The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in English language arts. The lowest is 37% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Wilson School
Wilson School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Lodi, a densely populated suburban borough in Bergen County. It is one of five elementary schools in the Lodi School District, each spread across the borough’s residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors. The school occupies a building on Union Street, and its enrollment draws from a community that is family-oriented, with a noticeable share of households with children.
The student body is diverse. More than two-thirds of enrolled students identify as Hispanic, with smaller shares of white, Black, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a marker of the economic mix present in the community. The school enrolls roughly a few hundred children, with class sizes that are moderate for an elementary school serving these grades.
Academically, Wilson School’s state assessment results show a clear pattern. English language arts proficiency is consistently strong across third, fourth, and fifth grades, with the large majority of students meeting or exceeding the state’s bar. This suggests reading and writing instruction is a reliable strength of the school. Math results are more uneven. Third and fifth graders post solid proficiency rates, but fourth-grade math lags considerably, with a much smaller share of students scoring proficient. The dip in fourth-grade math is a soft spot that a parent may want to discuss with the school—whether it reflects a curriculum transition, a cohort effect, or an area where additional support could help. Fifth-grade science results are modest, with just over a third of students reaching proficiency on a state test that sets a somewhat different proficiency standard than in ELA and math.
Across all tested subjects and grades combined, Wilson’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint among districts in Bergen County. That placement is influenced most by the weaker math and science results, while the ELA performance is more competitive. It is worth keeping in mind that this comparison is at the district level; individual school results can vary within a district, and Wilson’s own data show a clear difference between subjects.
Lodi itself is a densely built borough with a historical industrial past—textile mills and later chemical plants along the Saddle River—that has evolved into a mostly residential community. The borough’s housing stock is tightly packed, with limited vacant land, so new development is incremental rather than large-scale. Typical home values and rents in the area are above national averages, reflecting the broader Bergen County market. The borough has a recognizable downtown corridor along Main Street and Memorial Drive, and major highways including Route 17 and Interstate 80 run through town, providing transportation links. Felician University, a small Catholic institution, adds a modest collegiate presence.
The Lodi School District, which runs Wilson School, has approved consecutive annual budgets with small but steady property tax levy increases in recent years. These increases are modest in percentage terms, but they represent an ongoing cost for homeowners. The district also filed a major amendment to its Long Range Facility Plan in 2023, identifying several million dollars in needed improvements across all seven schools, including roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, and security enhancements. That signals future infrastructure investment that could eventually require additional funding.
For a family considering Wilson School, the picture is mixed. The school offers solid reading instruction and a diverse, community-anchored setting. The weaker math results in grade four and the moderate science scores are areas to investigate further. The district’s steady tax increases and facility needs add context for residents weighing long-term affordability. As an elementary school, it feeds into Thomas Jefferson Middle School and then Lodi High School, so the academic trajectory beyond fifth grade depends on the secondary schools as well. Overall, Wilson School fits a family looking for a neighborhood elementary school with a clear strength in literacy, but who will want to understand the supports in place for math and science before enrolling.
See more original research from School Decision →