Plainfield High School

Summary:

Plainfield High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Plainfield, New Jersey, with a student population of 1,925 that is predominantly Hispanic (81.51%) and African American (17.3%). However, the school consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of New Jersey high schools, performing significantly below state and district averages on academic metrics.

Plainfield High School struggles with low graduation rates (68.8%), high chronic absenteeism (49.2%), and very low proficiency in English Language Arts (18.5%) and Algebra I (0%). This is in stark contrast to the high-performing nearby vocational schools, such as Academy for Performing Arts and Union County Technical, which rank among the top high schools in New Jersey and have significantly higher academic achievement, graduation rates, and lower chronic absenteeism. Plainfield High School's student population also has a very high percentage (78.55%) of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage.

The data suggests that Plainfield High School could benefit from targeted interventions and support to address the observed performance gaps, such as improving attendance, providing additional academic support and resources, and exploring partnerships with high-performing nearby schools to share best practices. Addressing these issues will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach to support the academic and social-emotional needs of the school's diverse student population, which is facing significant challenges compared to their peers in the Union County Vocational-Technical School District and other nearby districts like South Plainfield School District.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 950 Park Avenue
       Plainfield, NJ  07060-3002


(908) 731-4390

District: Plainfield Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
373rd of 422 New Jersey High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,696 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  14.8 Help
Number of students:  1,925

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
81.5%
African American:
17.3%
White:
0.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  78.5% Help


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Performance Trends
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Compare Details Plainfield High School ranks worse than 88.4% of high schools in New Jersey. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.45. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Plainfield High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (81.5%), African American (17.3%), White (0.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 78.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Plainfield High School is 14.8. (See more...)
Help
Compare Plainfield High School employs 130 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Plainfield High School is $10,696.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Plainfield High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Plainfield High School 373rd of 422 New Jersey public high schools. (See Plainfield High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:


Plainfield Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Plainfield Public School District 564th of 615 New Jersey school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Plainfield High School

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Rank History for all students at Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 8.78 313th 343 8.7%
2004 11.40 313th 348 10.1%
2005 3.56 330th 351 6.0%
2006 2.05 340th 357 4.8%
2007 5.20 335th 361 7.2%
2008 4.10 335th 359 6.7%
2009 6.17 343rd 370 7.3%
2010 2.10 357th 371 3.8%
2011 1.23 368th 378 2.6%
2012 1.36 377th 388 2.8%
2013 6.48 368th 396 7.1%
2014 7.31 377th 411 8.3%
2015 15.92 383rd 406 5.7%
2016 14.67 386th 409 5.6%
2017 11.60 394th 411 4.1%
2018 10.93 393rd 415 5.3%
2019 11.32 377th 416 9.4%
2022 12.37 385th 415 7.2%
2023 13.45 373rd 422 11.6%
See the entire list of New Jersey High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 21.16 144th 146 1.4%
2019 27.37 108th 138 21.7%
2022 28.14 102nd 137 25.5%
2023 25.21 140th 161 13.0%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 24.58 296th 355 16.6%
2022 34.85 203rd 344 41.0%
2023 53.28 108th 339 68.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.35 326th 345 5.5%
2019 17.75 306th 347 11.8%
2022 21.06 279th 324 13.9%
2023 23.90 283rd 344 17.7%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 7.32 396th 403 1.7%
2019 8.23 378th 408 7.4%
2022 10.29 386th 414 6.8%
2023 9.53 393rd 416 5.5%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.16 394th 405 2.7%
2019 8.13 387th 407 4.9%
2022 11.63 373rd 410 9.0%
2023 12.57 364th 414 12.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 22.10 234th 266 12.0%
2019 22.73 210th 254 17.3%
2022 30.36 179th 256 30.1%
2023 33.01 160th 250 36.0%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.99 353rd 368 4.1%
2019 13.37 336th 364 7.7%
2022 16.98 346th 382 9.4%
2023 17.31 342nd 385 11.2%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Data source: test scores: New Jersey Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Plainfield High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: New Jersey Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Plainfield High School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 28 1555 25 204 0 n/a n/a 0 1812
1989 38 1341 20 200 0 n/a n/a 0 1599
1990 33 1318 26 226 0 n/a n/a 0 1603
1991 26 1263 28 254 0 n/a n/a 0 1571
1992 22 1311 24 242 1 n/a n/a 0 1600
1993 15 1346 16 253 1 n/a n/a 0 1631
1994 16 1357 15 240 1 n/a n/a 0 1629
1995 13 1304 7 248 0 n/a n/a 0 1572
1996 13 1304 7 248 0 n/a n/a 0 1572
1998 19 1378 5 252 0 n/a n/a 0 1654
1999 12 1305 6 237 0 n/a n/a 0 1560
2000 12 1391 2 310 0 n/a n/a 0 1715
2001 12 1417 5 321 0 n/a n/a 0 1755
2002 8 1414 8 468 0 n/a n/a 0 1898
2003 8 1414 8 468 0 n/a n/a 0 1898
2004 7 1415 6 501 0 n/a n/a 0 1929
2005 10 1281 7 538 0 n/a n/a 0 1836
2006 3 1243 5 565 0 n/a n/a 0 1816
2007 4 1212 10 577 0 n/a n/a 0 1803
2008 5 1220 6 629 0 n/a n/a 0 1860
2009 12 1114 7 642 0 3 0 0 1778
2010 7 1018 5 602 1 3 2 0 1638
2011 7 797 3 581 1 3 0 0 1392
2012 8 728 3 625 1 2 0 0 1367
2013 7 658 4 721 1 2 0 0 1393
2014 7 613 5 835 3 1 1 0 1465
2015 3 553 4 1006 3 0 4 0 1573
2016 6 529 3 1090 2 1 3 0 1634
2017 3 517 5 1188 1 1 1 0 1716
2018 3 467 4 1236 2 1 3 0 1716
2019 10 457 2 1261 3 2 6 0 1741
2020 8 426 1 1430 2 4 6 0 1877
2021 13 413 1 1420 3 3 1 0 1854
2022 13 361 4 1447 2 3 1 0 1831
2023 10 333 6 1569 0 4 3 0 1925

