Summary:
The city of Brooklawn, New Jersey has only one public school, Alice Costello Elementary School, which serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade. While the school has some bright spots in its academic performance, particularly in 3rd grade English Language Arts and Mathematics, it also faces significant challenges, including low statewide rankings, inconsistent test scores, high chronic absenteeism, and potential equity concerns.
Alice Costello Elementary School has consistently ranked in the bottom third of New Jersey elementary schools, ranking 834th out of 1,338 in the 2023-2024 school year and receiving a 2-star rating out of 5 from SchoolDigger. The school's performance on NJSLA (New Jersey Student Learning Assessments) tests is mixed, with some grades performing above the state average in ELA and Mathematics, while others are significantly below. For example, in 2023-2024, 3rd grade ELA scores were 75.1% proficient or better, compared to the state average of 43.6%, but 7th grade ELA scores were only 22.2% proficient or better, well below the state average of 53.9%.
Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 64.16% in the 2022-2023 school year, indicating a significant economically disadvantaged population. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 16.6% in the 2022-2023 school year is also concerning and likely impacting student performance. While the school's spending per student for the 2018-2019 school year was $12,492, which is above the state average, the resources may not be effectively allocated or utilized to support student learning and achievement. The school's low student-teacher ratio of 8.7 to 1 could be a positive factor, but it has not translated into consistently strong academic outcomes for the students at Alice Costello Elementary School.
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