Magnolia School District, NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Magnolia School District

The Magnolia School District serves students from preschool through eighth grade in a single school, Magnolia Elementary School, located in Camden County, New Jersey. With a modest enrollment, the district provides a K-8 pathway after which families must look to a neighboring district for high school.

The community that feeds into the district is part of the broader Camden County housing market. Home values in the district’s primary ZIP code are well below the state median, placing them in a relatively affordable range for New Jersey. The county’s housing market shows signs of activity: the median listing price has risen moderately over the past year, homes are selling fairly quickly, and the number of active listings has grown. The national unemployment rate remains low, and mortgage rates hover in the mid-six percent range, making homeownership a realistic option for many families, though monthly costs still require a solid income. Rental data is limited but suggests modest apartment costs. Overall, this is a working- and middle-class suburban environment rather than a high-cost or exclusive market.

On state assessments, the district’s performance presents a mixed picture. In English language arts, results vary noticeably by grade: younger students in third and fourth grades show proficiency rates that are modest, but by sixth grade a strong majority of students meet the state’s bar, and that strength continues into seventh and eighth grades. This pattern suggests that literacy skills may develop or be reinforced effectively in the upper elementary and middle school years. In mathematics, however, the story is different. Proficiency rates are lower across all tested grades, with eighth grade showing a particularly weak result. Science results, available for grades five and eight, are also low. The district’s overall proficiency index, which averages across all tested subjects and grades, sits above the midpoint among Camden County’s districts, meaning that in aggregate it performs better than many of its neighbors. That aggregate, though, is lifted by the stronger ELA results and pulled down by math and science. A parent considering this district may want to ask the school directly about how they approach math instruction and what supports are available for students who struggle.

The student body is diverse. White students make up the largest group, but Black and Hispanic students each represent a substantial share, and multiracial and Asian students add to the mix. Free and reduced-price lunch data was not available, so it is not possible to directly assess the level of economic need from that measure. Chronic absenteeism, however, is lower than the median among Camden County districts, which is a positive sign that students are generally in school regularly. Per-pupil current spending falls in the middle range but in the upper half countywide, indicating that funding is slightly above average for the area.

The district is small and operates only one school, so class sizes and the overall feel are likely intimate. No recent major changes in budget, curriculum, or facilities were found in publicly reported sources, suggesting a period of stability. Because the district ends at eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and families will need to plan for the transition to high school in a neighboring district. For those who value a small, community-focused elementary and middle school environment where literacy outcomes in the upper grades are a clear strength, and who are comfortable with addressing the math and science gaps through additional support, Magnolia School District fits a specific profile. It offers an affordable housing entry point in a county where many districts are pricier, and its test scores in reading show that many students find their stride by middle school. The weaker math and science results are areas where a family may want to dig deeper with the school staff to understand the current approach and any improvement efforts underway.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

406

Grades

PK–08

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 22%

Black 21%

White 44%

Asian 3%

Two+ 10%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

54%

47%

Gr 4

43%

70%

Gr 5

—

55%

Gr 6

77%

79%

Gr 7

39%

76%

Gr 8

67%

82%

Math

Gr 3

15%

46%

Gr 4

14%

33%

Gr 5

—

30%

Gr 6

28%

Gr 7

15%

35%

Gr 8

—

19%

Science

Gr 5

—

10%

Gr 8

17%

Schools in this District

1 schools are officially reported under this district.

Magnolia

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

6 grades reported

37%

Grade 3

24%

Grade 4

21%

Grade 5

21%

Grade 6

28%

Grade 7

13%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

49%

Grade 3

56%

Grade 4

52%

Grade 5

78%

Grade 6

63%

Grade 7

77%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

17%

Grade 5

11%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$321,463

Year-over-year change+1.7%

Range across 2 ZIP codes$321K to $352K

vs. state typical0.56x

vs. national typical0.87x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (2 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
08049	Magnolia	$321K	+1.7%	99.9%
08083	Somerdale	$352K	+4.9%	0.1%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,782/mo

ZIP code rents (1 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
08083	Somerdale	$1,782	—	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,622/mo

Home price / national median income3.8x

Annual rent / national median income25.5%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$160/mo

Market Activity: Camden County

Median listing price$374,900

Median listing price YoY+7.1%

Median price per sq ft$227

Median price per sq ft YoY+4.1%

Median days on market29.0 days

Median days on market YoY+20.8%

Active listings891

Active listings YoY+18.8%

New listings700

New listings YoY+9.4%

Pending listings925

Pending listings YoY+15.6%

Hotness: median listing price$365,000

Hotness: median listing price YoY+5.2%

Supply score95.4

Supply score YoY-2.1%

Demand score79.6

Demand score YoY-9.3%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

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.