John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

Summary:

John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School is a public K-4 school in Teaneck, New Jersey, part of the Teaneck School District, which has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. The school serves a diverse student population, with a mix of racial and ethnic backgrounds.

While the school has shown some strengths, such as strong performance for African American and Hispanic students, it has also faced challenges. Its 3rd grade ELA proficiency rate of 38% lags behind the district's 57.5% and the state's 42%, though its 4th grade ELA proficiency of 65.1% exceeds the district and state. In math, the school's 3rd grade proficiency was higher than the district and state, but its 4th grade proficiency was lower. The school's performance has fluctuated in recent years, with some grades and subjects improving while others have declined. Notably, the school has seen a significant increase in chronic absenteeism, from 2.7% in 2017-2018 to 18.2% in 2021-2022, which may be impacting academic outcomes.

Compared to nearby schools, such as James Russell Lowell Elementary School, John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School has shown some differences in academic performance. Additionally, when compared to high-performing schools like Cherry Hill School in the River Edge School District, the gap in achievement is significant. The school's high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, at 33.54%, may also be contributing to the academic challenges it faces. Addressing these issues and building on the school's strengths could be important steps for improving student outcomes.


Detail:

Public K-4

 491 W Englewood Avenue
       Teaneck, NJ  07666


(201) 833-5535

District: Teaneck School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
596th of 1,342 New Jersey Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,681 Help


Students who attend John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Benjamin Franklin Middle School
High:    Teaneck High School

Student/teacher ratio:  9.3 Help
Number of students:  319

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
41.1%
African American:
27.3%
White:
17.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  33.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School ranks better than 55.6% of elementary schools in New Jersey. It also ranks 2nd among 3 ranked elementary schools in the Teaneck School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 56.16. (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 Student population at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (41.1%), African American (27.3%), White (17.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 33.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School is 9.3. 2 elementary schools in the Teaneck School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School employs 34 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School is $6,681, which is the highest among 4 elementary schools in the Teaneck School District!
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School 596th of 1342 New Jersey public elementary schools. (See John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Teaneck School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Teaneck School District 331st of 615 New Jersey school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School?

Rank History for John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 49.36 729th 1204 39.5%
2004 63.32 601st 1298 53.7%
2005 43.66 902nd 1303 30.8%
2006 50.88 823rd 1314 37.4%
2007 47.59 901st 1329 32.2%
2008 50.05 836th 1338 37.5%
2009 42.14 921st 1346 31.6%
2010 39.76 961st 1354 29.0%
2011 42.40 928th 1360 31.8%
2012 42.47 921st 1363 32.4%
2013 46.29 875th 1367 36.0%
2014 44.73 885th 1363 35.1%
2015 42.77 813th 1357 40.1%
2016 41.85 830th 1346 38.3%
2017 37.18 889th 1352 34.2%
2018 44.62 803rd 1353 40.7%
2019 51.18 706th 1360 48.1%
2021 28.49 888th 1317 32.6%
2022 51.10 658th 1345 51.1%
2023 56.16 596th 1342 55.6%
See the entire list of New Jersey Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 54.79 164th 434 62.2%
2019 58.11 154th 463 66.7%
2021 35.40 250th 411 39.2%
2022 25.00 386th 489 21.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 50.53 436th 1001 56.4%
2019 43.90 498th 1007 50.5%
2021 26.37 626th 868 27.9%
2022 51.30 381st 949 59.9%
2023 59.19 310th 958 67.6%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 66.94 240th 942 74.5%
2019 79.04 105th 948 88.9%
2021 41.00 475th 839 43.4%
2022 64.94 227th 863 73.7%
2023 82.13 96th 910 89.5%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.91 873rd 1333 34.5%
2019 56.95 601st 1331 54.8%
2021 26.28 921st 1290 28.6%
2022 45.58 711th 1326 46.4%
2023 42.56 746th 1318 43.4%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 52.01 652nd 1334 51.1%
2019 45.82 747th 1335 44.0%
2021 32.82 814th 1297 37.2%
2022 56.31 570th 1324 56.9%
2023 66.51 434th 1315 67.0%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 74.29 98th 517 81.0%
2019 76.96 87th 522 83.3%
2021 73.75 63rd 456 86.2%
2022 85.73 49th 494 90.1%
2023 78.88 73rd 463 84.2%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 71.17 192nd 870 77.9%
2019 80.20 126th 899 86.0%
2021 34.32 606th 896 32.4%
2022 76.34 174th 953 81.7%
2023 80.17 145th 982 85.2%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 20.80 863rd 1022 15.6%
2019 13.34 920th 1023 10.1%
2021 48.43 469th 964 51.3%
2022 35.04 672nd 976 31.1%
2023 48.65 511th 975 47.6%
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.

