North Plainfield School District

The North Plainfield School District in New Jersey operates 6 schools, including 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high school. The district serves a predominantly low-income population, with high rates of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch across all schools.

While North Plainfield High School has the highest enrollment in the district with 1,214 students and a relatively high 4-year graduation rate of 91.1%, it also has a concerning 16.6% chronic absenteeism rate and significantly below-average test scores, with only 39.6% proficient in ELA and 15.6% proficient in Algebra I. In contrast, Stony Brook School, the smallest school with 251 students, has the lowest test scores in the district, with only 16.4% proficient in 3rd grade ELA and 13% proficient in 4th grade Math.

Across the district, the data reveals systemic challenges, including high poverty levels, chronic absenteeism, and consistently low academic performance compared to state averages. The wide range in spending per student, from $6,936 at Somerset School to $13,043 at Stony Brook School, suggests that the district may not be equitably distributing resources, which could be a contributing factor to the disparities in academic outcomes.