Skip to main content

Very Good

#688 of 2,466 schools in NJ

Top 28% in state

Hillside Elementary School

Elementary School · Montclair Public School District

54 ORANGE RD, Montclair, NJ 07042

Enrollment

581

Student-Teacher

13.2:1

Score

7.4

Grades

3rd – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Jersey schools

#688 of 2,466

In Montclair

#6 of 8

public schools

In district

#8 of 11

Montclair Public School District

Equity

8.9 / 10

Excellent

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Hillside Elementary School?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Hillside Elementary School

7.4/10

Elementary School in Montclair · grades 3rd – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Immaculate Conception High School

6.9/10

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

Fusion Academy - Montclair

7.0/10

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

About Hillside Elementary School

Hillside Elementary School is a public elementary school in Montclair, NJ, part of Montclair Public School District. Hillside Elementary School serves approximately 581 students, and covers grades 3rd-5th, and has a 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Hillside Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #688 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

Structured state assessment records for Hillside Elementary School show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 7.4 · Very Good
  • District avg 7.4
  • NJ avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress6.5Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change+1.22 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendImproving
Academics8.7Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency69.3% (2025 NJSLA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency72.4% (2025 NJSLA)
Math vs. State Avg+21.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+28.5 pts
Overall Proficiency71% (2025 NJSLA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)61% (model expectation from 2025 NJSLA)
vs. Expected+9.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile81th
Resources & Environment7.9Very Good20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$26,943
Chronic Absenteeism6.9%

Hillside Elementary School — Students at Hillside Elementary School score 71% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

12.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 66.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.8% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 71.3% (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
82%
ELA
73%
2010
Math
86%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
82%
ELA
74%
2012
Math
86%
ELA
73%
2013
Math
88%
ELA
82%
2014
Math
58%
ELA
70%
2015
Math
56%
ELA
66%
2016
Math
53%
ELA
70%
2017
Math
54%
ELA
67%
2018
Math
60%
ELA
70%
2019
Math
60%
ELA
70%
2020*
Math
46%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
46%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
63%
ELA
73%
2024
Math
65.7%
ELA
73.5%
2025
Math
69.3%
ELA
72.4%

* 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: 6.5/10.

How Hillside Elementary School Compares

See how Hillside Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.4/10
72th percentile in NJ
Academic
8.7/10
Excellent
Growth
6.5/10
Average
Environment
7.9/10
Very Good
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
13%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
44 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
6.9%

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

54 ORANGE RD, Montclair, NJ 07042

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Hillside Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Brookdale Avenue School (rated 8.3/10, 1.1 miles away, in nearby Verona), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Watchung Elementary School (rated 8.1/10, 1.3 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Charles H. Bullock School (rated 7.7/10, 0.7 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Montclair, see our Montclair schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.7 mi
School Distance Rating
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION HIGH SCHOOL Montclair 0.4 mi 6.9
FUSION ACADEMY - MONTCLAIR Montclair 0.4 mi 7.0
Charles H. Bullock School Montclair 0.7 mi 7.7
Montclair High School Montclair 0.8 mi 5.0
SAWTELLE LEARNING CENTER Montclair 0.8 mi 7.2
Renaissance Middle School at the Rand Building Montclair 0.7 mi 8.1
THE MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY Montclair 0.9 mi 7.1
MONTCLAIR COOPERATIVE SCHOOL Montclair 0.8 mi 7.2
Glenfield Middle School Montclair 0.9 mi 8.6
Nishuane Elementary School Montclair 1.1 mi 7.1
Edgemont Elementary School Montclair 1.1 mi 7.4
Brookdale Avenue School Verona 1.1 mi 8.3
Laning Avenue School Verona 1.2 mi 7.4
Watchung Elementary School Montclair 1.3 mi 8.1
MOUNT CARMEL GUILD ACADEMY West Orange 1.5 mi 6.4
Glen Ridge High School Glen Ridge 1.4 mi 8.9
PLAYHOUSE COOP SCHOOL West Orange 1.7 mi
Ridgewood Avenue School Glen Ridge 1.5 mi 6.7
Edison Middle School W. Orange 1.8 mi 8.2
Linden Avenue School Glen Ridge 1.7 mi 5.6

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 07042 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$127,083

Median Home Value

$733,100

Median Rent

$2,017/mo

Population

27,173

College Educated

67.1%

Homeownership

50.3%

Avg Commute

33.4 min

Poverty Rate

8.5%

Median Age

38.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Chittick Elementary School East Brunswick, NJ 7.4
Franklin Borough School Franklin, NJ 7.4
Lanoka Harbor Elementary School Lanoka Harbor, NJ 7.4
Mendham Township Elementary School Brookside, NJ 7.4
Park Elementary School Newark, NJ 7.4
Roberto Clemente Elementary School Newark, NJ 7.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Hillside Elementary School

What grades does Hillside Elementary School serve?

Hillside Elementary School serves students in grades 3rd through 5th.

How many students attend Hillside Elementary School?

Hillside Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 581 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillside Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Hillside Elementary School is 13.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Hillside Elementary School rank in NJ?

Hillside Elementary School ranks #688 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is Hillside Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Hillside Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 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 Hillside Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Hillside Elementary School has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 71% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Hillside Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Hillside Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Hillside Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Hillside Elementary School?

12.7% of students at Hillside 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
95 Walker's Paradise
Bike Score
55 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
3rd – 5th
Enrollment
581
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Free/Reduced Lunch
12.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Essex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
6.9%

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 rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.