The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in English language arts. The lowest is 77% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Midland Elementary School
Midland Elementary School serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Paramus, a Bergen County borough that is both a residential suburb of New York City and one of the largest retail destinations in the country. The school is one of several elementary campuses in the Paramus Public School District, which has expanded its preschool offerings in recent years and operates on a budget that includes modest annual property tax increases tied to operating costs, as publicly reported.
The school is a regular public school with a small enrollment for its grade band. Its student body is diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by Asian students, then Hispanic students, with smaller shares of students who are Black, of two or more races, or American Indian or Alaska Native. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a lower rate than what is typical in many districts. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source material.
Academically, Midland Elementary School posts strong results on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments. In both third and fourth grade, the share of students scoring proficient or above in English language arts is high. Math proficiency is also strong, with the fourth-grade cohort performing at a high level and the third-grade cohort performing at an even higher level. When compared with other districts in Bergen County, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile. This is a clear strength. The school serves only kindergarten through fourth grade, so there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism was available.
The school sits within the Paramus Public School District, which serves students from preschool through twelfth grade across multiple campuses. The district's most recent approved budget included a local tax levy increase, continuing a pattern of modest annual property tax increases tied to operating costs, as publicly reported. The district has also expanded its preschool offerings across elementary campuses, reflecting a lasting investment in early childhood education.
Paramus itself is a mix of residential suburb and major commercial hub. It is a bedroom community of New York City, located a moderate distance northwest of Midtown Manhattan, and is also one of the largest shopping destinations in the country, with five major indoor shopping centers and corporate headquarters. The borough enforces restrictive blue laws that ban nearly all retail business on Sundays. The built environment is car-dependent, organized around two heavily trafficked highway corridors, with no traditional walkable downtown. The population has been relatively stable in recent years, with a slight decline from the 2020 census to the most recent estimate, and the median age suggests an aging population. Housing values in the area are high, and the rental market is expensive, reflecting the broader Bergen County market.
For a family considering Midland Elementary School, the academic picture is straightforward: the school delivers strong proficiency results in both math and English language arts at the tested grade levels, placing it among the higher-performing schools in the county. The student body is diverse, and the share of students from lower-income households is modest. The school is small, which may appeal to families who prefer a more intimate elementary setting. The surrounding community is car-dependent and commercially intense, with a stable but aging population and high housing costs. The district has maintained a pattern of modest annual property tax increases and has invested in early childhood education. For a family looking for a high-performing elementary school in a suburban, highway-oriented community with strong retail and corporate employment, Midland Elementary School fits that profile.
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