Brookdale Elementary School, Bloomfield NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Brookdale Elementary School

Brookdale Elementary School is a regular public elementary school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Bloomfield, New Jersey, within the Bloomfield Township School District. It is one of several elementary schools in this densely populated inner-ring suburb of Newark.

Academically, Brookdale posts strong results on the state’s NJSLA assessments. In both math and English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three through six consistently reach solid levels, with several grade-level cohorts scoring above the midpoint of what Essex County schools report. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages performance across tested subjects and grades, places in the top quartile relative to districts in Essex County—a meaningful distinction given the county’s size and variation. Science results, tested in grade five, are more moderate, a pattern not unusual for elementary science assessments and one a parent may wish to discuss with the school to understand how science instruction is structured.

The student body is moderate in size for an elementary school serving this grade span. The population is predominantly White, with a sizable Hispanic cohort and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, well below the typical range for New Jersey public schools. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records reviewed; families who need information about special education or language support services may want to ask the school directly.

Bloomfield itself is a growing, diverse township with a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors. The township has seen sustained population growth in recent years, and its official website describes historic expansion in retail, residential, and entertainment offerings. Housing values in the zip code are above the national typical level and have risen moderately in the past year; rents also show upward movement. The median listing price for homes in the county is consistent with a market that is competitive but not out of reach for many professional households. The area offers NJ Transit rail service on the Montclair-Boonton Line, giving residents a commute option to New York City via Secaucus Junction. Major parks such as Brookdale Park and Watsessing Park, both administered by Essex County, provide recreational space within the township.

The Bloomfield Township School District did not surface any recent major changes in programming, boundaries, or leadership in the search conducted, so the institutional context appears stable. No information was available from the provided data about course access, enrichment programs, before- or after-school offerings, or staffing levels at Brookdale. Parents considering the school may want to explore these topics directly, particularly if they have children with specific interests in music, art, technology, or extracurricular activities.

Brookdale Elementary fits families who prioritize strong academic fundamentals in a conventional elementary setting. The school’s test results suggest students are generally meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations in core subjects, and the low poverty rate within the building points to a relatively resourced peer environment. The surrounding community offers the conveniences of suburban living near a major city—transit access, parks, a growing commercial base—and the school itself is located on Broad Street, a main thoroughfare. For residents weighing public school options in Bloomfield, Brookdale’s consistently solid performance data and top-quartile county standing make it a credible choice among the district’s elementary schools.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 378%

School 78% · District 51% · ▲ 27 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 39 pts above county median

Grade 476%

School 76% · District 50% · ▲ 27 pts above district

▲ 31 pts above state median · ▲ 38 pts above county median

Grade 577%

School 77% · District 48% · ▲ 29 pts above district

▲ 34 pts above state median · ▲ 45 pts above county median

Grade 667%

School 67% · District 41% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 33 pts above state median · ▲ 42 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 374%

School 74% · District 48% · ▲ 26 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

Grade 483%

School 83% · District 60% · ▲ 24 pts above district

▲ 28 pts above state median · ▲ 31 pts above county median

Grade 590%

School 90% · District 64% · ▲ 25 pts above district

▲ 36 pts above state median · ▲ 42 pts above county median

Grade 683%

School 83% · District 62% · ▲ 21 pts above district

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 33 pts above county median

Science

Grade 549%

School 49% · District 30% · ▲ 19 pts above district

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 32 pts above county median

This schoolBloomfield Township School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.