Needs Improvement
#2372 of 2,466 schools in NJ
Merriam Avenue School
Elementary School · Newton Public School District · Newton, NJ
A Newton Public School District elementary school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
81 MERRIAM AVENUE, Newton, NJ 07860
- Math 29% vs NJ 48% (2025)
- Reading 32% vs NJ 49% (2025)
- 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Merriam Avenue School score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
2025 NJSLA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NJ average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 11 points since 2021, reaching 30% in 2025.
Show all 16 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 45% (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 36 test records from NJ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
50.2%
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 Merriam Avenue 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 New York map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 43Car-Dependent
- Bike 45Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated890/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Newton), 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
$104,113
Median home value
$336,600
Median rent
$1,437/mo
College educated
40.2%
Homeownership
80.5%
Poverty rate
8.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 07860; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence M. BurdEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–4 | 2.6 mi | 255 | Compare → |
| Fredon Township SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.0 | PK–6 | 3.3 mi | 186 | Compare → |
| Northwest Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.6private | PK–8 | 3.4 mi | 148 | Compare → |
| Alpine Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | PK–2 | 4.3 mi | 792 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Newton Public School District
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #3 of 3
- District spending per student
- $26,403NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 13.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Merriam Avenue School is listed in Newton Public School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Merriam Avenue School
Merriam Avenue School is a public elementary school in Newton, NJ, part of Newton Public School District, serving approximately 524 students in grades Pre-K-4th with a 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,372 of 2,466 schools in NJ. State assessment records show 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Merriam Avenue School
What grades does Merriam Avenue School serve?
Merriam Avenue School serves students in grades Pre-K through 4th.
How many students attend Merriam Avenue School?
Merriam Avenue School has an enrollment of approximately 524 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merriam Avenue School?
The student-teacher ratio at Merriam Avenue School is 11.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Merriam Avenue School rank in NJ?
Merriam Avenue School ranks #2,372 of 2,466 schools in NJ.
What is Merriam Avenue School's MySchoolScout rating?
Merriam Avenue School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.6 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 Merriam Avenue School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Merriam Avenue School has 45% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Merriam Avenue School a charter school?
No, Merriam Avenue School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Merriam Avenue School a Title I school?
No, Merriam Avenue School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Merriam Avenue School?
50.2% of students at Merriam 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 4th
- Enrollment
- 524
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 46
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Town
- County
- Sussex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 26.3%
- Phone
- (973) 383-7202
- Area population (ZIP 07860)
- 26,521
- Area average commute
- 31.4 min
- Area median age
- 46.2
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 07860; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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