The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in English language arts. The lowest is 52% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Central Avenue School
Central Avenue School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade and is one of the elementary schools in the Madison Public School District, located in Morris County. The school occupies a position in the top quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades when compared to other districts in Morris County, a marker of strong academic performance in this area.
State testing results from the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments show a pattern of solid achievement. In English language arts, the proportion of students scoring proficient or above rises across the grades, with fifth graders demonstrating the highest rate. Mathematics proficiency rates are also strong across grades three, four, and five, with each grade showing that a substantial majority of students met the bar. Science testing, which occurs at fifth grade, shows a rate that a parent may want to look into further with the school, as it sits below the achievement levels seen in math and English. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
The student body is small for a K-5 school in this region. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure of economic need that is notably low here and points to an affluent surrounding community. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly white, with the next largest groups being Hispanic and Asian students. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available in the source material.
The school is a regular public school and is not a charter, magnet, or Title I school.
Central Avenue School sits in the borough of Madison, a small suburban community in southeast Morris County that is often described as a college town. It is home to Drew University and sits near Fairleigh Dickinson University and Saint Elizabeth University. The borough has a walkable historic downtown along Main Street, with cultural institutions including the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey and the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts. The historic NJ Transit train station on the Morris & Essex Line provides direct rail service to New York City and Hoboken, which anchors the borough’s identity as a commuter suburb. Major employers in the area are the universities and the cultural institutions, rather than large corporate or industrial operations. Madison was previously ranked among the top places to live in the state by a New Jersey magazine, and the housing market reflects that desirability. Home values in the zip code are high, and rents are similarly elevated. The county-level housing market shows a high demand score and a low supply score, indicating a competitive market with limited inventory.
The Madison Public School District made a lasting structural change recently when it moved to full-day kindergarten, starting with the 2022-2023 school year. This eliminated the half-day schedule and added instructional time for the youngest students, which is a direct benefit to families with children entering the district. The district’s budget picture has been under some strain. Property taxes rose in one recent budget cycle, which was notable because it exceeded the typical cap. The following year the board held the tax levy flat, but candidates in a subsequent election discussed ongoing budget constraints, flat state aid, and the possibility of a future facilities referendum. No referendum has been held, but the conversation signals that the district is managing its finances with care and that voters may face a decision on capital spending down the road.
For a family evaluating Central Avenue School, the picture is one of a small, academically strong elementary school in an affluent, desirable community with a historic downtown, access to multiple universities, and a direct train commute to Manhattan. The low share of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and the high property values point to a peer environment where economic diversity is limited. The school delivers solid proficiency rates in math and English, though the science result is softer and worth a closer look. The district’s move to full-day kindergarten is a practical improvement for working families, while the tax and budget situation is something a homeowner should monitor. There is no data on discipline, chronic absenteeism, or staffing ratios in the available source material, so a parent interested in those areas would need to ask the school directly.
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