The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in Math. The lowest is 39% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Wilson Elementary School
Wilson Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade in West Caldwell, a suburban township roughly sixteen miles west of Manhattan in Essex County. The school is one of five elementary schools in the Caldwell-West School District. West Caldwell is a primarily residential community with a modest commercial corridor along Bloomfield Avenue, strip malls, several parks, and two public pools. The township has seen modest population growth in recent years and is a member of a planning coalition addressing its affordable housing obligations under the state’s Mount Laurel doctrine.
Academically, Wilson Elementary posts results that sit above the midpoint among districts in Essex County on an overall proficiency index that averages performance across tested subjects and grades. In state assessments for math, the share of students scoring proficient or above reached roughly three-quarters in both third and fifth grade, while fourth grade came in at a lower share of just under three-fifths. In English language arts, proficiency rates landed close to three-fifths across third, fourth, and fifth grade, with a modestly higher share in fourth. Science results for fifth grade were notably lower, with roughly two-fifths of students reaching proficiency. The school’s enrollment is relatively small for an elementary school serving these grades. Families considering the school may want to ask about the specific instructional approach in science and whether the fourth-grade math scores represent a cohort effect or a pattern.
The student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of Hispanic students and smaller shares of students who identify as Asian, Black, two or more races, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, suggesting the school draws from a relatively affluent attendance zone. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source material, so a parent may wish to ask the school directly about special education services and English language support.
The housing market in the school’s zip code reflects a high-cost area. Home values are well above national benchmarks, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment on a typical home is substantial relative to the national median household income. Rents are also high. This context matters for families evaluating whether the area fits their budget.
The district brief turned up no recently reported changes of lasting impact to the district’s operations, leadership, or boundaries. The school’s setting is stable.
Wilson Elementary is a regular public neighborhood school, not a magnet or charter. It is not a Title I school, which aligns with the relatively low share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school does not offer high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
For a family looking at elementary options in the Caldwell-West district, Wilson offers a solid academic profile in math and reading during the early and upper elementary years, with a dip in science performance that may be worth a conversation with the school. The affluent, suburban character of West Caldwell and the high housing costs will be a consideration for most families. The school is small enough that a parent seeking a close-knit feel may find it a good fit, and those interested in a more diverse student body or in understanding how the school supports a range of learners should ask about the groups for which data was not provided.
See more original research from School Decision →