Bartle Elementary School, Highland Park NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Bartle Elementary School

Bartle Elementary School serves grades two through five in Highland Park, a dense, largely residential borough on the Raritan River directly across from New Brunswick. It is a regular public school within the Highland Park Boro School District. The school’s grade band means it does not produce a graduation rate or offer advanced high school coursework, and state testing data is limited to the grades it serves.

Highland Park has long functioned as a bedroom community for Rutgers University and Johnson & Johnson employees, giving it an academic-leaning population. The borough is compact and walkable, with commercial corridors of independent shops rather than chain retail. Its industrial past ended decades ago, and the town’s growth has been modest infill rather than large-scale development. Housing values and rents in the area are above the national median, reflecting the borough’s desirability and proximity to New Brunswick.

Bartle enrolls a student body that is diverse across several racial and ethnic groups. Hispanic students make up the largest share, followed by White, Asian, Black, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a mix of family incomes. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the profile.

On state assessments, Bartle’s math proficiency rates are consistent across grades two through five, hovering around the midpoint of schools in Middlesex County districts. English language arts results are stronger in the upper grades, with fourth and fifth graders reaching a level above half proficient, while third graders fall just below that mark. Science results for fifth grade are lower than the other subjects, and a parent may want to ask the school about its science curriculum and how it prepares students for that assessment. Participation rates for these tests were not reported, so it is unclear whether all enrolled students were tested.

The overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places Bartle above the midpoint relative to other schools in Middlesex County districts, a solid if not standout position.

The district has several recent developments that affect Bartle’s families. Voters approved a capital improvements referendum covering roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, and security enhancements across school buildings. The district also adopted a new literacy curriculum aligned with the science of reading in 2023. A recent budget expanded STEM programs and mental health support services, with a corresponding tax levy increase. These changes suggest a district investing in facilities and instructional approach, which may matter to families deciding between this and other elementary options.

Bartle fits a family looking for a neighborhood elementary school in a walkable, academically minded community with a diverse student body. Its math results are modest, its ELA performance improves in later elementary years, and its science results are a point to investigate further. The district’s recent investments in literacy and facilities add context for families weighing long-term commitment to the Highland Park schools.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 339%

School 39% · District 39%

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 439%

School 39% · District 39%

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 540%

School 40% · District 40%

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 338%

School 38% · District 38%

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 459%

School 59% · District 59%

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

Grade 555%

School 55% · District 55%

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

Science

Grade 528%

School 28% · District 28%

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

This schoolHighland Park Boro 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-income19%Higher-income62%43 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income33%Higher-income80%47 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income35%Higher-income70%35 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income23%Higher-income59%36 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income16%Higher-income61%45 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income14%Higher-income60%46 pp gap