The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Alice Costello Elementary School
Alice Costello Elementary School is the sole public school in Brooklawn, a small, primarily residential borough in Camden County. It serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in a single building, meaning children in this community attend the same school from their earliest years right through the end of middle school. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and is part of the Brooklawn Public School District, which consists of just this one campus.
The student body is diverse but has a clear demographic majority. White students make up roughly half the enrollment, with Hispanic students representing the largest minority group. Black and Asian students each account for a smaller share, and the remainder is made up of multiracial students and a few American Indian or Native Hawaiian students. More than half of the students come from households with low enough incomes to qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a level that places the school well within the range of many New Jersey communities where economic need is common. The school does not report the share of students with disabilities or English learners in the data available, so a parent with a child in either group would want to learn more directly from the school about the supports offered.
On state assessments, the school’s results follow a mixed pattern. The New Jersey Student Learning Assessments measure math, English language arts, and science. Overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Camden County, meaning Alice Costello Elementary performs roughly in the middle of the pack relative to its county peers. But the numbers vary noticeably by grade and subject. In the earlier elementary grades, math and reading proficiency are generally solid, with a majority of third graders meeting benchmarks in math and about half doing so in English. By fifth and sixth grade, however, math proficiency drops sharply, and English results also fall, with sixth grade showing a particularly weak outcome. Seventh grade bounces back strongly in both subjects, then eighth grade falls again, especially in math and science, where very few students reach proficiency. This pattern of uneven performance across grade levels is something a parent would want to discuss with the school to understand what interventions or curriculum changes are in place for the transition years.
Because the school stops at eighth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report. After eighth grade, Brooklawn students attend Gloucester City High School in the neighboring borough under a sending-receiving relationship. Families considering the elementary school should also consider the high school options, as the district does not operate its own high school.
The community of Brooklawn is compact, covering a very small area along the Delaware River. It has a highway-adjacent feel, with US Route 130 running through and several other routes meeting there. The population has been declining for decades, and the borough shows few signs of new construction or major development. The civic core is modest—borough hall, the school itself, a volunteer fire company, and a small police force. There is no public library or obvious downtown district, so daily errands and services likely require a short drive to neighboring Gloucester City or other parts of Camden County.
Housing in Brooklawn is notably more affordable than the New Jersey average. Home values are well below the state median, and rents are also lower, making the borough a more accessible entry point for homeownership in the region. The local housing market has seen some price increases, but it remains relatively moderate compared with pricier areas in northern and central New Jersey. For a family looking for a lower-cost home within commuting distance of jobs in the Philadelphia metro area, Brooklawn can be a practical choice.
The district itself is small and has faced enrollment declines, a trend that the district’s own financial documents attribute in part to caps on its school choice program. Brooklawn participates in New Jersey’s Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, which allows non-resident students to attend Alice Costello at no cost to their parents. This program can bring in additional funding and students, but the cap limits how many choice seats are available. The enrollment decline means class sizes may be smaller than in larger districts, but it also puts pressure on the district’s finances and programming.
Alice Costello Elementary School fits a family looking for a small, neighborhood school where children can stay in one building from pre-K through eighth grade. The academic record is a mixed picture—strong in some grades and subjects, weaker in others—so parents should ask about the school’s approach to those tougher middle-grade years. The community is affordable and quiet, though it is limited in services and amenities, and the high school is off-site. For a family that values consistency and a compact setting, and that is willing to be an engaged advocate for their child’s learning, this school can be a workable fit.
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