The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in English language arts. The lowest is 48% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Frederic N. Brown Elementary School
Frederic N. Brown Elementary School serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Verona, a primarily residential township in Essex County with a small-town, suburban feel. The school is one of four neighborhood elementary schools in the Verona Public School District, each on its own campus rather than clustered together. The district also includes one middle school for grades five through eight and a separate high school, so students who start at Frederic N. Brown will move to a new building for fifth grade as they progress through the system.
The school’s enrollment is relatively small for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of students who are Asian, Black, or identify as two or more races. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners was not available. A parent seeking information on these support structures may want to ask the school directly.
On state assessments, the school’s results show a pattern that parents will want to weigh carefully. In third-grade English language arts, a majority of students scored at or above the proficient level. By fourth grade, the share of students reaching that benchmark rose further, putting the school on solid ground in literacy at this early grade level. Mathematics results tell a different story. Third-grade math performance was similar to reading, with a majority of students proficient. But in fourth-grade math, the share of students scoring proficient dropped noticeably, falling below the majority. This drop is large enough that a parent may want to explore the school’s math curriculum and how it supports students as they move from third to fourth grade. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency sits above the midpoint among districts in Essex County, meaning the school performs better than the typical district in the county, though the gap between math and reading warrants attention.
Because this school serves only grades kindergarten through four, there are no graduation rate data, and state testing covers only grades three and four. The absence of a graduation rate is simply because the school does not serve high school grades.
Verona itself is a dense, nearly built-out suburban township with a grid of residential streets. The community’s focal point is Verona Park, with its lake and boathouse, which serves as a major gathering space. Commercial activity is limited and runs along Bloomfield Avenue rather than forming a traditional downtown. The township’s largest historical employer, a flag manufacturing plant, closed and was redeveloped into apartments in recent years. There is no rail station in town, and residents depend on cars for most commuting and errands. The housing market reflects the area’s desirability, with home values that are high relative to national norms and rental costs that also run well above average. The area is a high-cost place to live.
The district has not seen major recent changes that would affect a family’s decision in a lasting way. The elementary schools remain neighborhood-based, and the progression through middle and high school is established. For a family looking at Frederic N. Brown, the key considerations are the school’s strong early literacy results, the notable decline in math proficiency between third and fourth grade, and the suburban, car-dependent character of Verona with its high housing costs. The school fits a family that values a small neighborhood elementary setting and can afford the local market, but a parent with a child heading into fourth grade especially may want to understand how the school addresses math instruction at that level.
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