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Below Average

#2093 of 2,466 schools in NJ

Park Avenue Elementary School

Elementary School · ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION School District

231 PARK AVE, Orange, NJ 07050

Enrollment

417

Student-Teacher

11.6:1

Score

4.8

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Jersey schools

#2,093 of 2,466

In Orange

#9 of 11

public schools

In district

#10 of 12

ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION School District

School environment

9.0 / 10

Excellent

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Park Avenue Elementary School

4.8/10

Elementary School in Orange · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

East Orange Community Charter School

5.9/10

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

Orange Early Childhood Center

5.5/10

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

About Park Avenue Elementary School

Park Avenue Elementary School is a public elementary school in Orange, NJ, part of ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION School District. Park Avenue Elementary School serves approximately 417 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio. Park Avenue Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 out of 10 and ranks #2,093 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

Structured state assessment records for Park Avenue Elementary School show 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.6 pts below district
  • This school 4.8 · Below Average
  • District avg 6.4
  • NJ avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.3Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-4.66 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.5Below Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency17.8% (2025 NJSLA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency26.5% (2025 NJSLA)
Math vs. State Avg-30.1 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-17.4 pts
Overall Proficiency22% (2025 NJSLA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)22% (model expectation from 2025 NJSLA)
vs. Expected-0.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile26th
Resources & Environment9.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$28,729
Chronic Absenteeism11.5%

Park Avenue Elementary School — Students at Park Avenue Elementary School score 22% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 22%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

81.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 28.2% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
42.8% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 33.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.0% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 49 test records from NJ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
67%
ELA
51%
2010
Math
79%
ELA
56%
2011
Math
64%
ELA
47%
2012
Math
54%
ELA
42%
2013
Math
62%
ELA
43%
2014
Math
20%
ELA
23%
2015
Math
20%
ELA
28%
2016
Math
22%
ELA
30%
2017
Math
26%
ELA
39%
2018
Math
22%
ELA
38%
2019
Math
22%
ELA
38%
2020*
Math
7%
ELA
23%
2021*
Math
7%
ELA
23%
2022
Math
19%
ELA
31%
2024
Math
19.6%
ELA
34%
2025
Math
17.8%
ELA
26.5%

* 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: 3.3/10.

How Park Avenue Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
4.8/10
15th percentile in NJ
Academic
4.5/10
Below Average
Growth
3.3/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
9.0/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
81%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
36 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
11.5%

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

231 PARK AVE, Orange, NJ 07050

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Park Avenue Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Washington Elementary School (rated 8.3/10, 0.9 miles away, in nearby W. Orange), which scores notably higher. Another option is Cleveland Street Elementary School (rated 7.7/10, 0.4 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, J. Garfield Jackson Sr. Academy (rated 7.5/10, 0.7 miles away, in nearby East Orange), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Orange, see our Orange schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.9 mi
School Distance Rating
East Orange Community Charter School East Orange 0.2 mi 5.9
Orange Early Childhood Center Orange 0.3 mi 5.5
Cleveland Street Elementary School Orange 0.4 mi 7.7
Central Elementary School Orange 0.4 mi 5.1
Rosa Parks Community School Orange 0.5 mi 8.5
Oakwood Avenue Community School Orange 0.7 mi 6.5
J. Garfield Jackson Sr. Academy East Orange 0.7 mi 7.5
Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Academy East Orange 0.7 mi 5.3
Althea Gibson Academy East Orange 0.8 mi 6.9
West Orange Early Childhood Learning Center West Orange 0.8 mi
Washington Elementary School W. Orange 0.9 mi 8.3
Whitney E. Houston Academy East Orange 0.8 mi 6.9
Edward T. Bowser Sr. School of Excellence East Orange 0.8 mi 3.4
Lincoln Avenue Elementary School Orange 0.9 mi 7.5
John L. Costley Middle School East Orange 0.8 mi 4.6
PLAYHOUSE COOP SCHOOL West Orange 1.1 mi
Edison Middle School W. Orange 1.1 mi 8.2
Sojourner Truth Middle School East Orange 0.9 mi 4.5
ZADIE'S EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER East Orange 1.1 mi
East Orange Campus High School East Orange 0.9 mi 3.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 07050 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$53,109

Median Home Value

$336,200

Median Rent

$1,427/mo

Population

33,856

College Educated

21.1%

Homeownership

23.7%

Avg Commute

30.9 min

Poverty Rate

21.1%

Median Age

35.1

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Clara Barton Elementary School Cherry Hill, NJ 4.8
Claremont Avenue Elementary School Colonia, NJ 4.8
Clarence B. Lamb Elementary School Wrightstown, NJ 4.8
Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School Jersey City, NJ 4.8
Fairfield Township School Bridgeton, NJ 4.8
Freehold Learning Center Freehold, NJ 4.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Park Avenue Elementary School

What grades does Park Avenue Elementary School serve?

Park Avenue Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.

How many students attend Park Avenue Elementary School?

Park Avenue Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 417 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Park Avenue Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Park Avenue Elementary School is 11.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Park Avenue Elementary School rank in NJ?

Park Avenue Elementary School ranks #2,093 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is Park Avenue Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Park Avenue Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.8 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 Park Avenue Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Park Avenue Elementary School has 28% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 34% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Park Avenue Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Park Avenue Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

81.1% of students at Park Avenue 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
83 Very Walkable
Bike Score
50 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
417
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
36
Free/Reduced Lunch
81.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Essex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
11.5%

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