John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 




Data source: New Jersey Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Open Quote I do appreciate Mr. (James) Dimicelli's excellent teaching skills. My daughter is in a small special learning needs class and Mr. Dimicelli runs it very smoothly. The kids know what is expected of them. He creates and air of respect and responsiblity and my child is always happy to be there. That being said, Her second and first grade teachers also did a nice job with making students (esp. my daughter) feel welcome and accountable for work. The PTA is active and inclusive. They were sensitive to my religious needs (for certain diet) during a cookout. Even offered to pay for carryout since they did not have what we could eat. The principal, Mr. Ortez, is friendly and on top of things. The nurse is very thorough. My daughter has therapies each week and she has progressed nicely. Close Quote



Enrollment information for John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 179 181 31 25 0 n/a n/a 0 416
1989 166 191 37 29 0 n/a n/a 0 423
1990 168 182 37 22 0 n/a n/a 0 409
1991 186 161 32 17 0 n/a n/a 0 396
1992 202 157 43 35 0 n/a n/a 0 437
1993 205 160 45 43 0 n/a n/a 0 453
1994 218 148 33 47 0 n/a n/a 0 446
1995 208 195 30 49 1 n/a n/a 0 483
1996 208 195 30 49 1 n/a n/a 0 483
1998 164 224 37 64 3 n/a n/a 0 492
1999 151 247 34 83 2 n/a n/a 0 517
2000 123 258 46 85 4 n/a n/a 0 516
2001 115 236 51 93 3 n/a n/a 0 498
2002 89 212 52 96 2 n/a n/a 0 451
2003 89 212 52 96 2 n/a n/a 0 451
2004 79 205 42 97 2 n/a n/a 0 425
2005 60 192 45 97 1 n/a n/a 0 395
2006 57 203 46 103 2 n/a n/a 0 411
2007 55 184 28 101 1 n/a n/a 0 369
2008 47 171 38 115 2 n/a n/a 0 373
2009 40 170 61 113 1 0 0 0 385
2010 46 175 60 124 1 0 0 0 406
2011 38 142 71 122 1 0 9 0 383
2012 30 148 58 122 4 0 6 0 368
2013 34 140 48 109 2 1 5 0 339
2014 52 145 53 120 2 1 3 0 376
2015 50 145 37 132 2 2 3 0 371
2016 53 122 37 143 1 3 5 0 364
2017 45 122 32 143 1 1 8 0 352
2018 50 95 28 148 0 1 7 0 329
2019 49 104 27 155 2 0 7 0 344
2020 39 113 33 162 3 1 8 0 359
2021 39 96 28 155 3 1 9 0 331
2022 39 102 21 139 2 1 13 0 317
2023 56 87 22 131 5 2 16 0 319

