The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in Math. The lowest is 52% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Willow Grove Elementary School
Willow Grove Elementary School serves grades two through four in Hackettstown, a small town in Warren County. It is a regular public school within the Hackettstown Public School District, drawing from the surrounding residential neighborhoods and the modest college-town atmosphere created by Centenary University. The school's grade span is narrow, covering only the middle elementary years, so it does not produce high school outcomes such as a graduation rate, and measures like chronic absenteeism are not reported for this type of setting.
Academically, Willow Grove’s students take the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments in math and English language arts. In math, proficiency rates sit in a moderate range, with third grade somewhat stronger than fourth. English language arts results show a wider spread: fourth graders perform at a higher level than third graders. When the school’s combined proficiency across tested subjects and grades is measured as a single index, it lands in the top quartile when compared with other districts in Warren County. That is a strong position, indicating that the school’s overall achievement is above the midpoint of its county peers. A parent might want to ask the school about the pattern of lower third-grade ELA results relative to fourth grade, since that jump could reflect curriculum design or cohort differences.
Enrollment is moderate for a school serving three grade levels, with a student body that is roughly half White and half Hispanic, along with smaller shares of Asian students and students of two or more races. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which points to economic diversity in the community. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the source material, so a family with specific needs in those areas would want to contact the school directly.
Hackettstown itself is a compact town set in a valley along the Musconetcong River. It has a traditional downtown core near the Centenary University campus, and the NJ Transit station provides rail service to Hoboken and Midtown Manhattan, a useful connection for commuters. The town’s largest employer is the US headquarters of Mars Wrigley Confectionery, and Hackettstown Community Hospital and the university add to the local employment base. Population grew modestly over the decade through 2020 but has edged slightly downward since then, suggesting a stable rather than rapidly expanding community. Housing values in the area are below the statewide median, and the county’s median listing price reflects a market that is more affordable than many in New Jersey. Rents follow a similar pattern.
We looked for recent changes at the district level that could affect Willow Grove families, but the research found little to report. No major boundary shifts, program launches, or leadership transitions surfaced.
For a family weighing this school, Willow Grove offers a top-quartile academic record within a small-town setting that has real commuter access and a below-average cost of housing for New Jersey. The school’s narrow grade band means children will transition to another elementary or intermediate school after fourth grade, so the feeder pattern within the Hackettstown district is worth understanding. The mix of economic backgrounds and the roughly balanced White and Hispanic enrollment shape a diverse peer environment at the elementary level.
See more original research from School Decision →