The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in Math. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on C. Richard Applegate School
C. Richard Applegate School is a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade regular public school in Freehold Township School District, located in Freehold, Monmouth County. The school serves a predominantly white student body, with a modest share of Hispanic and Asian students, and a smaller share who are Black or of two or more races. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is small in absolute terms, meaning that the economic disadvantage rate among families is relatively low compared to many public schools in New Jersey.
On state assessments, results vary noticeably by grade and subject. Third graders posted a strong proficiency rate in math, well above the school's own averages in other grades and subjects. Fourth grade math was a soft spot, with fewer than half of students scoring proficient. Fifth graders rebounded in math, landing closer to the two-thirds mark. In English language arts, proficiency rates across grades three, four, and five clustered around the midpoint, never falling below half but never rising much above that level either. Fifth grade science, tested at that grade only, came in below half. The pattern suggests that math performance is uneven, with a clear dip in fourth grade, while literacy holds at a consistent moderate level. Overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades placed the school above the midpoint among its county’s school districts, meaning that while not at the top of Monmouth County, it performs better than a typical district school in the area. There is no graduation rate to report because the school serves only elementary grades.
The district itself is planning a major infrastructure modernization. Voters approved a bond referendum in early 2025 to replace roofs, HVAC systems, fire alarms, and windows across all eight district schools, build secure front vestibules at every building, and convert the open pod-style classrooms at Applegate and Errickson Elementary into permanent walled classrooms. Construction is expected to begin the following summer. This is the district's first such building referendum in many years, and it will be paid for through local property taxes. For a parent considering Applegate, this means that within a few years the physical plant will be substantially updated, especially the classroom layout.
The community context is split between two Freeholds: the borough (county seat of Monmouth County) and the surrounding township. The borough is a denser, walkable downtown centered on the courthouse and Main Street, with a Transit Village designation and a history as a commuter town for New York City. The township is more suburban and rural, with preserved open space and a commercial hub anchored by the Freehold Raceway Mall. That mall and county government offices are major employers; the historic Freehold Raceway harness track closed at the end of 2024, opening land for potential redevelopment. The borough's population has grown, and it has authorized cannabis sales, with a dispensary now operating.
Housing costs in the area are high relative to national benchmarks. The typical home value and rent in the school's ZIP code are well above the national median, and the area's affordability ratio suggests that homeownership requires a substantial income. The county housing market shows a modest number of active listings and a median days-on-market that is relatively short, indicating steady demand.
For a family weighing this school, the academic picture is of a solid but uneven performer: strong early math, weaker fourth grade math, and steady-but-middling ELA. The school's small share of students in poverty and predominantly white demographic profile shape the peer environment, while the district's upcoming building upgrades are a concrete improvement on the horizon. The community offers a choice between walkable downtown borough living and more car-dependent suburban or rural settings within the same district. A parent might want to ask the school directly about how it supports fourth graders who struggle in math, and about any programs that address the gap between third and fourth grade performance.
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