top 25% of private schools

Garden Academy

School

627 MOUNT PLEASANT AVE, West Orange, NJ 07052

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on NJ statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

30

Student-Teacher

5:1

Score

7.1

Grades

Pre-K – 11th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

In West Orange

#3 of 5

public schools

New Jersey schools

#48 of 128

About Garden Academy

Garden Academy is a regular public school located in West Orange, Essex County, New Jersey. Serving students from pre-kindergarten through 11th grade, the school has a small but tight-knit community with just 30 enrolled students and a student-teacher ratio of 5:1, ensuring individualized attention. With six full-time equivalent teachers, Garden Academy offers a nurturing environment focused on each child's unique needs.

While academic performance data is not available, the MySchoolScout rating reflects that there may be room for growth in certain areas. The school’s state ranking at #231 out of 535 schools indicates it has much potential to improve and excel further. Garden Academy is situated in a large suburban area, offering students easy access to local amenities and resources while maintaining the supportive atmosphere characteristic of smaller institutions.

Garden Academy thrives within its welcoming community setting, fostering an environment where every student can feel seen, supported, and encouraged to grow both academically and personally.

What Parents Should Know

With an enrollment of 30 students, Garden Academy is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

With a student-teacher ratio of 5:1, Garden Academy offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Garden Academy operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$152,069
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$152,591
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.00x — Stable
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
100%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$3.1M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 30 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Garden Academy compares to 5 public schools serving similar grades in West Orange, NJ

Student-Teacher Ratio
5:1
This School
vs
10.2:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
30
This School
vs
643
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
7.1
This School
vs
8.0
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 70% vs 0%
Hispanic 10% vs 0%
Black 6.7% vs 0%
Asian 6.7% vs 0%
Garden Academy West Orange Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Garden Academy (this school) 7.1
Mount Pleasant Elementary School 8.0
Liberty Middle School 8.3
West Orange High School 7.9
Betty Maddalena Early Learning Center 7.6
West Orange Early Childhood Learning Center

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in NJ.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.4 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 5:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.0 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 6 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,284
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 7.1 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 49%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
D 1.4 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 30
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in NJ

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 70.0%
Hispanic 10.0%
Black 6.7%
Asian 6.7%
Pacific Islander 3.3%
Two or More 3.3%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

627 MOUNT PLEASANT AVE, West Orange, NJ 07052

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Garden Academy may also want to explore other schools in the area. Essex Fells Elementary School (rated 9.2/10, 2.6 miles away, in nearby Essex Fells), which scores notably higher. Another option is Gregory Elementary School (rated 8.7/10, 2.2 miles away, in nearby W. Orange), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Harrison Elementary School (rated 8.6/10, 1.8 miles away, in nearby Livingston), which scores notably higher. For more schools in West Orange, see our West Orange schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
Mount Pleasant Elementary School West Orange 0.1 mi 8.0
Liberty Middle School West Orange 0.3 mi 8.3
GOLDA OCH ACADEMY West Orange 1.3 mi 7.4
St. Cloud Elementary School W. Orange 1.5 mi 8.5
Mount Pleasant Middle School Livingston 1.2 mi 8.1
Mount Pleasant Elementary School Livingston 1.2 mi 7.7
Kelly Elementary School W. Orange 1.4 mi 7.7
West Orange High School West Orange 1.5 mi 7.9
FEDCAP - 4T Orange 1.6 mi 6.9
Betty Maddalena Early Learning Center West Orange 1.8 mi 7.6
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER METROWEST ROSS CAMPUS West Orange 1.9 mi
JUMP EMMERSION SCHOOL Livingston 1.6 mi
THE ARC OF ESSEX COUNTY'S STEPPING STONES SCHOOL Roseland 2.0 mi
Roosevelt Middle School W. Orange 2.0 mi 7.8
Harrison Elementary School Livingston 1.8 mi 8.6
GOLDA OCH ACADEMY West Orange 1.9 mi 7.7
Collins Elementary School Livingston 1.9 mi 8.1
Gregory Elementary School W. Orange 2.2 mi 8.7
Redwood Elementary School W. Orange 2.1 mi 7.8
Essex Fells Elementary School Essex Fells 2.6 mi 9.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 07052 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$131,456

Median Home Value

$527,200

Median Rent

$1,791/mo

Population

48,323

College Educated

53%

Homeownership

70.2%

Avg Commute

36.5 min

Poverty Rate

7.2%

Median Age

41.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Garden Academy has a median household income of $131,456. It is a well-educated community where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $527,200, with a median rent of $1,791/month. The local poverty rate of 7.2% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 37 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
ALPINE LEARNING GROUP Paramus, NJ 7.0
REED ACADEMY Oakland, NJ 7.0
EPIC SCHOOL Paramus Borough, NJ 7.2
DAVID GREGORY SCHOOL Paramus, NJ 6.9
COLLEGIATE SCHOOL Passaic, NJ 6.8
THE GRAMON SCHOOL Fairfield, NJ 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Garden Academy

What grades does Garden Academy serve?

Garden Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 11th.

How many students attend Garden Academy?

Garden Academy has an enrollment of approximately 30 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Garden Academy?

The student-teacher ratio at Garden Academy is 5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Garden Academy rank in NJ?

Garden Academy is ranked #134 out of 535 private schools in NJ.

What is Garden Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Garden Academy has a composite rating of 7.1 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Garden Academy a private school?

Yes, Garden Academy is a private coeducational school with a Nonsectarian affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Garden Academy a religious school?

No, Garden Academy is a nonsectarian (non-religious) private school.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
19 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
12 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,558/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (West Orange). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 11th
Enrollment
30
Gender Split
77% M / 23% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
5:1
Teachers (FTE)
6
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Nonsectarian
School Day
6 hours
Days Per Year
214 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
ESSEX
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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