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Plainfield High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1812 141.0 12.8 n/a
1989 1599 127.0 12.5 n/a
1990 1603 121.0 13.2 8
1991 1571 112.0 14.0 14.5
1992 1600 113.0 14.1 23.1
1993 1631 125.2 13.0 40.8
1994 1629 132.1 12.3 32.6
1995 1572 129.0 12.2 41.6
1996 1572 129.0 12.2 41.6
1998 1654 119.3 13.9 43.2
1999 1560 119.3 13.1 34.8
2000 1715 125.8 13.6 32.8
2001 1755 126.0 13.9 40.5
2002 1898 138.0 13.8 54.4
2003 1898 138.0 13.8 54.4
2004 1929 141.0 13.7 60.6
2005 1836 143.0 12.8 n/a
2006 1816 144.0 12.6 46.6
2007 1803 145.0 12.4 45.4
2008 1860 127.0 14.6 54.6
2009 1778 127.6 12.1 46.4
2010 1638 112.0 14.6 52.4
2011 1392 111.0 12.5 64.7
2012 1367 118.9 11.4 62.9
2013 1393 121.5 11.4 76.5
2014 1465 116.0 12.6 86.8
2015 1573 115.0 13.6 78.4
2016 1634 117.0 13.9 71.5
2017 1716 115.0 14.9 73
2018 1716 116.5 14.7 70.3
2019 1741 127.0 13.7 72.8
2020 1877 134.5 13.9 73.3
2021 1854 128.0 14.4 61.2
2022 1831 129.0 14.1 77
2023 1925 130.0 14.8 78.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Plainfield High School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1812 141.0 12.8 n/a
1989 1599 127.0 12.5 n/a
1990 1603 121.0 13.2 8
1991 1571 112.0 14.0 14.5
1992 1600 113.0 14.1 23.1
1993 1631 125.2 13.0 40.8
1994 1629 132.1 12.3 32.6
1995 1572 129.0 12.2 41.6
1996 1572 129.0 12.2 41.6
1998 1654 119.3 13.9 43.2
1999 1560 119.3 13.1 34.8
2000 1715 125.8 13.6 32.8
2001 1755 126.0 13.9 40.5
2002 1898 138.0 13.8 54.4
2003 1898 138.0 13.8 54.4
2004 1929 141.0 13.7 60.6
2005 1836 143.0 12.8 n/a
2006 1816 144.0 12.6 46.6
2007 1803 145.0 12.4 45.4
2008 1860 127.0 14.6 54.6
2009 1778 127.6 12.1 46.4
2010 1638 112.0 14.6 52.4
2011 1392 111.0 12.5 64.7
2012 1367 118.9 11.4 62.9
2013 1393 121.5 11.4 76.5
2014 1465 116.0 12.6 86.8
2015 1573 115.0 13.6 78.4
2016 1634 117.0 13.9 71.5
2017 1716 115.0 14.9 73
2018 1716 116.5 14.7 70.3
2019 1741 127.0 13.7 72.8
2020 1877 134.5 13.9 73.3
2021 1854 128.0 14.4 61.2
2022 1831 129.0 14.1 77
2023 1925 130.0 14.8 78.5

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Plainfield High School

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $10,696

Data source: New Jersey Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Plainfield High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 377th of 416 High schoolsRanks 373rd of 422 High schools
 2.2%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
9th Grade English Language Arts (Plainfield High School)19.218.5
 0.7%
   9th Grade English Language Arts (Plainfield Public School District)26.224.7
 1.5%
   9th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)55.952.1
 3.8%
9th Grade Algebra I (Plainfield High School)10.86.5
 4.3%
   9th Grade Algebra I (Plainfield Public School District)20.411.4
 9%
   9th Grade Algebra I (New Jersey)27.219.2
 8%
9th Grade Geometry (Plainfield High School)28.64.3
 24.3%
   9th Grade Geometry (Plainfield Public School District)28.63.4
 25.2%
   9th Grade Geometry (New Jersey)59.150
 9.1%
10th Grade Algebra I (Plainfield High School)00
   10th Grade Algebra I (Plainfield Public School District)00
   10th Grade Algebra I (New Jersey)7.813.2
 5.4%
End of Course Algebra I (Plainfield High School)6.65.9
 0.7%
   End of Course Algebra I (Plainfield Public School District)20.515.4
 5.1%
   End of Course Algebra I (New Jersey)43.335.1
 8.2%
End of Course Geometry (Plainfield High School)3.74.3
 0.6%
   End of Course Geometry (Plainfield Public School District)3.43.4
   End of Course Geometry (New Jersey)32.251.2
 19%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students17411925
 10.6%
African American457333
 27.1%
American Indian30
 100%
Asian26
 200%
Hispanic12611569
 24.4%
Pacific Islander24
 100%
White1010
Two or More Races63
 50%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients72.8%78.5%
 5.7%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Plainfield High School

Students at Plainfield High School are 82% Hispanic, 17% African American.

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,925 students attended Plainfield High School.

Plainfield High School ranks in the bottom 11.6% of New Jersey high schools.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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