Excellent
#335 of 2,466 schools in NJ
Top 14% in state
Watchung Elementary School
Elementary School · Montclair Public School District · Montclair, NJ
A Montclair Public School District elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
14 GARDEN ST, Montclair, NJ 07042
- Math 71% vs NJ 47% (2025)
- Reading 69% vs NJ 50% (2025)
- 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Watchung Elementary School score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 63%).
2025 NJSLA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NJ average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 18 points since 2021, reaching 70% in 2025.
Show all 16 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 74% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 75% (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
9.6%
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 Watchung 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 80Very Walkable
- Bike 53Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated954/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Montclair), 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
$127,083
Median home value
$733,100
Median rent
$2,017/mo
College educated
67.1%
Homeownership
50.3%
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 07042; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgemont Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | K–5 | 0.5 mi | 255 | Compare → |
| Montclair Cooperative SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.2private | PK–8 | 0.6 mi | 118 | Compare → |
| The Montclair Kimberley AcademyPrivate · tuition | 7.1private | PK–12 | 0.6 mi | 1,025 | Compare → |
| Forest Avenue SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.4 | PK–2 | 0.8 mi | 145 | 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.
Montclair Public School District
- Schools in district
- 11
- Rank in district
- #3 of 11
- District spending per student
- $26,943NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 3.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Watchung Elementary School is listed in Montclair Public School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Watchung Elementary School
Watchung Elementary School is a public elementary school in Montclair, NJ, part of Montclair Public School District, serving approximately 385 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 out of 10 and ranks #335 of 2,466 schools in NJ. State assessment records show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Watchung Elementary School
What grades does Watchung Elementary School serve?
Watchung Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Watchung Elementary School?
Watchung Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 385 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watchung Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Watchung Elementary School is 11.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Watchung Elementary School rank in NJ?
Watchung Elementary School ranks #335 of 2,466 schools in NJ.
What is Watchung Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Watchung Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.1 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 Watchung Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Watchung Elementary School has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 75% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Watchung Elementary School a charter school?
No, Watchung Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Watchung Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Watchung Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Watchung Elementary School?
9.6% of students at Watchung 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 385
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Essex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 6.2%
- Phone
- (973) 509-4259
- Area population (ZIP 07042)
- 27,173
- Area average commute
- 33.4 min
- Area median age
- 38.8
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 07042; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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