The top reported proficiency rate is 88% in English language arts. The lowest is 65% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Wilson Elementary School
Wilson Elementary School, located in Westfield, New Jersey, serves students in first through fifth grade as part of the Westfield Public School District. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet school. The school’s enrollment is small, and its student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Asian students, a smaller share of Hispanic students, and a very small number of Black students or students identifying as two or more races. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-income peer environment, which aligns with the overall wealth of the community.
Westfield is a wealthy residential suburb of New York City, known for its strong commercial downtown core with a walkable mix of independent boutiques and national retailers, over forty restaurants, and year-round events like summer jazz nights and seasonal festivals. The town has a median household income that is more than double the statewide median, and its housing market reflects that wealth. Home values are high and have risen over the past year; rents are also high. The town’s population has grown modestly in recent decades, and it faces redevelopment pressures, particularly around a former department store site, but overall it is a built-out suburban community with slow, incremental growth. Schools are located on separated campuses in residential neighborhoods rather than downtown, and most residents commute to New York City or other employment centers via NJ Transit.
State assessment results for Wilson are from grade-level testing in math, English language arts (ELA), and science, using the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA). In math, proficiency rates were high across grades three, four, and five, with the fifth-grade rate somewhat lower than the other two but still solid. In ELA, proficiency rates were very high in all three grades tested, with the fourth- and fifth-grade results particularly strong. In science, the fifth-grade proficiency rate was moderate. Compared to districts across Union County, Wilson’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile, a strong performance. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate.
Because Wilson serves only elementary grades, it does not offer the advanced coursework, career pathways, or dual-credit programs that high schools provide. The district brief turned up no specific parent-relevant changes in recent years, such as referendums or curriculum overhauls, that would affect a family’s decision today. This is not unusual, as many stable suburban districts do not make headline-level changes frequently.
The school environment data, including discipline statistics, course access, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism, was not available. A parent may want to ask the school directly about class sizes, teacher experience, and how the school supports students who may need extra help or enrichment. The absence of data on students with disabilities and English learners is a gap worth noting; families with children who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or who are learning English should inquire about how the school serves those populations.
Wilson Elementary offers a high-performing academic experience in a wealthy, stable suburban community. The strong state test results, particularly in reading and math, suggest that most students are meeting grade-level expectations. The school fits a family seeking a high-achieving elementary school within a district that performs well relative to its county neighbors. Families should weigh the high cost of housing in Westfield, the limited economic diversity in the student body, and the absence of certain support data when considering whether this school matches their priorities. For those who value strong test scores and a homogeneous peer environment in an affluent commuter town, Wilson presents a clear option.
See more original research from School Decision →