The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in Math. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Anna C. Scott Elementary School
Anna C. Scott Elementary School is one of three schools in the Leonia Public School District, serving children from prekindergarten through fourth grade. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it sits in the heart of Leonia, a small, historic Bergen County borough that has long been primarily residential and walkable. Leonia’s central business district along Broad Avenue and Grand Avenue is a short distance from the school, and the town’s tree-lined streets are filled with older single-family homes. Public transit, including NJ Transit bus routes, connects residents to New York City via the George Washington Bridge, making this a commuter-friendly suburb with a modest but active civic life.
The school’s enrollment reflects the diversity of the surrounding community. A substantial share of students are of Asian background, and many others are Hispanic or White, with smaller numbers identifying as two or more races or Black. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is relatively low, which points to an economically stronger peer environment compared with many districts in the state. The school is not a Title I school, and data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported, so families who need specific supports to evaluate are advised to ask the school directly.
Academically, the picture is mixed and depends on grade and subject. In math, fourth graders as a group performed at a moderately solid level, while third graders reached a higher proficiency rate. In English language arts, both third and fourth graders scored at a similar level, with a majority meeting the state’s proficiency benchmark. Science results are available only from several years ago and used a different assessment with different cut scores, so they are not directly comparable to the current test; a parent looking for current science data would need to check whether the school now administers the updated test at grade four. Overall, across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s combined proficiency index places it below the midpoint among the district-level comparisons within Bergen County. This is not a weak performance—more than half of students are meeting the state bar—but it is not among the top tiers in a county with many high-performing districts.
Because Anna C. Scott serves only through fourth grade, there is no graduation rate or high school course offerings to consider. Families with children in these early grades will eventually move on to Leonia Middle School and Leonia High School, both within the same small borough. The district appears stable; no major recent changes—such as curriculum overhauls, budget referenda, or policy shifts—were found in publicly available information.
The housing context matters for families considering a move to this attendance zone. Leonia’s home values are high, well above national and state medians, typical of a desirable Bergen County suburb near New York City. Rents are also elevated. The market has been active, with a moderate number of new listings and homes selling relatively quickly. The community is largely built out, with no signs of major new development; its character comes from preserving its historic housing stock rather than from growth.
Overall, Anna C. Scott Elementary School offers a diverse, economically stronger peer environment in a walkable, transit-connected suburb. Academic results are decent but not standout for the county, with math in third grade being a relative strength. Families who value a small-town feel with easy access to New York City and a neighborhood school that feeds into a single district may find this a good fit. Those focused on top-tier county test scores or who need specific services for students with IEPs or English language support may want to inquire further, as that information was not available in the data.
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