The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Math. The lowest is 73% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on William J. Mcginn Elementary School
William J. McGinn Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fourth grade in Scotch Plains, a residential suburb in Union County. The school is part of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District, which operates five elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school. McGinn is one of the district’s designated neighborhood schools, drawing from the surrounding area.
The student body is sized for its grade band and is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic presence and a smaller Asian enrollment, along with very small shares of Black students and multiracial students. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is minimal, reflecting the area’s economic profile. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported.
State testing results from the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment show that at both tested grade levels, a strong majority of students met or exceeded expectations in mathematics and English language arts. In third grade, about seven in ten students were proficient in math, and a slightly lower share in ELA. Fourth grade performance was higher, with more than eight in ten proficient in math and nearly as many in ELA. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency placed it among the highest in Union County relative to other districts.
Because McGinn serves only early elementary grades, there is no high school graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data to report; those measures apply to older students in the district.
Scotch Plains itself is a primarily residential township with a historic downtown along Park Avenue that features small businesses, a farmers market, and community events at the Village Green. The township has been actively pursuing a downtown redevelopment plan to add housing and commercial space. A commuter rail station is available in neighboring Fanwood, connecting to New York. Major outdoor amenities include the Watchung Reservation, a large nature reserve with trails and a nature center.
Housing values in the area run well above statewide and national benchmarks, consistent with an affluent suburban market. The local housing market shows active demand with relatively low inventory, typical for a desirable community in northern New Jersey.
The district brief turned up no recent major changes such as referendums, curriculum shifts, or tax changes. A parent looking into McGinn may want to ask the school or district directly about class sizes, enrichment offerings, and special education services, since those details were not available in the public data reviewed here.
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