The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 63% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Packanack Elementary School
Packanack Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Wayne Township Public School District, located in Passaic County. It is a regular public school within a suburban community that blends residential neighborhoods with significant commercial development. The school itself is situated in a residential area near Packanack Lake, one of several lake communities that give parts of Wayne a distinct character.
Academically, Packanack performed well on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, standing in the top quartile among elementary schools across Passaic County when looking at overall proficiency. In both math and English language arts, a majority of students in grades three, four, and five met or exceeded state standards. The strongest results came in fifth-grade ELA, where a large majority of students scored proficient or above, and in third-grade math, where a clear majority also reached that bar. Fewer students met the threshold in fourth-grade math, though the rate remained above the school's county peers. Science scores for fifth graders, the only tested grade in that subject, showed a substantial share of students achieving proficiency. These results reflect a consistent pattern of strong academic performance, particularly in the lower elementary grades.
The school’s student body is predominantly white, with Hispanic students making up the next largest share, followed by Asian students. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is far below the state average and indicates a relatively affluent population. Enrollment across the six grade levels is fairly even, and the school is notably a regular-neighborhood public school with no charter or magnet designation. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the information provided, which prevents a full picture of student support needs.
Wayne itself is a car-dependent, mature suburb with no traditional downtown. Commercial life centers on highway corridors and large retail centers like Willowbrook Mall. The housing market in the area, based on the zip code for the school, reflects a high-cost market with home values well above the national median and rents that are also elevated. This aligns with the school’s low share of students receiving meal assistance and suggests that families living in this attendance zone typically have strong financial resources. The township’s population has been essentially flat in recent years, and development has been incremental, focused on commercial redevelopment and infill rather than large-scale new housing. A publicly reported district initiative expanded full-day preschool access over the past few years, a change that adds early childhood options for local families.
For a parent considering Packanack, the school presents a straightforward proposition. It is a consistently high-performing elementary school in an affluent, settled suburb. The academic results place it among the top elementary schools in the county, and the student population is relatively homogeneous. The school environment is that of a standard public elementary, with no special program designations or alternative model. Families who value strong test scores and a neighborhood school in a prosperous, car-oriented suburb will find a good fit here. Those seeking socioeconomic diversity or a school with a wide range of specialized programs may want to look further, as the academic data does not speak to the breadth of offerings.
See more original research from School Decision →