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Willard Elementary School

Summary:

Willard Elementary School is a high-performing public elementary school in Ridgewood Public School District, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in New Jersey, with a statewide ranking of 50 out of 1,338 schools for the 2023-2024 school year and a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Willard Elementary School's academic performance is exceptional, with students consistently outperforming the state and district averages in standardized test scores across all grade levels and subject areas. In the 2023-2024 school year, Willard's 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students achieved proficiency rates of 74.7%, 84.5%, and 87.5% respectively in English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 43.6%, 50.8%, and 52.3%. In Mathematics, Willard's students also excelled, with proficiency rates of 86.7%, 75.3%, and 80.7% for 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade, respectively, compared to the state averages of 47.6%, 45%, and 40.1%. The school's performance for student subgroups, including females, males, Asian, and White students, is also noteworthy, with rankings in the top 60 to 145 out of over 1,000 schools in New Jersey.

Willard Elementary School's exceptional performance extends beyond academic achievement. The school has maintained relatively low chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 4.9% to 18.1% over the past few years, which are lower than the state and district averages. Additionally, Willard has a very low percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a relatively affluent student population. When compared to nearby schools in the Waldwick School District and Midland Park School District, Willard consistently outperforms these institutions in terms of academic performance and statewide rankings.


Detail:

Public K-5

 601 Morningside Rd
       Ridgewood, NJ  07451

(201) 670-2770

District: Ridgewood Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
50th of 1,338 New Jersey Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,772 Help


Students who attend Willard Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    George Washington Middle School
High:    Ridgewood High School

Student/teacher ratio:  13.3 Help
Number of students:  470

Racial breakdown:

White:
67.4%
Asian:
15.7%
Hispanic:
9.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  0.6% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Willard Elementary School ranks better than 96.3% of elementary schools in New Jersey. It also ranks 4th among 6 ranked elementary schools in the Ridgewood Public School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 93.96. (See more...)
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Willard Elementary School has the largest elementary school student body size in the Ridgewood Public School District. Racial makeup is: White (67.4%), Asian (15.7%), Hispanic (9.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 0.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Ridgewood Public School District. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Willard Elementary School is 13.3, which is the highest among 7 elementary schools in the Ridgewood Public School District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Willard Elementary School employs 35.1 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Willard Elementary School is $9,772, which is the lowest among 7 elementary schools in the Ridgewood Public School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Willard Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Willard Elementary School 50th of 1338 New Jersey public elementary schools. (See Willard Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
White students:


Ridgewood Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Ridgewood Public School District 41st of 613 New Jersey school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Willard Elementary School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Willard Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 79.09 241st 1204 80.0%
2004 85.75 50th 1298 96.1%
2005 84.66 48th 1303 96.3%
2006 84.73 28th 1314 97.9%
2007 82.38 64th 1329 95.2%
2008 85.64 24th 1338 98.2%
2009 87.89 39th 1346 97.1%
2010 88.47 17th 1354 98.7%
2011 89.96 8th 1360 99.4%
2012 87.51 31st 1363 97.7%
2013 87.84 33rd 1367 97.6%
2014 86.94 64th 1363 95.3%
2015 92.67 60th 1357 95.6%
2016 93.30 46th 1346 96.6%
2017 90.29 87th 1352 93.6%
2018 91.45 66th 1353 95.1%
2019 88.24 118th 1360 91.3%
2021 91.56 104th 1317 92.1%
2022 94.76 39th 1345 97.1%
2023 95.21 30th 1342 97.8%
2024 93.96 50th 1338 96.3%
See the entire list of New Jersey Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Willard Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 91.49 59th 1001 94.1%
2019 84.73 110th 1007 89.1%
2021 71.31 168th 868 80.6%
2022 91.40 55th 949 94.2%
2023 97.45 21st 958 97.8%
2024 99.43 5th 989 99.5%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Female students at Willard Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.92 140th 1333 89.5%
2019 86.43 135th 1331 89.9%
2021 91.25 83rd 1290 93.6%
2022 95.27 18th 1326 98.6%
2023 95.77 16th 1318 98.8%
2024 93.11 52nd 1317 96.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Willard Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 93.92 40th 1334 97.0%
2019 88.40 105th 1335 92.1%
2021 88.93 126th 1297 90.3%
2022 92.65 72nd 1324 94.6%
2023 92.45 60th 1315 95.4%
2024 92.67 57th 1313 95.7%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Willard Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 86.60 15th 370 95.9%
2019 76.29 64th 370 82.7%
2021 81.52 37th 339 89.1%
2022 66.85 108th 348 69.0%
2023 67.02 108th 346 68.8%
2024 62.81 145th 340 57.4%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for White students at Willard Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.72 89th 1022 91.3%
2019 81.95 124th 1023 87.9%
2021 76.91 161st 964 83.3%
2022 88.85 58th 976 94.1%
2023 90.86 43rd 975 95.6%
2024 88.60 61st 963 93.7%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for White 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.

