The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Math. The lowest is 14% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Switlik Elementary School
Switlik Elementary School is one of the larger elementary schools in the Jackson Township School District, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits in Jackson, a sprawling outer-ring suburb of New York City in Ocean County, known for its mix of residential subdivisions, major entertainment destinations like Six Flags Great Adventure, and a highway-oriented commercial corridor. There is no traditional walkable downtown; daily life here means driving between dispersed destinations. The township has seen steady population growth and substantial new development, including the Adventure Crossing mixed-use complex that opened in 2023 along the interstate corridor.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population making up the second-largest group, followed by smaller shares of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. A notable portion of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating moderate economic diversity within the school. Data on English learner enrollment and students with individualized education programs were not available.
On state assessments administered through the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment, Switlik’s results in English language arts show that proficiency is relatively low across the tested grades. In third grade, about a quarter of students met the proficient or above benchmark, while fourth grade saw a higher share reaching that level, and fifth grade fell between the two. In mathematics, the pattern is mixed: third and fourth grade proficiency rates were similar, while fifth grade had a notably higher share of students scoring proficient or above. Fifth-grade science results were weak, with a small share of students reaching proficiency. Looking at the school’s overall performance across tested subjects and grades, Switlik sits below the midpoint when compared to other districts in Ocean County. A parent may want to ask the school about the specific academic supports in place, particularly in reading and science.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Because it is an elementary school, there are no AP, dual-credit, or career pathway programs. The school is a regular public school and was not designated as a Title I school in the available data; its magnet and charter status are both listed as not applicable, so it is a neighborhood attendance-area school.
The district recently changed its grade configuration, adding a dedicated fifth-sixth grade building, which means that Switlik students will move to a different school after fifth grade rather than going directly to a traditional middle school. This restructuring shifts feeder patterns across the township, something families moving into the attendance zone may want to confirm with the district.
Housing in the Jackson area is expensive, with home values well above national medians, reflecting the township’s position within the high-cost New York metropolitan area. Rental costs are also elevated. The local housing market is somewhat competitive, with a moderate number of active listings and homes typically spending about a month on the market. For families relocating to the area, the price of entry is significant, and the school’s academic performance should be weighed against the overall cost of living in the community.
Overall, Switlik Elementary offers a large, diverse-by-classroom elementary setting in a rapidly growing, car-dependent outer suburb. Its academic results on state tests are below the county median, with particular softness in elementary reading and science, while math shows some relative strength in the upper grade. The school is part of a district that has reorganized its grade structure, so the educational trajectory from Switlik involves a transition to a separate fifth-sixth school before middle school. For a parent, this is a school where the academic numbers warrant a direct conversation with the principal about curriculum and intervention strategies.
See more original research from School Decision →