Plainfield High School

Plainfield High School serves 2,145 students in grades 9-12 in Plainfield, New Jersey, with a student-teacher ratio of 16.6:1 across 129 full-time teachers. This large suburban public high school faces significant academic challenges, with considerable room for growth in core subjects. Currently, 16% of students demonstrate proficiency in English Language Arts while 3% show proficiency in mathematics across grade levels.

The school ranks in the 1st percentile among New Jersey high schools, reflecting the substantial work ahead to improve student outcomes. With such a large student body, Plainfield High School has the potential scale to implement comprehensive support programs and resources to better serve its diverse learning community. Located on Park Avenue in Union County, the school sits within a working-class neighborhood where the median household income is $66,761 and median home value reaches $339,400.

About one in four residents holds a bachelor's degree or higher, while the poverty rate stands at 17.9%. This large suburban setting in central New Jersey provides students with access to both local community resources and proximity to major metropolitan areas, offering potential pathways for future educational and career opportunities.

Plainfield High School is a large school with 2,145 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

While current test scores at Plainfield High School are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.