Willard Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 
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Data source: New Jersey Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Willard Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 361 3 15 4 0 n/a n/a 0 383
1989 344 1 13 12 0 n/a n/a 0 370
1990 320 1 30 2 0 n/a n/a 0 353
1991 342 5 26 0 0 n/a n/a 0 373
1992 367 4 23 1 0 n/a n/a 0 395
1993 372 2 32 4 0 n/a n/a 0 410
1994 387 4 20 4 0 n/a n/a 0 415
1995 412 7 22 6 0 n/a n/a 0 447
1996 412 7 22 6 0 n/a n/a 0 447
1998 421 5 33 9 1 n/a n/a 0 469
1999 434 0 42 10 0 n/a n/a 0 486
2000 439 0 45 13 0 n/a n/a 0 497
2001 453 0 43 12 0 n/a n/a 0 508
2002 451 0 41 12 0 n/a n/a 0 504
2003 451 0 41 12 0 n/a n/a 0 504
2004 453 0 44 15 0 n/a n/a 0 512
2005 411 0 53 11 0 n/a n/a 0 475
2006 405 1 61 13 0 n/a n/a 0 480
2007 376 2 62 12 0 n/a n/a 0 452
2008 381 1 59 10 0 n/a n/a 0 451
2009 402 2 37 11 14 0 0 0 466
2010 390 4 54 8 0 0 0 0 456
2011 407 2 41 20 0 0 15 0 485
2012 394 1 44 21 0 0 16 0 476
2013 394 3 51 30 0 0 20 0 498
2014 396 5 60 31 0 0 14 0 506
2015 380 5 61 26 0 0 25 0 497
2016 364 4 74 28 0 0 31 0 501
2017 357 5 70 27 0 0 36 0 495
2018 342 3 76 29 0 0 41 0 491
2019 330 2 84 29 0 0 40 0 485
2020 328 3 84 38 0 0 43 0 496
2021 313 3 73 40 0 0 32 0 461
2022 325 2 76 40 0 0 42 0 485
2023 310 1 74 39 0 0 47 0 471
2024 317 1 74 43 0 0 35 0 470

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 Willard Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 383 21.0 18.2 n/a
1989 370 23.0 16.0 n/a
1990 353 23.0 15.3 0.6
1991 373 22.0 16.9 0.5
1992 395 21.0 18.8 0.3
1993 410 24.6 16.7 0
1994 415 26.3 15.8 n/a
1995 447 26.0 17.2 0.2
1996 447 26.0 17.2 0.2
1998 469 27.7 16.9 n/a
1999 486 26.8 18.1 0.2
2000 497 27.5 18.1 0.2
2001 508 29.3 17.3 0.4
2002 504 29.8 16.9 0
2003 504 29.8 16.9 0
2004 512 29.3 17.5 0
2005 475 30.3 15.7 n/a
2006 480 29.8 16.1 0
2007 452 31.3 14.4 n/a
2008 451 31.0 14.5 0.4
2009 466 34.3 10.7 0.4
2010 456 26.0 17.5 0.9
2011 485 24.0 20.2 0.6
2012 476 28.6 16.6 0.6
2013 498 30.5 16.3 0.6
2014 506 33.6 15.0 0.8
2015 497 35.0 14.2 1
2016 501 35.0 14.3 1.6
2017 495 34.7 14.2 0.8
2018 491 35.1 13.9 1
2019 485 34.6 13.9 1.2
2020 496 34.5 14.3 1.2
2021 461 35.8 12.8 1.3
2022 485 35.3 13.7 1
2023 471 34.4 13.6 0.6
2024 470 35.1 13.3 0.6

