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Excellent

#105 of 2,463 schools in NJ

Top 4% in state

Joseph J Catena School

Elementary School · Freehold Township School District

275 BURLINGTON ROAD, Freehold, NJ 07728

Enrollment

426

Student-Teacher

9.7:1

Score

8.7

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Freehold

#2 of 13

public schools

New Jersey elementary schools

#67 of 1,496

In district

#1 of 8

Freehold Township School District

Academic growth

9.5 / 10

Exceptional

About Joseph J Catena School

Joseph J Catena School is a public elementary school in Freehold, NJ, part of the Freehold Township School District. The school serves approximately 426 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 9.7:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.7/10, placing it in the 95.8th percentile among NJ schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 55% proficiency in math, 10 points above the state average and 60% in reading/language arts, 11 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (9.5/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $107,042, where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large suburban setting.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.7:1, Joseph J Catena School 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.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.5Exceptional50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+1.48 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendImproving
Academics7.8Very Good30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency58%
Reading/ELA Proficiency61%
Math vs. State Avg+10.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+17.1 pts
Overall Proficiency60%
Expected (poverty-adj.)58%
vs. Expected+1.4 pts
Adjusted Percentile67th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment8.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$26,031

Joseph J Catena School — Students at Joseph J Catena School score 60% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

11%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 55.0%
School
State
44.6%
ELA Proficiency 60.0%
School
State
49.3%

Based on 13 test records from NJ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
57%
ELA
55%
2021*
Math
37%
ELA
51%
2022
Math
58%
ELA
61%
2024
Math
59.3%
ELA
64.3%

* 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: 9.5/10.

How Joseph J Catena School Compares

See how Joseph J Catena School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.7/10
96th percentile in NJ
Academic
7.8/10
7.8/10
Growth
9.5/10
Above average
Environment
8.1/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
11%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
44 teachers

Location

275 BURLINGTON ROAD, Freehold, NJ 07728

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Joseph J Catena School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Laura Donovan School (rated 7.7/10, 3.5 miles away), with a comparable rating. Another option is Adelphia Elementary School (rated 7.5/10, 4.0 miles away), a more accessible option. Additionally, Marshall W. Errickson School (rated 7.3/10, 3.6 miles away), a more accessible option. For more schools in Freehold, see our Freehold schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Dwight D. Eisenhower School Freehold 0.1 mi 7.4
Monmouth County Career Center Freehold 0.5 mi
Biotechnology High School Freehold 0.6 mi 9.3
Freehold Learning Center Freehold 1.2 mi 6.1
Freehold Borough High School Freehold 1.6 mi 7.2
THE GODDARD SCHOOL Freehold 1.8 mi 6.8
Colts Neck High School Colts Neck 1.9 mi 7.1
Freehold Intermediate School Freehold 2.3 mi 5.4
Park Avenue Elementary School Freehold 2.3 mi 6.3
C. Richard Applegate School Freehold 2.6 mi 6.9
Cedar Drive Middle School Colts Neck 2.9 mi 8.8
THE HEBREW ACADEMY Marlboro 3.4 mi 6.9
TURTLE CREEK LEARNING ACADEMY Marlboro 3.7 mi
Edith M. Griebling Elementary School Farmingdale 3.7 mi 7.1
Marshall W. Errickson School Freehold 3.6 mi 7.3
Laura Donovan School Freehold 3.5 mi 7.7
Adelphia Elementary School Freehold 4.0 mi 7.5
Freehold Township High School Freehold Twp 3.7 mi 6.0
Memorial Elementary School Freehold 4.1 mi 4.9
KIDDIE ACADEMY Freehold 3.3 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 07728 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$107,042

Median Home Value

$490,000

Median Rent

$1,941/mo

Population

56,623

College Educated

46.3%

Homeownership

77.1%

Avg Commute

31.1 min

Poverty Rate

7.5%

Median Age

41.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Joseph J Catena School has a median household income of $107,042. It is a well-educated community where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $490,000, with a median rent of $1,941/month. The local poverty rate of 7.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bradford Elementary School Upper Montclair, NJ 8.7
Chelsea Heights School Atlantic City, NJ 8.7
Dorchester Elementary School Woodcliff Lake, NJ 8.7
Ella G Clarke Elementary School Lakewood, NJ 8.7
Gregory Elementary School W. Orange, NJ 8.7
Hazel Avenue Elementary School W. Orange, NJ 8.7

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Joseph J Catena School

What grades does Joseph J Catena School serve?

Joseph J Catena School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Joseph J Catena School?

Joseph J Catena School has an enrollment of approximately 426 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Joseph J Catena School?

The student-teacher ratio at Joseph J Catena School is 9.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Joseph J Catena School rank in NJ?

Joseph J Catena School is ranked #105 out of 2,463 schools in NJ.

What is Joseph J Catena School's MySchoolScout rating?

Joseph J Catena School has a composite rating of 8.7 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.

What are the test scores at Joseph J Catena School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Joseph J Catena School has 55.0% math proficiency and 60.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Joseph J Catena School a charter school?

No, Joseph J Catena School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Joseph J Catena School a Title I school?

No, Joseph J Catena School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Joseph J Catena School?

11.0% of students at Joseph J Catena 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
11 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable
County Safety
Low (0/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
426
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
44
Free/Reduced Lunch
11.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Monmouth County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Freehold Township School District
District Enrollment
3,461
Schools in District
8
Per-Pupil Spending
$27,703
District Rank
#1 of 8

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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