The top reported proficiency rate is 89% in English language arts. The lowest is 53% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Somerville Elementary School
Somerville Elementary School is a regular public school in Ridgewood, New Jersey, serving kindergarten through fifth grade. It is part of the Ridgewood Public School District, a well-regarded system in Bergen County. The school’s academic performance on state assessments is strong, placing it in the top quarter of all districts in Bergen County when measured by overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. This is a clear strength. In math, the share of students scoring at proficient or advanced levels is high across third, fourth, and fifth grades. English language arts results are similarly strong, with each grade level posting a high proficiency rate. Science, which is tested only in fifth grade, shows a more moderate outcome, with about half of students reaching the proficiency threshold. A parent may want to ask the school about the science curriculum and how it prepares students for that assessment, given the gap between math and ELA results and the science results.
The student body is characterized by its economic profile. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is very small, which aligns with the community’s affluent character. The school serves a diverse group of students: White students make up the largest share, followed by a sizable Asian population, a smaller but present Hispanic group, and a modest number of students who identify as two or more races. Black and American Indian or Alaska Native students are enrolled in very small numbers. The school does not report data on students with disabilities or English learners, so it is not possible to assess those populations from this information.
Ridgewood, the village where Somerville is located, is an affluent suburban community about twenty miles northwest of New York City. It is predominantly residential, with tree-lined streets and a walkable downtown along East Ridgewood Avenue. The village has a high median household income, more than double the statewide figure, and a majority of households are married couples with children. The housing stock is largely owner-occupied single-family homes, and the vacancy rate is low. The population grew modestly in recent decades, and the village is largely built out, with redevelopment of existing sites being the primary form of change. The school is one of six elementary schools in the district, each serving a different neighborhood. The district’s middle and high schools are also spread across the village, not clustered downtown. Commuters rely on NJ Transit rail service from Ridgewood Station to Hoboken and New York City.
The school’s performance relative to other districts in Bergen County places it near the top. The proficiency index, which averages results across all tested grades and subjects, is in the highest quartile among the county’s districts. This is a strong indicator of the academic environment a family can expect. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and no chronic absenteeism data is available. The district itself did not show any parent-relevant changes in the recent period, such as boundary shifts, program consolidations, or major budget changes, based on publicly reported information.
For a family considering Somerville Elementary, the picture is one of consistent academic achievement in a well-resourced, family-oriented community. The main considerations are the high cost of housing in Ridgewood and the moderate science results, which may be worth a conversation with the school. The school’s size is typical for a neighborhood elementary school in the district, and its student body reflects the broader community’s affluence while also including a meaningful degree of racial and ethnic diversity. The lack of data on special education and English learner populations means that a parent with a child in one of those categories should contact the school directly to understand the support available. Overall, the school offers a strong academic foundation for students through fifth grade, with the expectation that they will continue into the district’s middle and high schools.
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