The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Burlington City High School
Burlington City High School serves grades seven through twelve as the sole secondary school in the Burlington City Public School District, a small historic district on the Delaware River. The school sits within the city’s compact grid, not on a separate campus, and is part of a district that includes three elementary and intermediate schools. The high school also receives students from neighboring Edgewater Park Township under a sending-receiving arrangement. The district itself is one of the former Abbott districts in New Jersey, meaning the state covers the full cost of school facility projects under the Schools Development Authority.
The student body is racially and economically diverse. The school enrolls a substantial share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Black students make up the largest group, followed by White students, Hispanic students, and smaller numbers of Asian, multiracial, and American Indian students. The school’s enrollment by grade shows a typical rise from the middle grades into high school, with the ninth-grade class being the largest. The school has not reported data on students with individualized education programs or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those populations and the supports available.
On state assessments, the school’s results show a clear pattern. In English language arts, roughly two out of every five seventh graders scored proficient, and roughly half of eighth graders did. That is a meaningful gap from the state average, but the eighth-grade ELA figure is the strongest tested subject at the school. Math results are considerably lower, with about one in six seventh graders and one in ten eighth graders reaching proficiency. Eighth-grade science proficiency is similarly low. A broader index that averages the school’s proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places Burlington City High School in the bottom quartile among the dozens of districts in Burlington County. A parent considering the school should look into how the school supports students who enter below grade level in math and science, and whether the school offers intervention or acceleration programs that fit their child’s needs.
The school’s graduation rate was not available in the data. For a school serving grades seven through twelve, that is a notable gap. A parent may want to verify the four-year graduation rate directly with the district or through the state’s school performance report.
The school does not appear to publish its program offerings in the data provided. That means Advanced Placement course access, career and technical education pathways, dual-credit arrangements, and extracurricular breadth are not documented here. Families should confirm with the school whether they offer the range of academic pathways they are looking for, especially since the school’s grade span means a student could spend six years there.
The city of Burlington is a small, walkable place with a historic downtown, a riverfront park, and light rail access to Camden and Philadelphia. The population has been stable with a slight decline over recent decades, and the district closed one elementary school several years ago due to lower enrollment and cost pressures. No major new housing developments were identified in the research, and the district’s recent public changes appear to be minimal. The housing market in the area shows a median listing price below the state benchmark but above the national figure, and the county market has a moderate number of active listings.
For a family, the school’s greatest strengths are its diverse student body and its setting in a compact, historic city with transit connections. The academic picture is mixed: eighth-grade ELA is the relative bright spot, while math and science proficiency are low enough that a family whose child is strong in those subjects should explore what advanced options exist. The absence of graduation rate, program data, and special-population counts means the school leaves several important questions unanswered on the page. A family considering Burlington City High School should ask those questions directly, particularly around postsecondary readiness and academic supports for students at different levels.
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