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 John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 416 25.0 16.6 n/a
1989 423 27.0 15.6 n/a
1990 409 26.0 15.7 5.6
1991 396 26.0 15.2 7.8
1992 437 27.0 16.1 8.9
1993 453 29.0 15.6 12.8
1994 446 29.0 15.4 12.3
1995 483 30.0 16.1 12
1996 483 30.0 16.1 12
1998 492 32.0 15.4 13.8
1999 517 32.0 16.2 10.3
2000 516 35.0 14.7 17.6
2001 498 35.2 14.1 18.1
2002 451 33.0 13.7 17.1
2003 451 33.0 13.7 17.1
2004 425 32.0 13.3 17.2
2005 395 30.0 13.2 n/a
2006 411 30.0 13.7 23.8
2007 369 28.0 13.2 27.6
2008 373 27.0 13.8 27.1
2009 385 36.4 9.7 33.5
2010 406 29.0 14.0 38.2
2011 383 22.0 17.4 37.1
2012 368 28.8 12.7 43.8
2013 339 23.0 14.7 40.7
2014 376 25.0 15.0 30.3
2015 371 34.0 10.9 36.7
2016 364 32.0 11.3 11.5
2017 352 32.8 10.7 47.7
2018 329 33.0 9.9 44.4
2019 344 34.0 10.1 41.6
2020 359 32.5 11.0 45.7
2021 331 35.0 9.4 38.4
2022 317 30.0 10.5 23.3
2023 319 34.0 9.3 33.5

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 John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 416 25.0 16.6 n/a
1989 423 27.0 15.6 n/a
1990 409 26.0 15.7 5.6
1991 396 26.0 15.2 7.8
1992 437 27.0 16.1 8.9
1993 453 29.0 15.6 12.8
1994 446 29.0 15.4 12.3
1995 483 30.0 16.1 12
1996 483 30.0 16.1 12
1998 492 32.0 15.4 13.8
1999 517 32.0 16.2 10.3
2000 516 35.0 14.7 17.6
2001 498 35.2 14.1 18.1
2002 451 33.0 13.7 17.1
2003 451 33.0 13.7 17.1
2004 425 32.0 13.3 17.2
2005 395 30.0 13.2 n/a
2006 411 30.0 13.7 23.8
2007 369 28.0 13.2 27.6
2008 373 27.0 13.8 27.1
2009 385 36.4 9.7 33.5
2010 406 29.0 14.0 38.2
2011 383 22.0 17.4 37.1
2012 368 28.8 12.7 43.8
2013 339 23.0 14.7 40.7
2014 376 25.0 15.0 30.3
2015 371 34.0 10.9 36.7
2016 364 32.0 11.3 11.5
2017 352 32.8 10.7 47.7
2018 329 33.0 9.9 44.4
2019 344 34.0 10.1 41.6
2020 359 32.5 11.0 45.7
2021 331 35.0 9.4 38.4
2022 317 30.0 10.5 23.3
2023 319 34.0 9.3 33.5

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 John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $351 (5.3%) $6,330 (94.7%) $6,681

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

Impact of COVID-19 on John Greenleaf Whittier 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 706th of 1360 Elementary schoolsRanks 596th of 1342 Elementary schools
 7.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School)45.338
 7.3%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Teaneck School District)53.957.5
 3.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)50.242
 8.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School)47.646.5
 1.1%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Teaneck School District)54.750.5
 4.2%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)55.145.9
 9.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School)67.665.1
 2.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Teaneck School District)6757.7
 9.3%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)57.451.3
 6.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School)58.448.2
 10.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Teaneck School District)53.941.8
 12.1%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)5144.3
 6.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students344319
 7.3%
African American10487
 16.3%
American Indian25
 150%
Asian2722
 18.5%
Hispanic155131
 15.5%
Pacific Islander02
White4956
 14.3%
Two or More Races716
 128.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients41.6%33.5%
 8%


Schools Near John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School

John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School ranks 596th of 1342 New Jersey elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School are 41% Hispanic, 27% African American, 18% White, 7% Asian, 5% Two or more races, 2% American Indian.

In the 2022-23 school year, 319 students attended John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School.

Students who attend John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Benjamin Franklin Middle School
High : Teaneck 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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