The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in Math. The lowest is 59% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Patrick Mcgaheran
Patrick McGaheran is a regular public school serving early elementary grades in the small, historic borough of Lebanon, New Jersey. It is part of the Clinton Township School District. The school handles pre-kindergarten through second grade, so families with young children will find a dedicated early-learning environment here. Older elementary students go to another school in the district, and middle and high school students are sent to the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which operates on campuses outside the borough.
Lebanon itself is a compact village with a National Register historic district and a street grid that has changed little over the past century. US Route 22 runs through the center, and Interstate 78 passes to the north. The borough is primarily residential, with limited commercial presence. Housing values are high, and the local market shows strong demand and limited supply. The share of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch is very low, reflecting the area’s overall affluence. The population has grown over the past two decades, though recent estimates suggest growth has slowed. The borough is one of the smallest in Hunterdon County by area, and the school is likely situated within or near the historic core rather than on a separated campus.
Because Patrick McGaheran serves only grades PK through 2, current state assessment data is not applicable to its students. The school does not administer state tests in these early grades. The most recent test results available come from a prior school year and are for third grade, a grade the school no longer serves. Those older results showed a high proficiency rate in math and a solid rate in English language arts, and relative to other districts in Hunterdon County the school’s overall performance at that time placed it in the top quartile. However, those numbers are from several years ago and do not reflect the school’s current program. A parent looking for academic benchmarks would need to discuss with the district how early literacy and math growth are measured at this level.
Enrollment is moderate for a PK-through-2 building, with a student body that is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Asian and Hispanic students and very small shares of Black and multiracial students. The poverty rate among families is extremely low. Data on special education identification and English learner support was not available in the records reviewed, nor were chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing figures. The district’s recent history shows no major curriculum, tax, or boundary changes that were widely reported, so the school’s environment appears stable.
For a family living in Lebanon or nearby parts of Clinton Township, Patrick McGaheran offers an early elementary experience in a small, historic village setting with a notably affluent peer group. The school’s grade span means children transition to another school in the district after second grade, and then to a regional high school district later. The combination of high property values, low poverty enrollment, and historically strong test scores from an earlier period suggests a community with considerable educational resources, though current academic measures at this school are not captured by state testing. A parent interested in specific instructional approaches or early childhood programming would want to follow up directly with the school or district.
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