The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on James A. Mcdivitt Elementary School
James A. McDivitt Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Old Bridge Township, a large suburban community in central New Jersey. It is one of the elementary schools in the Old Bridge Township School District. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet.
The student body is predominantly white, with significant shares of Asian and Hispanic students and a smaller share of Black students. About a sixth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that falls below the district average and suggests a comparatively lower concentration of economic disadvantage. Enrollment across the grades is fairly even, with each elementary grade holding a balanced cohort.
Academically, McDivitt’s performance on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment shows a mixed picture and a clear grade-level pattern. In both math and English language arts, fourth graders posted the strongest results, with a solid majority meeting the state’s proficiency bar. Third graders were closer to the midpoint, with math notably stronger than reading for that cohort. Fifth graders, however, saw a notable drop, particularly in math, where fewer than half of students scored at the proficient level. Science results, tested only in fifth grade, showed only about a quarter of students reaching proficiency, a soft spot a parent may want to explore further with the school. Overall, the school’s proficiency index places it above the midpoint among elementary schools in Middlesex County, meaning it holds a stronger average than many of its peers in the county, though the unevenness across grades is worth noting.
Because McDivitt serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate, no high school course access data, and no chronic absenteeism data in the available records. The state testing data covers a single year, so trends over time are not available.
The school sits within Old Bridge Township, a large, auto-dependent suburb roughly 25 miles from New York City. The township lacks a traditional walkable downtown; its civic and commercial life is strung along highway corridors like Route 18. Families rely on cars for most errands and commutes. The housing market in the area is active. Home values have risen modestly year over year, and the median listing price sits noticeably above the national benchmark. Rents are also elevated. For a family buying in, the gap between rent and mortgage costs is narrow, reflecting a relatively expensive market. The county-wide housing supply has tightened, with active listings up sharply year over year, suggesting more inventory but still a competitive environment.
The district has undergone several recent changes relevant to elementary families. Starting in fall 2025, all elementary schools, including McDivitt, will offer full-day kindergarten for the first time, replacing a half-day program. The district also adopted a new English Language Arts curriculum grounded in the science of reading beginning in the 2024-25 school year. A large bond referendum approved by voters in late 2023 is funding security upgrades, HVAC replacements, roof repairs, and classroom renovations across all district schools, with work expected to run through 2028. The 2025-26 budget, which passed with voter approval, includes funding for the kindergarten expansion and carries a modest tax increase for the average assessed home.
For a family weighing this school, the central academic question is the consistency of student outcomes across grade levels. The older elementary grades, especially fifth, show weaker proficiency in math and science compared to the school’s stronger fourth-grade results. The school sits in a district that has recently invested in early literacy and full-day kindergarten, both of which may shift the academic profile in coming years. The peer environment reflects a largely middle-income suburban community with limited economic diversity. The housing context is expensive and competitive, a factor for any family considering a move into the attendance zone.
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