James Johnson Elementary School, Cherry Hill NJ

Original Research by School Decision on James Johnson Elementary School

James Johnson Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Cherry Hill School District, a regular public school in a large suburban township that sits across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. The school occupies a campus on Kresson Road, in a community that grew rapidly during the mid-twentieth century suburban boom and is now one of the region's major commercial hubs, anchored by the Cherry Hill Mall and extensive retail corridors. The township is car-dependent, with no traditional downtown; commercial and civic life centers on the mall, the public library, and a network of parks and preserved open space.

Academically, James Johnson stands out among elementary schools in Camden County. Across tested subjects and grades, overall proficiency places the school in the top quartile relative to other districts in the county, a notably strong showing. The state's NJSLA assessments in mathematics and English language arts show results that are solid across the upper elementary grades, with fifth grade marking the highest proficiency in both subjects. Performance in science, tested only at fifth grade, is lower than in math and ELA, and a parent may want to ask the school about science instruction and support. Because no trend or multi-year data was available, it is not possible to say whether these results are improving or declining.

The school enrolls a student body that is varied in its racial and ethnic makeup. White students form the largest group, followed by Hispanic, Asian, Black, and multiracial students, with small numbers of Native American and Pacific Islander students. Roughly a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is moderate for a school in this part of New Jersey. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners was not reported, so the school's special education and language support profiles are unknown.

Cherry Hill itself is a well-established Philadelphia suburb with a population that has grown slowly after several decades of stasis. The Asian American population, in particular, has increased rapidly in recent years, reflecting a notable Korean American business corridor along Route 70. Major employers include TD Bank's headquarters, Melitta USA, and the Courier-Post newspaper. A sizable share of residents commute to Philadelphia, Camden, Trenton, or Princeton for work. Housing in the area is priced well above national benchmarks, with home values and rents reflecting the desirability of the township and its proximity to Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley job market. The housing market is active, with a modest supply of listings and strong demand.

The district itself did not have any recently confirmed changes such as a referendum, curriculum overhaul, or property tax shift that would be relevant to parents, based on publicly available information.

For a family choosing an elementary school, James Johnson offers strong academic results relative to its surrounding county, a diverse student environment, and the resources of a large suburban district with a full complement of parks and cultural amenities nearby. The school's size is typical for its grade band. A parent looking for a school with top-quartile proficiency in a community with ample commercial and recreational infrastructure will find this a solid fit, though the lower science result and the absence of special education and English learner data are points worth investigating directly with the school.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 356%

School 56% · District 62% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 448%

School 48% · District 58% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 558%

School 58% · District 61% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 19 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 347%

School 47% · District 53% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 454%

School 54% · District 62% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 557%

School 57% · District 64% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

Science

Grade 537%

School 37% · District 41% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 9 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

This schoolCherry Hill 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.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income22%Higher-income54%32 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income19%Higher-income68%49 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income22%Higher-income67%45 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income28%Higher-income64%37 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income15%Higher-income62%46 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income22%Higher-income69%47 pp gap