Harrison Public Schools, NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Harrison Public Schools

Harrison Public Schools is a single-town district serving roughly an urban community in Hudson County, New Jersey, from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district has been growing. Publicly reported figures show enrollment has increased notably over a few years, and the district has expanded from four schools to five, adding Hamilton Intermediate School. That change in capacity and grade configuration is a practical reality families will experience: class sizes, building use, and the sequence of school transitions have shifted.

The student body is diverse. A large majority of students are Hispanic, with smaller shares of white, Asian, and Black students. Information on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available in the data we reviewed, so a parent may want to ask the district directly about those supports and programs.

On state assessments, the district’s overall proficiency across math, English language arts, and science falls in the bottom quarter among Hudson County’s districts. Across tested grades, proficiency rates in math are generally below the county midpoint; in ELA they are closer to the middle for some grades but still lagging in others. Science results are also on the lower end. These are the core academic numbers, and a family looking for strong test performance may want to investigate further, especially if they prioritize high measured proficiency.

One area where the district stands out more favorably is chronic absenteeism. The rate is relatively low, placing in the top quarter of the county. That suggests students are generally present and engaged, a foundation the district can build on.

The high school graduation rate was not reported in the data, so it is not available to compare. That is a gap; families with older students may want to confirm outcomes directly.

Per-pupil current spending is in the middle range among Hudson County’s districts, slightly above the county midpoint. That suggests the district is not under-resourced relative to its neighbors, though spending alone does not guarantee outcomes.

Housing in the community is moderately priced. Home values are roughly on par with the state median, while rents are a bit below the national rent-to-income benchmark, making the area accessible compared to many parts of northern New Jersey. The cost of buying a home relative to local household income is elevated, a pattern seen across much of the state.

No data on course access, Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, career pathways, or staffing ratios was available. For a district serving through twelfth grade, that means a parent looking for academic breadth or specialized programs will need to contact the schools directly to learn what is offered.

Harrison Public Schools is a district in transition, with rising enrollment and a new school added. Its student body is predominantly Hispanic. Test scores are below the county average in most subjects, though attendance is strong. The district’s spending is typical for the area. For a family that values a growing, diverse community and is willing to engage with the schools on academic support, it may be a fit, but the missing details on programs and graduation outcomes mean careful follow-up is warranted.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,514

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 79%

Black 3%

White 9%

Asian 8%

Two+ 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

23%

50%

Gr 4

35%

67%

Gr 5

33%

67%

Gr 6

43%

56%

Gr 7

37%

59%

Gr 8

47%

77%

Math

Gr 3

30%

67%

Gr 4

28%

38%

Gr 5

37%

62%

Gr 6

21%

50%

Gr 7

20%

39%

Gr 8

18%

21%

Science

Gr 5

14%

48%

Gr 8

31%

Schools in this District

5 schools are officially reported under this district.

Harrison High School

Lincoln Elementary School

Washington Middle School

Hamilton Intermediate School

Kennedy Elementary School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

35%

Grade 3

30%

Grade 4

41%

Grade 5

25%

Grade 6

23%

Grade 7

19%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

26%

Grade 3

40%

Grade 4

38%

Grade 5

45%

Grade 6

40%

Grade 7

53%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

19%

Grade 5

11%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$573,574

Year-over-year change+2.8%

vs. state typical1.00x

vs. national typical1.56x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
07029	Harrison	$574K	+2.8%	100.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,556/mo

Year-over-year change-0.2%

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
07029	Harrison	$2,556	-0.2%	100.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,894/mo

Home price / national median income6.8x

Annual rent / national median income36.6%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$339/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$571,373 (+3.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.