The top reported proficiency rate is 95% in English language arts. The lowest is 94% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Glenwood School
Glenwood School is one of five K-4 elementary schools in Short Hills, serving students from kindergarten through fourth grade as part of the Millburn Township School District. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it draws from the immediate residential area of this affluent Essex County community. With an enrollment that is moderate for a primary school, Glenwood operates on a separate campus from the district's other elementary buildings, each feeding into a common fifth-grade program at Washington School, then Millburn Middle School and Millburn High School.
Academic performance is a clear strength. On New Jersey's state assessments, the share of students scoring proficient or above in both math and English language arts approaches universal levels for tested grades three and four. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the top quarter of all districts in Essex County, a comparison that underscores how rare this level of performance is even within a strong county. For a family focused on early academic foundations, the data signals that the vast majority of Glenwood students are meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations before they move on to intermediate and secondary grades.
The student body reflects the community it serves. A large majority of students are Asian, and a substantial share are White, with smaller percentages of students who are two or more races, Hispanic, or Black. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is very small, consistent with Short Hills's status as a high-income area. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports those populations.
Short Hills is a largely built-out, planned residential community originally designed with large lots and preserved green space. Housing values are very high, and the rental market is similarly expensive, reflecting the desirability of the school district and the convenience of direct rail service to Manhattan. The community has a small downtown near the Short Hills train station, but most daily amenities are car-dependent. The school itself is on a residential street, and the campus is one of several spread across the township rather than clustered in a central location.
Glenwood does not serve grades that produce a graduation rate or provide data on chronic absenteeism, so those metrics are not relevant here. The district's structure means that after fourth grade, students attend Washington School for fifth grade, then Millburn Middle School and Millburn High School, so families considering Glenwood should also examine those downstream schools.
For a parent or resident evaluating this school, the picture is one of consistent, high-level early academic achievement in a very affluent, primarily residential community. The school fits a family that values strong elementary test performance, is comfortable with a student body that is majority Asian and White, and can navigate the area's expensive housing market. The district's tiered elementary-through-secondary pathway is well established, and Glenwood's role as a feeder into that system appears to be working well for the students it serves.
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