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#1973 of 2,466 schools in NJ

South Plainfield High School

High School · South Plainfield School District · South Plainfield, NJ

A high school in South Plainfield, NJ where students score 14 points below what's typical for similar communities.

200 LAKE STREET, South Plainfield, NJ 07080

  • Math 32% vs NJ 44% (2025)
  • Reading 42% vs NJ 50% (2025)
  • 92.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress2.8Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-6.4 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics4.4Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency32% (2025 NJSLA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency42.4% (2025 NJSLA)
Math vs. State Avg-9.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-15.8 pts
Overall Proficiency37% (2025 NJSLA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)51% (model expectation from 2025 NJSLA)
vs. Expected-13.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile25th
College Readiness7.3Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate92%
AP Participation18.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment5.6Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.4:1
District spending per student$23,963
Chronic Absenteeism16.9%

Students at South Plainfield High School score 37% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 51%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 NJSLA proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. NJ average.

Math Proficiency32%(2025 NJSLA)
School
State
44%(2025 NJSLA)
ELA Proficiency42%(2025 NJSLA)
School
State
50%(2025 NJSLA)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 10 points since 2021, to 37% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).

Show all 16 years
2009
Math
75%
ELA
90%
2010
Math
78%
ELA
93%
2011
Math
81%
ELA
95%
2012
Math
84%
ELA
96%
2013
Math
80%
ELA
97%
2014
Math
10%
ELA
24%
2015
Math
30%
ELA
59%
2016
Math
33%
ELA
60%
2017
Math
37%
ELA
51%
2018
Math
33%
ELA
58%
2019
Math
33%
ELA
58%
2020*
Math
36%
ELA
58%
2021*
Math
36%
ELA
58%
2022
Math
40%
ELA
52%
2024
Math
27%
ELA
60%
2025
Math
32%
ELA
42%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 47% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 66% (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 32 test records from NJ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

30.9%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where South Plainfield High 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 55Somewhat Walkable
  • Transit 22Minimal Transit
  • Bike 45Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,048/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (South Plainfield), 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

$126,161

Median home value

$444,100

Median rent

$1,928/mo

College educated

41.9%

Homeownership

85.1%

Poverty rate

3.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 07080; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3AP courses offered
18.8% participation·State avg: 3.2 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics24sports offered
11 boys'·13 girls'·39 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

3 from a 5-mile search

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Koinonia AcademyPrivate · tuition6.1privatePK–121.1 mi271Compare →
The Queen City Academy Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified5.6K–121.3 mi300Compare →
Plainfield High SchoolEnrollment path unverified3.39–121.5 mi2,145Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

South Plainfield School District

Schools in district
8
Rank in district
#7 of 7
District spending per student
$23,963NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
5.9%Census SAIPE · 2024

South Plainfield High School is listed in South Plainfield School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About South Plainfield High School

South Plainfield High School is a public high school in South Plainfield, NJ, part of South Plainfield School District, serving approximately 1,091 students in grades 9th-12th with a 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,973 of 2,466 schools in NJ. State assessment records show 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about South Plainfield High School

What grades does South Plainfield High School serve?

South Plainfield High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend South Plainfield High School?

South Plainfield High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,091 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at South Plainfield High School?

The student-teacher ratio at South Plainfield High 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 South Plainfield High School rank in NJ?

South Plainfield High School ranks #1,973 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is South Plainfield High School's MySchoolScout rating?

South Plainfield High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.1 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 South Plainfield High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, South Plainfield High School has 47% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 66% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is South Plainfield High School a charter school?

No, South Plainfield High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is South Plainfield High School a Title I school?

No, South Plainfield High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South Plainfield High School?

30.9% of students at South Plainfield High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,091
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
96
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
16.9%
4-Year Graduation
92.0%
Area population (ZIP 07080)
24,215
Area average commute
28 min
Area median age
41.7
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 07080; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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