Excellent
#257 of 2,466 schools in NJ
Top 10% in state
Van Derveer Elementary School
Elementary School · Somerville Public School District · Somerville, NJ
A Somerville Public School District elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
51 Union Avenue, Somerville, NJ 08876
- Math 43% vs NJ 47% (2025)
- Reading 55% vs NJ 50% (2025)
- 9.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Van Derveer Elementary School score 49% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 NJSLA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NJ average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 19 points since 2021, reaching 49% in 2025.
Show all 16 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 50% (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 41 test records from NJ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
38.1%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Van Derveer Elementary 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 56Somewhat Walkable
- Bike 41Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated820/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Somerville), 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
$120,823
Median home value
$468,400
Median rent
$1,776/mo
College educated
56.3%
Homeownership
63.1%
Poverty rate
5.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 08876; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adamsville Primary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.4 | PK–4 | 0.8 mi | 490 | Compare → |
| Raritan Valley Montessori AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | PK–3 | 1.1 mi | 37 | Compare → |
| Immaculate Conception SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.8private | PK–8 | 1.2 mi | 347 | Compare → |
| Somerset Elementary AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | K–8 | 1.3 mi | 41 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Somerville Public School District
- Schools in district
- 3
- Rank in district
- #1 of 3
- District spending per student
- $25,976NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 7.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Van Derveer Elementary School is listed in Somerville Public School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Van Derveer Elementary School
Van Derveer Elementary School is a public elementary school in Somerville, NJ, part of Somerville Public School District, serving approximately 734 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 9.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #257 of 2,466 schools in NJ. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Van Derveer Elementary School
What grades does Van Derveer Elementary School serve?
Van Derveer Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Van Derveer Elementary School?
Van Derveer Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 734 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Van Derveer Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Van Derveer Elementary School is 9.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Van Derveer Elementary School rank in NJ?
Van Derveer Elementary School ranks #257 of 2,466 schools in NJ.
What is Van Derveer Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Van Derveer Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 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 Van Derveer Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Van Derveer Elementary School has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Van Derveer Elementary School a charter school?
No, Van Derveer Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Van Derveer Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Van Derveer Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Van Derveer Elementary School?
38.1% of students at Van Derveer 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 734
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 9.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 81
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Somerset County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 14.0%
- Phone
- (908) 218-4105
- Area population (ZIP 08876)
- 22,902
- Area average commute
- 27.8 min
- Area median age
- 39.7
Official sources & links
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 08876; 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
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