The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Math. The lowest is 52% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on George B. Fine Elementary School
George B. Fine Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through third grade in Pennsauken, a suburban township bordering Philadelphia in Camden County, New Jersey. It is a regular public school in the Pennsauken Township school district. The school enrolls over 200 students, making it a mid-sized primary school. A substantial majority of the student body is Hispanic, with smaller shares of Black, white, and Asian students, and a modest number of students who identify as two or more races. The proportion of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is well above half, indicating that economic need is a significant factor for many families. Data on the share of students with disabilities or who are English learners was not available.
State assessment results were reported for third grade students only, which is the only tested grade the school serves. In math and English language arts, the school’s proficiency rates were above the midpoint among all Camden County districts that reported similar data, landing in the top quartile. That is a notable strength, particularly given that the results reflect a single grade level and should be read as a snapshot rather than a full schoolwide picture. Because Fine operates only through third grade, parents will need to look at other district schools for upper elementary, intermediate, and secondary grades. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent an upward or downward pattern.
The school is part of the Pennsauken Township school district, which operates multiple elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school spread across the township, as well as a county vocational high school on its own campus. The community itself is auto-oriented, shaped by major highways and commercial corridors rather than a walkable downtown. A mix of suburban residential neighborhoods and industrial zones defines the township, with major employers including a large industrial park that hosts a Pepsi bottling plant and J & J Snack Foods, as well as container shipping operations on Petty’s Island. Many residents commute across the Delaware River to Philadelphia. The population has grown modestly over recent decades. Recent redevelopment projects include a luxury apartment complex on the site of the former Pennsauken Mart and the planned conversion of Petty’s Island into a state park. The Pennsauken Transit Center provides a rail transfer point between the River Line and the Atlantic City Line, and multiple NJ Transit bus routes connect the township to Philadelphia and surrounding areas.
Housing in the Pennsauken area is moderately priced relative to state benchmarks, with home values below the New Jersey median and rental costs that align roughly with national averages. The county housing market has been active, with listings moving fairly quickly but at a pace that has slowed somewhat from a year ago. Mortgage rates at the time of this data were just above six percent. For families considering a move to the area, housing affordability is generally better than in many parts of New Jersey, particularly closer to Philadelphia.
Because the data for Fine is limited to a single tested grade, parents may want to inquire directly with the school about early literacy and math support practices, class sizes, and staffing ratios, none of which were available in the public record. The school’s top-quartile proficiency relative to other Camden County districts is a positive signal, but a fuller picture would require information on how younger grades prepare for that outcome. The school’s composition is highly diverse, with a strong Hispanic majority and a notable share of families facing economic challenges. That context shapes the peer environment and the kinds of support services a school might need to provide. For a parent evaluating early elementary options in Pennsauken, Fine presents a solid academic starting point within a district that sends students to a range of school sites as they progress.
See more original research from School Decision →