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 Willard Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 383 21.0 18.2 n/a
1989 370 23.0 16.0 n/a
1990 353 23.0 15.3 0.6
1991 373 22.0 16.9 0.5
1992 395 21.0 18.8 0.3
1993 410 24.6 16.7 0
1994 415 26.3 15.8 n/a
1995 447 26.0 17.2 0.2
1996 447 26.0 17.2 0.2
1998 469 27.7 16.9 n/a
1999 486 26.8 18.1 0.2
2000 497 27.5 18.1 0.2
2001 508 29.3 17.3 0.4
2002 504 29.8 16.9 0
2003 504 29.8 16.9 0
2004 512 29.3 17.5 0
2005 475 30.3 15.7 n/a
2006 480 29.8 16.1 0
2007 452 31.3 14.4 n/a
2008 451 31.0 14.5 0.4
2009 466 34.3 10.7 0.4
2010 456 26.0 17.5 0.9
2011 485 24.0 20.2 0.6
2012 476 28.6 16.6 0.6
2013 498 30.5 16.3 0.6
2014 506 33.6 15.0 0.8
2015 497 35.0 14.2 1
2016 501 35.0 14.3 1.6
2017 495 34.7 14.2 0.8
2018 491 35.1 13.9 1
2019 485 34.6 13.9 1.2
2020 496 34.5 14.3 1.2
2021 461 35.8 12.8 1.3
2022 485 35.3 13.7 1
2023 471 34.4 13.6 0.6
2024 470 35.1 13.3 0.6

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 Willard Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $30 (0.3%) $9,742 (99.7%) $9,772

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Willard Elementary 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 118th of 1360 Elementary schoolsRanks 30th of 1342 Elementary schools
 6.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 % proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Willard Elementary School)67.979.8
 11.9%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Ridgewood Public School District)82.279.3
 2.9%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)50.242
 8.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Willard Elementary School)76.592.4
 15.9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Ridgewood Public School District)86.484.7
 1.7%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)55.145.9
 9.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Willard Elementary School)81.385.1
 3.8%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Ridgewood Public School District)84.886
 1.2%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)57.451.3
 6.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Willard Elementary School)83.883.9
 0.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Ridgewood Public School District)82.379.6
 2.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)5144.3
 6.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Willard Elementary School)88.990.8
 1.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Ridgewood Public School District)87.986
 1.9%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)57.953.2
 4.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Willard Elementary School)7980.5
 1.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Ridgewood Public School District)82.877.3
 5.5%
   5th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)46.840.1
 6.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)		 Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)		 Change (%)
Total Students485471
 2.9%
African American21
 50%
American Indian00
Asian8474
 11.9%
Hispanic2939
 34.5%
Pacific Islander00
White330310
 6.1%
Two or More Races4047
 17.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients1.2%0.6%
 0.6%

Schools Near Willard Elementary School








Frequently Asked Questions about Willard Elementary School

In the 2023-24 school year, 470 students attended Willard Elementary School.

Students at Willard Elementary School are 67% White, 16% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

Yes! Willard Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the state. It ranks 50th of 1338 New Jersey elementary schools.

Students who attend Willard Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : George Washington Middle School
High : Ridgewood High School


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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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