The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 40% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Eleanor G. Hewitt
Eleanor G. Hewitt is a regular public school in Ringwood, New Jersey, serving only fourth and fifth graders. That narrow grade band makes it a transitional school within the Ringwood School District, one that children attend for two years between their primary elementary years and middle school. Enrollment is small, typical for an upper-elementary building in a low-density borough.
The school’s academic results put it among the stronger performers in Passaic County. Overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to districts in the county. On the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, a substantial majority of fourth and fifth graders met or exceeded the standard in English language arts, and a solid majority did so in math. Science achievement, tested only in fifth grade, was softer; a smaller share of students reached proficiency. A parent looking at that subject may want to ask the school how it supports science learning in both grades.
The student body is predominantly white, with roughly one-fifth of students identifying as Hispanic and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is low, which generally indicates a relatively affluent peer environment. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the sources used here, so a parent with a child in those populations may want to ask the district directly about support services.
Ringwood itself is a residential borough in the Ramapo Mountains, about forty miles northwest of New York City. It is car-dependent, with winding mountain roads, lake communities, and extensive state park and forest land. There is no traditional downtown; civic and school buildings are spread across a large, hilly area. The borough’s population has been stable to slightly declining in recent decades, and large-scale new housing is limited by environmental protections. Homes carry a moderately high price tag, and the local housing market has been active, with rising list prices and a short time on market.
The Ringwood district completed a long-range facilities plan that projects modest enrollment growth through the end of the decade. The state approved the plan and found the district’s existing capacity sufficient, meaning no new school construction is expected soon. The most recent district budget increased property taxes within the state’s cap; a homeowner with a typical assessed value would see a modest annual increase, driven largely by special education, transportation, and healthcare costs.
Because this school serves only two grades, many of the metrics that parents often look for—a graduation rate, advanced placement or dual-credit offerings, a chronic absenteeism rate—do not apply or were not available. Program offerings were also absent from the data. What is clear is that Eleanor G. Hewitt provides a focused upper-elementary experience in a district that is stable, financially sober, and surrounded by natural recreation. The school’s academic strengths in ELA and math, combined with a low-poverty student body and a top-quartile county position, make it a solid fit for a family seeking a conventional public school pathway through the elementary years in a quiet, suburban-rural setting.
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