Average
#937 of 2,466 schools in NJ
Top 38% in state
Whitney E. Houston Academy
Elementary School · East Orange School District · East Orange, NJ
An East Orange School District elementary school where students score 3 points below what's typical for similar communities.
215 DODD ST, East Orange, NJ 07017
- Math 23% vs NJ 40% (2025)
- Reading 45% vs NJ 54% (2025)
- 11.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Whitney E. Houston Academy score 34% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 37%).
2025 NJSLA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NJ average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 17 points since 2021, reaching 34% in 2025.
Show all 16 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 27% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 42% (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 54 test records from NJ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
55%
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 Whitney E. Houston Academy 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 65Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 52Good Transit
- Bike 39Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,446/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (East Orange), 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
$61,552
Median home value
$316,700
Median rent
$1,346/mo
College educated
21.8%
Homeownership
31.3%
Poverty rate
17.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 07017; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.3 | K–5 | 0.1 mi | 129 | Compare → |
| Wahlstrom Early Childhood AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | PK–K | 0.4 mi | 159 | Compare → |
| Watsessing Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 6.1 | K–6 | 0.5 mi | 332 | Compare → |
| East Orange Community Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.9 | K–4 | 0.7 mi | 431 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
East Orange School District
- Schools in district
- 20
- Rank in district
- #8 of 20
- District spending per student
- $32,491NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Whitney E. Houston Academy is listed in East Orange School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Whitney E. Houston Academy
Whitney E. Houston Academy is a public elementary school in East Orange, NJ, part of East Orange School District, serving approximately 327 students in grades Pre-K-8th with a 11.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #937 of 2,466 schools in NJ.
State assessment records show 27% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 42% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 8th
- Enrollment
- 327
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 29
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Essex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 27.8%
- Phone
- (973) 266-5880
- Area population (ZIP 07017)
- 40,809
- Area average commute
- 37.9 min
- Area median age
- 36.2
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 07017; 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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