The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in English language arts. The lowest is 51% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Ravine Drive Elementary School
Ravine Drive Elementary School serves a young group of children, from pre-kindergarten through third grade, in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Because the school only covers the early elementary years, there is no graduation rate to consider and no high school data of any kind. The academic measures that do exist come from a single tested grade, third grade, and they paint a picture of a school performing solidly. On the state’s English language arts assessment, a majority of third graders met the proficiency bar. In math, the share of students reaching proficiency was roughly half. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index lands above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Monmouth County. That is a meaningful position; it suggests that, among its county peers, the school is performing at a level that many families would find reassuring. A parent with a child finishing second grade and heading into the testing year may want to ask the school directly how it supports students who are not yet at the proficiency mark, particularly in math, where the gap is larger than in reading.
The student body is mostly white, followed by a substantial Hispanic population and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. A notable share of students come from households with economic need, as indicated by eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is not a charter, not a magnet, and does not carry a Title I designation in the data, so its federal support status is not reported here. Special education and English learner counts were not available, which means a parent with a child in either category should confirm with the district what services are offered at this building. The school is a regular public school, part of a regional district that serves Matawan and neighboring Aberdeen.
Matawan itself is a compact commuter borough, a fairly small municipality with a historic downtown, two lakes, and a walkable Main Street lined with centuries-old architecture. It sits within the New York metropolitan area and has a train station that sees heavy daily use, with a direct line to Manhattan. The borough is part of a transit-oriented development initiative and has been designated an upcoming Arts and Entertainment Hub by the county. Housing values in the area are high, well above national benchmarks, and rents follow a similar pattern. The housing market is active, with moderate price appreciation and a modest inventory of listings. For a family considering this school, the surrounding community offers the amenities of a historic small town with strong transit connections, but at a considerable housing cost.
The district itself did not have any recent major changes reported in the available research, such as referendums, budget shifts, or curriculum overhauls that would be relevant to a parent. That may be a stable environment, or it may simply mean that no such changes crossed the public record in a way that met the threshold for this report. The school’s academic story is one of a decently performing early-elementary building in a county where it holds its own. The key limitation for a parent is that the data stops at third grade, so they will need to look at the district’s upper elementary and middle schools to see the full trajectory a child would follow.
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