The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 46% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Cliffwood Elementary School
Cliffwood Elementary School serves children from preschool through third grade in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, a regular public school in the unincorporated community of Cliffwood within Aberdeen Township, Monmouth County. Because the school ends at third grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and the academic picture is limited to the state assessments given in grade three.
On the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, the school’s third graders posted proficiency rates that fell below the midpoint among districts in Monmouth County. In math, just under half of tested students scored at the proficient or advanced level. In English language arts, the share was similar. These results place the school’s overall academic performance below the county median. A parent considering this school will want to understand that the data reflects a single tested grade, and that the school’s full academic picture will only emerge as children move through the upper elementary grades in the district.
The school serves a diverse student body. White students make up the largest share, followed by Hispanic students, Black students, Asian students, and students who identify as two or more races. About two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure of economic need that is present but not dominant. The school does not report counts for students with disabilities or English learners in the available data, so a parent with a child in either category may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Cliffwood Elementary is a small school for its grade band, enrolling children from preschool through third grade. The grade-level groups are roughly even in size, with the largest group in third grade. Because the school ends at third grade, families will need to plan for a transition to an upper elementary school within the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District after third grade. The district brief turned up no recent referendums, budget changes, or curriculum updates that would have a lasting impact on families, so the district appears to be in a period of stability.
The community of Cliffwood is an unincorporated area within Aberdeen Township, primarily residential with colonial-style homes and bungalows. It is car-dependent, with limited street life, though recreational trails and waterfront parks are nearby in the adjacent Cliffwood Beach area. The median home value in the zip code is below the Monmouth County median, and the housing market shows a modest year-over-year decline in values. The area has seen population growth and new development, including the Glassworks complex with affordable rental housing and planned retail and entertainment space. Commute access is a strong point: the Aberdeen-Matawan NJ Transit station provides rail service to New York City, and Routes 35 and 36 and the Garden State Parkway are nearby.
For a family considering Cliffwood Elementary, the school offers a neighborhood setting in a suburban community with good transit access. The academic results on the third-grade state tests are below the county median, which is a data point worth discussing with the school to understand how the early elementary curriculum and supports are structured. The school’s small size and early-grade focus mean a close-knit environment, but also that children will move to a new school after third grade. The community itself is growing, with new housing development and recreational investment, and the housing market is more affordable than much of Monmouth County.
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