The top reported proficiency rate is 80% in Math. The lowest is 64% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Burnet Hill Elementary School
Burnet Hill Elementary School is one of six elementary schools in the Livingston Township public school system, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school sits within an affluent Essex County suburb that is heavily residential, dominated by single-family homes, and known for a highly regarded school district. The community is car-dependent and commutes heavily to New York City, located roughly an hour away. Livingston is a diverse and high-income township, with a notable share of the population identifying as Jewish and a substantial Asian community. The town has grown steadily, and the housing market is expensive, with home values well above national benchmarks.
The student body at Burnet Hill reflects the larger community’s diversity. Asian students and White students each make up a substantial share of the enrollment, with smaller populations of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is very modest, a pattern consistent with an affluent district. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the availability of special education services and English language support.
Academically, Burnet Hill posts strong results on the state’s NJSLA assessments. In mathematics, the share of students scoring proficient or above was high in third and fourth grade, with a still-strong but slightly lower rate in fifth grade. In English language arts, the school’s proficiency rates moved from solid in third grade to very strong in fourth grade, and reached a notably high level in fifth grade. In science, which is tested only in fifth grade, the proficiency rate was solid. The school’s overall proficiency picture across all tested subjects and grades places it among the highest-performing schools relative to other districts in Essex County. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
The Livingston district has made a recent, parent-relevant investment that directly affects Burnet Hill. In 2024, voters approved a referendum to build additional classrooms at multiple elementary schools to expand full-day kindergarten for all students, with construction expected to be completed for the 2026-27 school year. This is a meaningful change for families with young children considering the district, as it signals a shift to universal full-day kindergarten. The district also adopted a budget with a modest tax levy increase for the 2025-26 school year, drawing on fund balance and a bump in state aid. For a family moving to the area, the property tax picture is a routine part of living in a high-amenity New Jersey suburb.
Burnet Hill’s setting is a suburban campus within residential Livingston, not a downtown or walkable environment. The school is part of a district where families generally buy into the community for the school system, and the elementary schools feed into two middle schools and a comprehensive high school that has received national recognition. For a family looking for a well-resourced, high-performing elementary school in an affluent, diverse, and car-dependent suburb with a heavy commuter culture, Burnet Hill delivers the expected profile. The school’s academic results are consistently strong, and the district is investing in expanding early grade capacity.
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