The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Math. The lowest is 54% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Horace Mann Elementary School
Horace Mann Elementary School sits within the Cherry Hill School District, a large suburban system in Camden County that serves the township of Cherry Hill. The school itself is a regular public elementary building handling kindergarten through fifth grade, and it draws from a neighborhood that is part of a much bigger suburban landscape. Cherry Hill is a car-dependent township with no traditional downtown; its commercial life revolves around the Cherry Hill Mall and retail corridors along major highways. The housing market in the area reflects a desirable Philadelphia suburb, with home values that have been rising modestly and a market that tilts toward sellers. The school’s enrollment is on the moderate side for an elementary school, and the student body is diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by a substantial Hispanic population and a notable Asian presence, with smaller Black and multiracial groups. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is well below the national average, suggesting a relatively low-poverty school community.
Academically, Horace Mann sits in a strong position relative to other schools in Camden County districts. When all tested subjects and grades are combined into an overall proficiency index, the school lands in the top quartile among the county’s districts. That is a clear strength. Looking at the specific grade-level results from New Jersey’s state assessments, a pattern emerges. In both math and English language arts, third and fourth graders show proficiency rates that hover around the halfway mark. Fifth graders, however, perform at a distinctly higher level, with a strong majority meeting the state’s proficiency bar in both subjects. Science, which is tested only in fifth grade, also shows a majority proficient. This jump in fifth grade may reflect the cumulative effect of instruction or a cohort effect, but it is a noticeable bright spot. The school has no high school grades, so there is no graduation rate, and chronic absenteeism data was not available.
The school’s environment and support systems are largely undocumented in the available data. There is no information on staffing ratios, discipline rates, or course access, which is typical for an elementary school where such data is less commonly reported at the school level. The district brief turned up no major recent changes in curriculum, facilities, or policy that would alter the everyday experience for families. That means a parent evaluating Horace Mann should rely primarily on the academic results and the community context to form a picture.
Cherry Hill itself is a large, established suburb with a deep history of suburban growth. It is home to major employers like TD Bank and Melitta USA, and many residents commute to Philadelphia or other nearby cities. The township has extensive parkland and a well-regarded public library, but its built environment is defined by subdivisions, strip malls, and office parks. The Korean American business corridor along Route 70 is a distinctive feature of the community’s evolving demographic character.
For a family considering Horace Mann Elementary, the academic picture is generally favorable, especially by fifth grade. The earlier grades show more mixed results, and a parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports literacy and math in the primary years, or whether the fifth-grade performance reflects something specific about that grade’s instruction. The school’s low poverty rate and diverse student composition are straightforward characteristics, not judgments. The surrounding community offers suburban amenities and commuting convenience to the Philadelphia region but little in the way of walkable neighborhoods or a downtown core. Horace Mann is a solid, well-regarded elementary school within a district that sits among the higher-performing ones in Camden County.
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