Average
#1033 of 2,463 schools in NJ
Top 42% in state
Whitney E. Houston Academy
Elementary School · East Orange School District
215 DODD ST, East Orange, NJ 07017
Enrollment
327
Student-Teacher
11.3:1
Score
6.7
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Enrollment
327
Student-Teacher
11.3:1
Score
6.7
Grades
Pre-K – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In East Orange
#5 of 22
public schools
New Jersey elementary schools
#623 of 1,496
In district
#5 of 20
East Orange School District
School environment
9.7 / 10
Exceptional
About Whitney E. Houston Academy
Whitney E. Houston Academy is a regular public school located in East Orange, New Jersey, serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. With an enrollment of 327 students and a student-teacher ratio of 11.3:1, the school benefits from a supportive learning environment with dedicated educators.
Whitney E. Houston Academy focuses on individualized attention and growth for its young learners. The school's academic performance is currently rated at 4.3 out of 10 by MySchoolScout, placing it in the 28th percentile among New Jersey schools.
In ELA/Reading, 39% of students are proficient or above, while only 17% meet proficiency standards in Math and no students have reached proficiency in Science. Despite these challenges, Whitney E. Houston Academy is committed to fostering academic development and supporting its students' learning needs.
Whitney E. Houston Academy is situated in a large suburban area, offering a community that values education and supports the school's mission to nurture future leaders.
What Parents Should Know
While current test scores at Whitney E. Houston Academy are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
Data not available for this school
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Whitney E. Houston Academy — Students at Whitney E. Houston Academy score 24% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
55%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2023-24)
Based on 20 test records from NJ state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* 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: 7.1/10.
How Whitney E. Houston Academy Compares
See how Whitney E. Houston Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 19% (2019) to 11% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 47% (2019) to 36% (2022).
Location
215 DODD ST, East Orange, NJ 07017
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Whitney E. Houston Academy may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Watsessing Elementary School (rated 7.6/10, 0.5 miles away, in nearby Bloomfield), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Academy (rated 7.5/10, 0.1 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, Althea Gibson Academy (rated 6.9/10, 1.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in East Orange, see our East Orange schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 1.0 miNeighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 07017 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$61,552
Median Home Value
$316,700
Median Rent
$1,346/mo
Population
40,809
College Educated
21.8%
Homeownership
31.3%
Avg Commute
37.9 min
Poverty Rate
17.4%
Median Age
36.2
Community Profile
The community surrounding Whitney E. Houston Academy has a median household income of $61,552. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $316,700, with a median rent of $1,346/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.4%. The average commute in the area is 38 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| ACADEMY OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL Tenafly, NJ | 6.7 |
| Berkley Street School New Milford, NJ | 6.7 |
| Carl T. Mitnick School Cape May, NJ | 6.7 |
| Charles F. Seabrook School Seabrook, NJ | 6.7 |
| Charles H. Stillman Elementary School Plainfield, NJ | 6.7 |
| David C. Douglass Memorial School Villas, NJ | 6.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Whitney E. Houston Academy
What grades does Whitney E. Houston Academy serve?
Whitney E. Houston Academy serves students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
How many students attend Whitney E. Houston Academy?
Whitney E. Houston Academy has an enrollment of approximately 327 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whitney E. Houston Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Whitney E. Houston Academy is 11.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Whitney E. Houston Academy rank in NJ?
Whitney E. Houston Academy is ranked #1033 out of 2,463 schools in NJ.
What is Whitney E. Houston Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Whitney E. Houston Academy has a composite rating of 6.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Whitney E. Houston Academy?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Whitney E. Houston Academy has 17.4% math proficiency and 39.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Whitney E. Houston Academy a charter school?
No, Whitney E. Houston Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Whitney E. Houston Academy a Title I school?
No, Whitney E. Houston Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Whitney E. Houston Academy?
55.0% of students at Whitney E. Houston Academy qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- City Safety
- High (2,446/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (East Orange). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 327
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 55.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Essex County
- Phone
- (973) 266-5880
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
East Orange School District- District Enrollment
- 9,337
- Schools in District
- 20
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $32,491
- District Rank
- #5 of 20
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyRelated reading
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