The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on West Dover Elementary School
West Dover Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Toms River, part of the Toms River Regional School District. This is a regular public elementary school set in a large, growing township that functions as both a bedroom suburb of New York City and a regional commercial hub for central New Jersey. The school draws from the West Dover neighborhood, a residential section of this sprawling community.
Nearly two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that places the school in a middle range for economic diversity. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic minority and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. A parent will find a peer environment that is economically mixed and racially diverse to a moderate degree, typical of many suburban New Jersey elementary schools.
State testing results from the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments show a pattern that a parent should examine carefully. In third-grade math, roughly a quarter of students met proficiency. Fourth-grade math came in near a third. Fifth-grade math was about a third as well. In English language arts, third graders scored below a quarter proficient, fourth graders not quite a third, and fifth graders approached half. Fifth-grade science proficiency was roughly a quarter. When placed against other Ocean County districts, the school’s overall proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile. This is a soft spot. The numbers are consistently below the county midpoint, meaning a family whose child needs a strong academic push or who is looking for a school with higher overall attainment will want to investigate what support the school offers for struggling students and how the classroom experience matches their child’s needs.
Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to consider, and data on chronic absenteeism was not available. The school does not serve high school grades, so those metrics do not apply here.
The school sits within the Toms River Regional School District, which has been navigating significant financial pressures. Publicly reported sources indicate the district has lost substantial state aid under New Jersey’s S2 funding formula, leading to staff reductions and program cuts. In response, voters approved a bond referendum in 2022 to fund full-day kindergarten, which launched in 2023. However, voters rejected a larger bond referendum in 2024 that would have addressed roof repairs, HVAC replacements, and security upgrades across the district, leaving those infrastructure needs unaddressed. These district-level dynamics matter to a West Dover family because they shape the resources available at the school and the property tax trajectory for residents.
The housing market in the school’s zip code reflects a moderately priced suburban market. Home values and rents are above the national benchmark but below the state median, which is typical for this part of Ocean County. The area continues to grow, with population increasing steadily since 2020, and the township remains family-oriented with a significant share of residents under 18.
For a family considering West Dover, the picture is straightforward. This is a mid-sized elementary school in a large regional district, serving a diverse student body with a notable share of economic need. The academic results on state tests are lower than many neighboring districts, which is the main factor a parent would want to explore further by talking directly to the school about instruction, intervention programs, and how the school supports students who are not yet meeting benchmarks. The district’s budget constraints and failed infrastructure referendum are real concerns that may affect long-term facility quality and programming. A family anchored to this neighborhood for housing or community reasons can find a welcoming school, but those with flexibility and a priority on higher test scores will want to compare options carefully.
See more original research from School Decision →