The top reported proficiency rate is 53% in Math. The lowest is 51% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ben Franklin Elementary
Ben Franklin Elementary is a regular public school in the Lawrence Township Public School District, serving grades Pre-K through three. Because it is an early elementary school, it does not have a graduation rate, and its academic results are limited to the one grade level that the state tests at this age. In the 2024-25 school year, all third grade students took the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment in math and English language arts. On the math assessment, just over half of students scored at the proficient level or above. On the English language arts assessment, roughly the same share of students reached that same benchmark. These results place the school above the midpoint on overall proficiency compared to other elementary schools across Mercer County. While a single year of data at one grade level is a narrow foundation, it does offer a first look at how the school's youngest tested students are performing compared to the broader county.
The student body is modest in size for an elementary school, with enrollment distributed relatively evenly across kindergarten through third grade, plus a small pre-kindergarten program. The racial and ethnic composition is diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by a sizable Asian population, then Hispanic students, Black students, and a small number of students who identify with two or more races. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is modest, suggesting that the school serves a predominantly middle-income community. This economic profile is consistent with what the housing data shows: the area carries a high cost of entry. Home values in the ZIP code are well above the national median, and rents are also elevated. For a family looking to buy or rent in this attendance zone, the financial commitment is substantial, and the school's student composition is likely to reflect the relative affluence of the surrounding neighborhood.
Data on special populations, including students with individualized education programs and English learners, was not available in the provided records. A parent who wants to understand how the school serves these groups would need to contact the school directly. Similarly, information on class sizes, staffing levels, and chronic absenteeism was not reported here, so those pieces of the picture remain unclear.
The school is located in the village of Lawrenceville, a small historic community within Lawrence Township. The village has a defined Main Street core with a mix of older homes, small shops, and civic buildings, including a Presbyterian Church that dates back to the 18th century. A historic district fronts along the main road, giving the center a preserved, small-town feel. The Lawrenceville School, a well-known private boarding and day school, sits just across the state highway that runs through town, and its oldest buildings are a National Historic Landmark. Street life is modest but active, with a farmers market from June to November and community events organized by the local main street group. However, U.S. Route 206, which serves as Main Street, is a state highway carrying through-traffic, so pedestrian comfort varies by block. The residential areas behind the historic core were largely built out from the 1970s onward and are more auto-oriented. The village itself has no large employers, but the broader Lawrence Township is home to major corporate and educational campuses, including the headquarters of Educational Testing Service, a Bristol Myers Squibb research facility, and Rider University. The CDP population was lower in 2020 than in earlier decades, though more recent estimates suggest a slight uptick.
The Lawrence Township Public School District itself did not show any recent major changes in the available records. For a family already living in Lawrenceville or looking to move there, Ben Franklin Elementary is one of several elementary schools serving the district. Its early-grade-only structure means students move on to a different school after third grade, so the family's relationship with the school is strictly for the primary years. The school provides a short-term, foundational start in a community that has a historic village center, high housing costs, and a diverse student body. The limited available test data shows a school that is performing around the middle of the county pack on the measures that exist for this age group.
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