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Below Average

#2170 of 2,466 schools in NJ

Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center

Elementary School · Waterford Township School District

934 Lincoln Avenue, Atco, NJ 08004

Enrollment

256

Student-Teacher

10.7:1

Score

4.6

Grades

Pre-K – Kindergarten

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Jersey schools

#2,170 of 2,466

In Atco

#4 of 4

public schools

In district

#3 of 3

Waterford Township School District

School environment

8.6 / 10

Excellent

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Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center

4.6/10

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

Waterford Elementary School

6.0/10

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

Atco Elementary School

5.1/10

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

About Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center

Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center is a public elementary school in Atco, NJ, part of Waterford Township School District. Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center serves approximately 256 students, and covers grades Pre-K-Kindergarten, and has a 10.7:1 student-teacher ratio. Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,170 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

Structured state assessment records for Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2019) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2019).

How it compares0.6 pts below district
  • This school 4.6 · Below Average
  • District avg 5.2
  • NJ avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.8Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data11
Annual Change-3.34 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2019
TrendDeclining
Academics3.3Needs Improvement30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency32% (2019 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency27% (2019 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency30% (2019 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)56% (model expectation from 2019 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-27.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile14th
Resources & Environment8.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$26,988
Chronic Absenteeism10.9%

Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center — Students at Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center score 30% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 56%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

21.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ EDFACTS (2018-19)

Math Proficiency 51.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2019)
School
State
N/A
ELA Proficiency 41.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2019)
School
State
N/A

Based on 22 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
72%
ELA
47%
2010
Math
62%
ELA
52%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
52%
2012
Math
67%
ELA
52%
2013
Math
72%
ELA
57%
2014
Math
22%
ELA
22%
2015
Math
47%
ELA
42%
2016
Math
47%
ELA
37%
2017
Math
42%
ELA
42%
2018
Math
32%
ELA
27%
2019
Math
32%
ELA
27%

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.8/10.

How Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center Compares

See how Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.6/10
12th percentile in NJ
Academic
3.3/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
3.8/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
8.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
21%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
24 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
10.9%

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

934 Lincoln Avenue, Atco, NJ 08004

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Cranberry Pines Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 6.2 miles away, in nearby Medford), which scores notably higher. Another option is Winslow Township Elementary School Two (rated 8.4/10, 5.3 miles away, in nearby Sicklerville), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Indian Mills Elementary School (rated 8.2/10, 5.4 miles away, in nearby Shamong), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Atco, see our Atco schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.3 mi
School Distance Rating
Waterford Elementary School Waterford 2.7 mi 6.0
Atco Elementary School Atco 3.0 mi 5.1
THE ARCHWAY SCHOOL Atco 3.1 mi 8.9
Winslow Township Middle School Atco 3.7 mi 5.2
Winslow Township High School Atco 3.9 mi 5.5
Cranberry Pines Elementary Medford 6.2 mi 8.8
Indian Mills Memorial School Shamong 5.3 mi 7.8
Winslow Township Elementary School Two Sicklerville 5.3 mi 8.4
Winslow Township Elementary School Five Berlin 5.3 mi 7.2
Nokomis School Medford Lakes 6.3 mi 5.6
Richard L Rice School Marlton 6.2 mi 4.1
Indian Mills Elementary School Shamong 5.4 mi 8.2
Winslow Township Elementary School One Blue Anchor 6.8 mi 3.9
Neeta School Medford Lakes 7.3 mi 7.1
Dwight D Eisenhower Middle School West Berlin 6.1 mi 7.6
Signal Hill School Voorhees 6.4 mi 8.2
John F Kennedy Elementary School West Berlin 6.2 mi 3.5
Shawnee High School Medford 7.1 mi 6.4
Hammonton High School Hammonton 7.6 mi 5.3
Berlin Community School Berlin 6.3 mi 6.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 08004 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$107,041

Median Home Value

$255,500

Median Rent

$1,169/mo

Population

10,946

College Educated

28.2%

Homeownership

83%

Avg Commute

31.9 min

Poverty Rate

8.7%

Median Age

45.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Burch Charter School of Excellence Irvington, NJ 4.6
Clara Barton Elementary Bordentown, NJ 4.6
Durban Avenue Elementary School Hopatcong, NJ 4.6
Franklin Township School Washington, NJ 4.6
Kindergarten Success Academy Roselle, NJ 4.6
Lenox School Pompton Lakes, NJ 4.6

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center

What grades does Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center serve?

Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center serves students in grades Pre-K through Kindergarten.

How many students attend Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center?

Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center has an enrollment of approximately 256 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center?

The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center is 10.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center rank in NJ?

Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center ranks #2,170 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center's MySchoolScout rating?

Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center 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 Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2019) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2019).

Is Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center a charter school?

No, Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center a Title I school?

No, Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center?

21.1% of students at Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center 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
7 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – Kindergarten
Enrollment
256
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
24
Free/Reduced Lunch
21.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Camden County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
10.9%

District

Waterford Township School District
District Enrollment
934
Schools in District
3
Per-Pupil Spending
$26,988
District Rank
#3 of 3

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