The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in English language arts. The lowest is 44% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Benedict A. Cucinella School
Benedict A. Cucinella School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Long Valley, a small, primarily residential unincorporated community within Washington Township in western Morris County. The school is a regular public elementary school and part of the Washington Township School District, which encompasses four schools serving grades PK through eight. Long Valley itself has a historic village core centered on the German Valley Historic District and the South Branch of the Raritan River, and its population has been relatively stable in recent decades, reflecting a slow-growth or stable trajectory typical of established rural-suburban communities in this part of the county.
Enrollment at Cucinella School is moderate for an elementary school serving this grade band, with classes spread across each grade level from prekindergarten through fifth. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest Hispanic representation and smaller shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the area’s overall affluence. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners were not available in the sources reviewed.
On state assessments, the school shows a pattern that parents will want to look at by grade and subject. In English language arts, proficiency rates climb notably from third to fifth grade, with fifth graders posting a strong result. Fourth and fifth grade reading scores are a clear strength, while third grade reading is more moderate. In mathematics, the picture is mixed: third and fifth graders show solid proficiency, but fourth grade math is a softer spot, with a lower share of students meeting the state’s proficient or advanced bar. Fifth grade science results, where the state uses a slightly different proficiency standard, are lower than the math and English scores for that same grade. A parent may want to ask the school how it addresses the dip in fourth grade math and how science instruction builds toward that assessment.
Compared to other districts in Morris County, Cucinella School’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint. That positions it as a solid performer within a county known for strong schools, though not among the very top tier. The school does not serve grades that produce a graduation rate, so that measure does not apply here.
The district, Washington Township School District, operates with a low student-to-teacher ratio, a structural feature that suggests the potential for more individual attention in the classroom. District finances reflect a high level of local investment, which shapes both the property tax burden on residents and the resources available for programming.
Housing in the area around Long Valley is expensive relative to national benchmarks, with home values and rents that place this community among the more costly parts of an already expensive county. The housing market in Morris County shows strong demand, with homes selling relatively quickly and median listing prices near the high end for the region. The price-to-income ratio indicates that homeownership here requires a substantial income.
For families considering this school, the picture is of a stable, relatively affluent community with an elementary school that delivers solid, though uneven, academic results. The strongest outcomes are in upper-grade reading, while fourth grade math and fifth grade science are areas where a parent may want to engage with the school to understand the instructional approach. The district’s low student-to-teacher ratio is a recurring point of attraction. The school does not offer programs beyond its elementary grade span, so parents will need to look ahead to the district’s upper elementary and middle school pathways. The surrounding community offers historic character and a rural-suburban feel, with limited information available on walkability, major employers, or public transit.
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