The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in English language arts. The lowest is 61% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Manito Elementary School
Manito Elementary School is one of three K-5 buildings within the Oakland Public School District, a small, primarily residential suburban borough in Bergen County. The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade and sits within a community that is largely stable in population, with a flat to slightly declining trend over recent decades and a low-density, auto-oriented layout. Commercial life is concentrated along Ramapo Valley Road, and the borough’s largest recreational asset, the Alexander Potash Recreation Complex, provides fields and courts for local families.
Academically, Manito Elementary posts strong results on the state’s NJSLA assessments. In English language arts, proficiency rates are consistently high across the tested grades, with the fifth-grade cohort performing at an especially elevated level. Math proficiency is also solid, rising with each grade level, and the fifth-grade group again stands out. Science results, which are tested only at grade five, show a majority of students meeting proficiency, though this is notably lower than the math and ELA marks in the same grade. The school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Bergen County, confirming that its academic profile is strong even within a high-performing region.
The student body is small and demographically homogeneous. The overwhelming majority of students are white, with a modest Hispanic presence and a smaller Asian share. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is very low, a pattern consistent with the area’s high housing costs. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available, so a parent with a child who may need those supports should ask the school directly.
The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and serves a straightforward early-elementary-to-upper-elementary grade span. Because it ends at fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and the school does not offer the kind of course pathways—AP, dual-credit, or career programs—that matter for high school students. For families considering the Oakland district, the key next step after Manito is Valley Middle School, followed by Indian Hills High School, which is part of a regional district shared with two neighboring towns.
The community and economic context is one of high property values. Housing in the borough’s ZIP code is expensive, with values well above state and national benchmarks, and the typical monthly mortgage payment is substantial. The local housing market shows limited supply and steady demand, consistent with a desirable suburban bedroom community. The district itself is anticipating enrollment growth from new residential construction, including the approved McCoy Road Subdivision, and has already leased a wing of a local church to house early childhood and special services staff. This suggests that the district is planning for a modest expansion of its youngest students, which could affect class sizes and building use in the coming years.
For a family, Manito Elementary offers a small, academically strong elementary experience in a high-cost, stable suburban setting. The school’s test results are a clear strength, particularly in reading and math, and the peer environment is one of very low economic diversity. A parent should confirm that the school’s support services match their child’s needs, since key special population data were not reported. The overall picture is of a solid, well-performing neighborhood school in a community that values its schools and plans thoughtfully for its growth.
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