Clinton Public School, Clinton NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Clinton Public School

Clinton Public School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in the town of Clinton, part of the small Clinton-Glen Gardner School District. Because it ends at grade eight, there is no graduation rate to report; high school students from the district attend Voorhees High School through a regional sending-receiving relationship local families should verify as part of their planning.

The school sits in a historic, compact town on the South Branch of the Raritan River. Clinton’s walkable downtown, with its iconic Red Mill and the Stone Mill housing the Hunterdon Art Museum, is connected to the school by sidewalks and a pedestrian bridge. The town functions as a bedroom community for commuters heading to Northern New Jersey and New York City via Interstate 78, though it lacks direct NJ Transit rail or bus service. The housing market reflects this desirability: home values in the area are well above national benchmarks, with a modest year-over-year increase, meaning that entry into the district carries a premium. The county’s median listing price has risen slightly, and supply and demand scores suggest a competitive market. Families moving here should expect a tight inventory and an above-median price point relative to the broader region.

Academically, the school presents a mixed picture that a parent will want to examine grade by grade. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places the school above the midpoint among districts in Hunterdon County, a solid position in a generally high-performing suburban county. In English language arts, results are strong in the upper elementary and middle grades; fifth grade and eighth grade posted notably high shares of students meeting or exceeding state standards, while fourth grade lagged behind. Math performance is more uneven: fifth grade showed a robust result, but fourth grade and eighth grade were much softer, with eighth grade math proficiency falling to a level that warrants a closer conversation with the school about curriculum and support. Science results, tested in fifth and eighth grade, follow a similar pattern—fifth grade performed well above the state benchmark, while eighth grade struggled. The school may benefit from targeted interventions in middle school math and science, and a family with a child in those grades should ask about tutoring, enrichment, and how the school addresses these dips.

The student body is small, with an enrollment that reflects the town’s predominantly white demographic profile, alongside a notable Hispanic population and smaller shares of Asian and Black students. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating relatively low economic diversity for a public school. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported, so a family with a child in either category should contact the school directly to understand available services.

The district has made a lasting investment in a state-of-the-art makerspace, signaling a commitment to STEM and project-based learning that runs through the PK-8 program. It also participates in New Jersey’s Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, accepting a small number of non-resident students each year; as of the most recent cycle, two new choice seats were available for grades one through eight, which could affect class composition and enrollment dynamics for families already in the district.

This is a school that fits a family seeking a small-town, walkable community with historic character and a moderate commute to the New York metro area. The academic pathway is strongest in English language arts, especially in the upper grades, and uneven in math and science. A parent who values project-based learning and a makerspace focus may find the school’s offerings compelling. Those concerned about middle school math and science should investigate further. The lack of high school on-site means families will need to research the receiving high school—Voorhees High School—as part of their decision. The housing market adds real cost, but the town’s amenities and the school’s above-midpoint county standing make it a credible option for families prioritizing a cohesive elementary and middle school experience in a historic New Jersey village.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 356%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 437%

School 37% · District 37%

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

Grade 566%

School 66% · District 66%

▲ 23 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Grade 642%

School 42% · District 42%

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 749%

School 49% · District 49%

▲ 14 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 819%

School 19% · District 19%

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 356%

School 56% · District 56%

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

Grade 446%

School 46% · District 46%

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 583%

School 83% · District 83%

▲ 29 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 656%

School 56% · District 56%

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

Grade 768%

School 68% · District 68%

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 879%

School 79% · District 79%

▲ 21 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Science

Grade 553%

School 53% · District 53%

▲ 25 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 28%

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

This schoolClinton-Glen Gardner 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-income40%Higher-income61%21 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income46%Higher-income87%40 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income40%Higher-income61%21 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income18%Higher-income20%2 pp gap