Average
#1891 of 2,466 schools in NJ
Herma S. Simmons Elementary School
Elementary School · Clayton Public School District · Clayton, NJ
A Clayton Public School District elementary school where students score 11 points below what's typical for similar communities.
300 WEST CHESTNUT STREET, Clayton, NJ 08312
- Math 25% vs NJ 47% (2025)
- Reading 36% vs NJ 50% (2025)
- 9.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Herma S. Simmons Elementary School score 31% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 42%).
2025 NJSLA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NJ average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 10 points since 2021, reaching 31% in 2025.
Show all 16 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 37% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 42% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 41 test records from NJ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
46.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Herma S. Simmons Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Philadelphia map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 35Car-Dependent
- Bike 38Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated892/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Clayton), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$88,448
Median home value
$248,000
Median rent
$1,204/mo
College educated
21.7%
Homeownership
73.3%
Poverty rate
7.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 08312; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Michael the Archangel Regional SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.3private | PK–8 | 0.9 mi | 194 | Compare → |
| Aura Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.8 | PK–6 | 2.9 mi | 347 | Compare → |
| Dorothy L. Bullock SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.8 | 1–5 | 3.8 mi | 719 | Compare → |
| J. Harvey Rodgers SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | PK–K | 4.2 mi | 240 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Clayton Public School District
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #2 of 3
- District spending per student
- $21,852NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 11.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Herma S. Simmons Elementary School is listed in Clayton Public School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Herma S. Simmons Elementary School
Herma S. Simmons Elementary School is a public elementary school in Clayton, NJ, part of Clayton Public School District, serving approximately 685 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 9.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 out of 10 and ranks #1,891 of 2,466 schools in NJ.
State assessment records show 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Herma S. Simmons Elementary School
What grades does Herma S. Simmons Elementary School serve?
Herma S. Simmons Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Herma S. Simmons Elementary School?
Herma S. Simmons Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 685 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Herma S. Simmons Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Herma S. Simmons Elementary School is 9.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Herma S. Simmons Elementary School rank in NJ?
Herma S. Simmons Elementary School ranks #1,891 of 2,466 schools in NJ.
What is Herma S. Simmons Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Herma S. Simmons Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.2 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 Herma S. Simmons Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Herma S. Simmons Elementary School has 37% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Herma S. Simmons Elementary School a charter school?
No, Herma S. Simmons Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Herma S. Simmons Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Herma S. Simmons Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Herma S. Simmons Elementary School?
46.4% of students at Herma S. Simmons Elementary 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 685
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 69
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Gloucester County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 2.5%
- Phone
- (856) 881-8704
- Area population (ZIP 08312)
- 8,395
- Area average commute
- 33 min
- Area median age
- 40.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NJSLA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 NJSLA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NJSLA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 NJSLA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 08312; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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