The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in Math. The lowest is 56% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Betty Mcelmon Elementary School
Betty McElmon Elementary School is a regular public school in West Long Branch, New Jersey, serving children from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. It sits within the West Long Branch School District, a small district that sends its older students on to Shore Regional High School, a shared institution with several neighboring towns. This elementary school is the entry point for most families in the borough.
West Long Branch itself is a primarily residential borough on the Jersey Shore, home to Monmouth University’s campus. That university presence gives the town a college-town texture alongside established single-family neighborhoods. The borough's housing market is expensive, reflecting an affluent suburban character. The district received state preschool expansion aid in recent years, allowing it to move from a half-day to a full-day pre-K program, and has been growing that program—a meaningful benefit for families with young children. The school’s own enrollment is a midsized elementary, and it draws from the borough’s small footprint.
Academically, the school posts results that place it above the midpoint among elementary schools within Monmouth County. On the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, math proficiency in both third and fourth grades is strong. English language arts results are solid as well, with fourth-grade students performing at a notably higher level than third graders. Because the school serves only through grade four, there is no graduation rate to report, and data on chronic absenteeism was not available in this profile. A parent looking for secondary outcomes would need to follow students through the district’s middle school and on to Shore Regional.
The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population as the second-largest group. A relatively modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, consistent with the borough’s overall affluence. Information on special education and English learner populations was not reported in the data provided, so a parent with specific needs in those areas may want to inquire directly with the school.
No data on course access, staffing ratios, or discipline were available, meaning the picture is largely limited to test performance and the community setting. What is clear is that Betty McElmon presents as a well-regarded elementary school within a high-cost, college-town suburb. Its pre-K expansion makes it particularly appealing for families entering the district with a three- or four-year-old. The academic results are solid across the board, and the school’s small grade span means children are in a focused early-childhood environment before transitioning to a larger regional high school later on. For a family looking for a traditional public elementary experience in an affluent Monmouth County community, this school fits that profile well.
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