The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Public School Number Five
Public School Number Five serves kindergarten through sixth grade in West New York, a densely populated Hudson County town built into a steep Palisades slope. The school is one of six elementary schools in the West New York School District, a former Abbott district where the state covers all school construction and renovation costs. Families considering this school should understand it operates within an urban environment defined by a majority Hispanic population, high residential density, and a commercial spine along Bergenline Avenue that functions as the town’s main street.
The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, and a very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, making this a school where economic need is the norm rather than the exception. This composition is consistent with the town’s demographics, where Spanish is spoken at home by more than half of residents. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it offers no specialized or selective admissions pathway.
On state assessments, performance varies by subject and grade. In English language arts, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders showed proficiency rates that were moderate, while third graders had a lower result. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how early literacy instruction is structured. In mathematics, proficiency rates fell steadily across grades, with third graders performing the strongest relative to the school’s own pattern and sixth graders the weakest. Science results, available only for fifth grade, were low. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint when compared to other districts in Hudson County.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available. Enrollment is distributed fairly evenly across grades, with a total student count that is moderate for a K-6 building in a dense urban district. Staffing, discipline, and course access data were not provided.
The housing market in West New York reflects its location as a commuter town directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan. Home values are high relative to national averages, and rents are also elevated, meaning that a typical household would spend a notable portion of income on housing. The town experienced population growth over the past decade, followed by a slight recent decline, and high-rise apartment construction along Boulevard East continues to add density. The waterfront has been redeveloped from industrial use to residential and recreational space, and the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway provides a public amenity along the town’s eastern edge.
The most notable recent change in the district is the planned renaming of Public School Number Three, which was named after U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and will be renamed following his federal conviction in 2024. This is a lasting identity change for a district school, and families in the district should be aware of it, though it does not directly affect Public School Number Five.
For a family weighing this school, the picture is straightforward. Public School Number Five is a neighborhood elementary school in a dense, walkable, transit-connected urban town. Its student body reflects the local community. State test results show soft spots, particularly in math and science, that a parent would want to discuss with the school to understand what supports are in place. The district’s Abbott status means the state funds facility projects, which may matter to families concerned about building conditions. The school is not a fit for someone seeking a selective program or a rural or suburban setting, but for a family living in West New York who values a local school embedded in a vibrant commercial and residential neighborhood, this is the assigned public option through sixth grade.
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