The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 26% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Aline Bingham Elementary School
Aline Bingham Elementary School is a small regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through third grade in Runnemede, a primarily residential borough in Camden County, New Jersey. It is one of three schools in the Runnemede Public School District, which also includes Grace Downing Elementary (kindergarten through third) and Mary E. Volz Elementary and Middle School (fourth through eighth). For ninth through twelfth grade, students attend Triton Regional High School, part of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, located outside the borough.
Runnemede itself is a compact suburban community of single-family homes and commercial strips along the Black Horse Pike and other state routes. The borough has seen a modest population decline over recent decades and a small geographic footprint, so large-scale development is limited. A redevelopment committee and redevelopment agency exist, suggesting ongoing planning interest, but no major new housing projects were specifically identified in publicly reported sources. Housing in the area is predominantly owner-occupied, and home values are below both the New Jersey median and the national median, making it a relatively affordable option in the region. NJ Transit provides bus service to Philadelphia and local routes. The borough’s best-known employer is Mister Softee, the ice cream truck franchiser, which has been headquartered in Runnemede for many years. There is no traditional downtown or pedestrian-oriented commercial core; civic and school functions are spread across separate sites.
The school’s enrollment is modest. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with a range of economic backgrounds. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records.
Academically, the picture is narrow because the school only serves early elementary grades and state testing occurs only in third grade. On the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment for grade 3, proficiency rates for both math and English language arts fell below the midpoint among districts in Camden County. Only a portion of third-grade students scored at the proficient level or above in each subject. This is a single-grade snapshot and does not capture the full trajectory of student learning, but it does suggest that early academic performance is lower than many other area schools. A parent may want to look into this further with the district to understand the instructional approach and how readiness is built in the primary grades. No multi-year trend data was available to see whether performance is improving or stable.
Other dimensions of the school environment, such as chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing, and course access, were not reported in the data. The district brief found no publicly reported parent-relevant changes or major initiatives in recent years.
For a family considering Aline Bingham Elementary, the school offers a small, neighborhood-focused early elementary setting in a quiet suburban borough with relatively attainable housing. The academic results on state tests are a point to investigate, but given that the school serves only the youngest grades, the full picture of student outcomes will only emerge as children move through the district’s upper elementary, middle, and high school grades. The borough’s declining population and limited growth context mean the school is likely to remain a stable, small institution serving a long-standing residential community.
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