How strong are the public elementary schools in Newark?
With a fresh school year kicking off, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com — which include comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews — to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year and those that lead their peers.
Branch Brook School's overall rating improved the most among similar schools in Newark, rising from a C to a B-, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 228 Ridge St., enrolls 154 students. Branch Brook School serves a fairly diverse population: 78% of students identify as Hispanic and 12% identify as black. Niche graded the school a B for academics (on an A-D scale).
The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.
Academically, 62% of Branch Brook School's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 57% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 31% in math and 30% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 79% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Elliott Street Elementary School saw its overall rating improve from a C- to a C. The school is located at 721 Summer Ave. and is much larger, currently serving 588 students, of whom 83% identify as Hispanic and 15% identify as black.
Niche graded Elliott Street Elementary School a C for academics on an A-D scale. The school's latest math proficiency was at 27%, and reading proficiency was 36%. It also serves a less-affluent population, with 84% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
Franklin School also saw improvement in its overall rating, from C- to C. The school is located at 42 Park Ave. and has 481 students currently enrolled, of whom 81% identify as Hispanic and 18% identify as black.
Niche graded Franklin School a C for academics on an A-D scale. Its latest math proficiency was at 30%, and reading proficiency was 23%. When it comes to free or reduced lunch, 82% of students qualify.
Want more of the latest intel on Newark schools? Hoodline also analyzed the latest Niche ratings for the city's public high schools.
This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.
