The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in English language arts. The lowest is 57% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on James Fallon Elementary School
James Fallon Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade in Wayne, a township in Passaic County that blends residential suburb and regional commercial hub. The school is one of the regular public elementary schools in the Wayne Township Public School District and sits in a neighborhood near the southern edge of the township, a short drive from the Willowbrook Mall corridor and the William Paterson University campus.
On state assessments, Fallon’s students turn in results that place the school in the top tier compared to other districts across Passaic County. In English language arts, a strong majority of third, fourth, and fifth graders meet the state’s proficiency standard. Math proficiency is also solid across those grades, with slightly more variation—third and fifth graders perform at roughly the same level, while fourth grade lags a bit behind but still holds a clear majority proficient. Science, tested only in fifth grade, shows a smaller majority reaching proficiency. Taken together, the school’s overall academic profile is consistently strong for an elementary building, and the countywide comparison confirms it as a standout performer.
The student body is predominantly white, with Hispanic and Asian students forming the next largest groups, and a very small number of Black, multiracial, and other backgrounds. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the generally mid-to-upper income character of the surrounding community. Fallon enrolls a population that is typical of the district’s elementary schools in size, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across the early grades.
Wayne itself is a mature suburban township with a flat population trajectory. Housing values are well above national and state medians, and the market is active, with listings moving relatively quickly. The township lacks a traditional downtown; commercial life is concentrated along highway corridors and around the Willowbrook Mall. Residents rely on cars for most trips. The lake communities—Packanack Lake, Pines Lake, Lions Head Lake—add a distinctive recreational dimension to several neighborhoods. The district recently expanded full-day preschool, a change that broadens early childhood access for families.
Some information commonly found for schools is not available here. Data on special education enrollment and English learner population was missing, so a parent or guardian with a child in those programs may want to ask the school directly about supports and services. Discipline statistics and chronic absenteeism rates were also absent; because Fallon is an elementary school, chronic absenteeism tends to be lower in early grades, but the school could provide specifics. Staffing ratios and course access data were not reported; given the grade band, course access generally means the core elementary curriculum plus any enrichment or intervention programs the school offers. The school is not a Title I school, which is consistent with the low poverty rate among its families.
For a family considering Fallon, the academic record is a clear strength. The school sits in a district that has made a notable investment in full-day preschool, and the surrounding township offers a car-oriented suburban lifestyle with strong housing values and steady demand. The missing data points are not unusual for an elementary school, but they are worth a follow-up call for any family whose child would benefit from specialized support. The picture that emerges is of a well-regarded neighborhood school delivering consistent results within a stable, higher-income community.
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