Skip to main content

Average

#937 of 2,466 schools in NJ

Top 38% 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

6.9

Grades

Pre-K – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Jersey schools

#937 of 2,466

In East Orange

#8 of 22

public schools

In district

#8 of 20

East Orange School District

Academic growth

8.3 / 10

Excellent

School shortlistprofile + nearby

Shortlisting around Whitney E. Houston Academy?

Use this profile as one decision point, then compare nearby options, source confidence, and commute fit before picking a neighborhood around it.

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Whitney E. Houston Academy

6.9/10

Elementary School in East Orange · grades Pre-K – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Academy

5.3/10

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

Wahlstrom Early Childhood Academy

6.8/10

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

About Whitney E. Houston Academy

Whitney E. Houston Academy is a public elementary school in East Orange, NJ, part of East Orange School District. Whitney E.

Houston Academy serves approximately 327 students, and covers grades Pre-K-8th, and has a 11.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Whitney E. Houston Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #937 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

Structured state assessment records for Whitney E. Houston Academy show 27% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.6 pts above district
  • This school 6.9 · Average
  • District avg 6.3
  • NJ avg 6.5

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.3Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change+4.16 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendImproving
Academics5.0Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency23.3% (2025 NJSLA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency44.7% (2025 NJSLA)
Math vs. State Avg-18.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+0.8 pts
Overall Proficiency34% (2025 NJSLA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)37% (model expectation from 2025 NJSLA)
vs. Expected-3.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile32th
Resources & Environment6.1Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio11.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$32,491
Chronic Absenteeism27.8%

Whitney E. Houston Academy — Students at Whitney E. Houston Academy score 34% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

55%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 27.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
39.2% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 42.4% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.6% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 54 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
62%
ELA
46%
2010
Math
65%
ELA
51%
2011
Math
63%
ELA
54%
2012
Math
64%
ELA
53%
2013
Math
66%
ELA
56%
2014
Math
17%
ELA
31%
2015
Math
14%
ELA
32%
2016
Math
21%
ELA
40%
2017
Math
20%
ELA
45%
2018
Math
19%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
19%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
5%
ELA
29%
2021*
Math
5%
ELA
29%
2022
Math
11%
ELA
36%
2024
Math
19.9%
ELA
39.8%
2025
Math
23.3%
ELA
44.7%

* 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: 8.3/10.

How Whitney E. Houston Academy Compares

See how Whitney E. Houston Academy performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.9/10
62th percentile in NJ
Academic
5.0/10
Average
Growth
8.3/10
Excellent
Environment
6.1/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
55%
Teaching Staff
11:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
27.8%

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

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. Cleveland Street Elementary School (rated 7.7/10, 0.8 miles away, in nearby Orange), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Shelia Y. Oliver Academy (rated 7.6/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, J. Garfield Jackson Sr. Academy (rated 7.5/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in East Orange, see our East Orange schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Academy East Orange 0.1 mi 5.3
Wahlstrom Early Childhood Academy East Orange 0.4 mi 6.8
East Orange Campus High School East Orange 0.4 mi 3.2
Watsessing Elementary School Bloomfield 0.5 mi 6.1
John L. Costley Middle School East Orange 0.6 mi 4.6
East Orange STEM Academy High School East Orange 0.5 mi 7.1
Sojourner Truth Middle School East Orange 0.6 mi 4.5
Edward T. Bowser Sr. School of Excellence East Orange 0.7 mi 3.4
Patrick F. Healy Middle School East Orange 0.7 mi 3.7
J. Garfield Jackson Sr. Academy East Orange 0.8 mi 7.5
Linden Avenue School Glen Ridge 0.8 mi 5.6
East Orange Community Charter School East Orange 0.7 mi 5.9
Park Avenue Elementary School Orange 0.8 mi 4.8
Althea Gibson Academy East Orange 1.0 mi 6.9
Cleveland Street Elementary School Orange 0.8 mi 7.7
Shelia Y. Oliver Academy East Orange 1.0 mi 7.6
Cicely L. Tyson Community Middle/High School East Orange 1.2 mi 7.0
Cicely L. Tyson Community Elementary School East Orange 1.3 mi 6.7
Orange Early Childhood Center Orange 1.0 mi 5.5
Berkeley Elementary School Bloomfield 1.0 mi 6.7

Neighborhood 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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Beatrice Gilmore School Woodland Park, NJ 6.9
Beechwood School Mountainside, NJ 6.9
Belmar Elementary Belmar, NJ 6.9
Folsom Elementary School Folsom, NJ 6.9
Forest Street Community Elementary School Orange, NJ 6.9
George Washington School Edgewater, NJ 6.9

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 ranks #937 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is Whitney E. Houston Academy's MySchoolScout rating?

Whitney E. Houston Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 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 Whitney E. Houston Academy?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Whitney E. Houston Academy has 27% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
65 Somewhat Walkable
Transit Score
52 Good Transit
Bike Score
39 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
27.8%

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 rate

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.