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Below Average

#2166 of 2,466 schools in NJ

South River Elementary School

Elementary School · South River Public School District

81 JOHNSON PLACE, South River, NJ 08882

Enrollment

683

Student-Teacher

11.6:1

Score

4.6

Grades

2nd – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Jersey schools

#2,166 of 2,466

In South River

#2 of 4

public schools

In district

#2 of 4

South River Public School District

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South River Elementary School

4.6/10

Elementary School in South River · grades 2nd – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

South River Middle School

4.5/10

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

South River High School

4.0/10

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

About South River Elementary School

South River Elementary School is a public elementary school in South River, NJ, part of South River Public School District. South River Elementary School serves approximately 683 students, and covers grades 2nd-5th, and has a 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio. South River Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,166 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

Structured state assessment records for South River Elementary School show 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 4.6 · Below Average
  • District avg 4.8
  • NJ avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.4Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-2.12 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.0Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency28.2% (2025 NJSLA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency37.4% (2025 NJSLA)
Math vs. State Avg-19.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-6.5 pts
Overall Proficiency33% (2025 NJSLA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)35% (model expectation from 2025 NJSLA)
vs. Expected-2.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile32th
Resources & Environment4.5Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.6:1
Per-Pupil Spending$21,885
Chronic Absenteeism17.9%

South River Elementary School — Students at South River Elementary School score 33% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

59%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 40.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
45.8% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 42.6% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
49.9% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 41 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
75%
ELA
53%
2010
Math
77%
ELA
60%
2011
Math
77%
ELA
56%
2012
Math
75%
ELA
56%
2013
Math
77%
ELA
57%
2014
Math
36%
ELA
42%
2015
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
39%
ELA
45%
2017
Math
37%
ELA
40%
2018
Math
34%
ELA
41%
2019
Math
34%
ELA
41%
2020*
Math
5%
ELA
28%
2021*
Math
5%
ELA
28%
2022
Math
26%
ELA
34%
2024
Math
30.7%
ELA
39%
2025
Math
28.2%
ELA
37.4%

* 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: 4.4/10.

How South River Elementary School Compares

See how South River Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.6/10
12th percentile in NJ
Academic
5.0/10
Average
Growth
4.4/10
Below Average
Environment
4.5/10
Below Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
59%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
59 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
17.9%

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

81 JOHNSON PLACE, South River, NJ 08882

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering South River Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Bowne-Munro Elementary School (rated 9.3/10, 2.0 miles away, in nearby East Brunswick), which scores notably higher. Another option is Frost Elementary School (rated 9.1/10, 2.3 miles away, in nearby East Brunswick), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Irwin Elementary School (rated 8.6/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby East Brunswick), which scores notably higher. For more schools in South River, see our South River schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
South River Middle School South River 0.0 mi 4.5
South River High School South River 0.1 mi 4.0
South River Primary School South River 0.2 mi 5.1
DARUL ARQAM SCHOOL South River 0.7 mi 7.7
Irwin Elementary School East Brunswick 1.0 mi 8.6
Chittick Elementary School East Brunswick 1.1 mi 7.4
Central Elementary School East Brunswick 1.0 mi 6.8
East Brunswick High School East Brunswick 1.1 mi 5.3
East Brunswick Magnet School East Brunswick 1.4 mi 6.9
Hammarskjold Upper Elementary School East Brunswick 1.6 mi 6.8
OUR LADY OF VICTORIES Sayreville 1.6 mi 6.6
Bowne-Munro Elementary School East Brunswick 2.0 mi 9.3
ST STANISLAUS KOSTKA SCHOOL Sayreville 2.0 mi 7.0
CROSSROADS EARLY LEARNING CENTER East Brunswick 2.2 mi
Woodrow Wilson Elementary School Sayreville 1.9 mi 7.5
Churchill Junior High School East Brunswick 2.0 mi 5.9
Frost Elementary School East Brunswick 2.3 mi 9.1
G Austin Schoenly Elementary School Spotswood 2.6 mi 4.1
William A. Miller Elementary School Old Bridge 2.4 mi 4.8
Memorial Elementary School East Brunswick 2.1 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 08882 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$101,853

Median Home Value

$382,500

Median Rent

$1,599/mo

Population

16,007

College Educated

31.1%

Homeownership

65.7%

Avg Commute

32.9 min

Poverty Rate

11.3%

Median Age

36.5

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
BNOS BROCHA Lakewood, NJ 4.6
Bellmawr Park Elementary School Bellmawr, NJ 4.6
Gilbert Avenue School Elmwood Park, NJ 4.6
Hopewell Crest Bridgeton, NJ 4.6
Joseph A. Citta Elementary School Toms River, NJ 4.6
Lincoln School Rutherford, NJ 4.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about South River Elementary School

What grades does South River Elementary School serve?

South River Elementary School serves students in grades 2nd through 5th.

How many students attend South River Elementary School?

South River Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 683 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at South River Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at South River 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 South River Elementary School rank in NJ?

South River Elementary School ranks #2,166 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is South River Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

South River Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 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 South River Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, South River Elementary School has 41% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is South River Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is South River Elementary School a Title I school?

No, South River Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South River Elementary School?

59.0% of students at South River 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
59 Somewhat Walkable
Bike Score
38 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
2nd – 5th
Enrollment
683
Student-Teacher Ratio
11.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
59
Free/Reduced Lunch
59.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Middlesex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
17.9%

District

South River Public School District
District Enrollment
2,469
Schools in District
4
Per-Pupil Spending
$21,885
District Rank
#2 of 4

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