South Plainfield School District

125 Jackson Avenue
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
(District boundaries shown in map)
6/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

South Plainfield School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in New Jersey for:

Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 1,933 students in South Plainfield School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in New Jersey.
Public Elementary Schools in South Plainfield School District have an average math proficiency score of 41% (versus the New Jersey public elementary school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 69% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the New Jersey public elementary school average of 64% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NJ)
# Schools
9 Schools
1,914 Schools
# Students
3,767 Students
883,477 Students
# Teachers
349 Teachers
77,662 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
11:1
11:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

South Plainfield School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 642 school districts in New Jersey (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 93% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NJ)
#306 out of 648 school districts
(Top 50%)
40%
38%
53%
49%
23%
23%
93%
85%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.74
0.72
% American Indian
1%
n/a
% Asian
18%
10%
% Hispanic
35%
35%
% Black
10%
15%
% White
32%
36%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
4%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $21,037 in this school district is less than the state median of $27,031. The school district revenue/student has declined by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $20,285 is less than the state median of $25,924. The school district spending/student has declined by 16% over four school years.
This School District
This State (NJ)
Total Revenue
$79 MM
$36,642 MM
Spending
$76 MM
$35,142 MM
Revenue / Student
$21,037
$27,031
Spending / Student
$20,285
$25,924

Best South Plainfield School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Roosevelt Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
135 Jackson Avenue
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
(908) 754-4620
Gr: K-4 | 472 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #22.
John F Kennedy Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2900 Norwood Avenue
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
(908) 754-4620
Gr: K-4 | 256 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #33.
John E. Riley Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
100 Morris Ave
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
(908) 754-4620
Gr: K-4 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #44.
Grant Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
305 Cromwell Place
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
(908) 754-4620
Gr: 5-6 | 568 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #55.
Franklin Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1000 Franklin Ave
South Plainfield, NJ 07080
(908) 754-4620
Gr: K-4 | 270 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 59%

Recent Articles

AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.

Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 9 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 3,767 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 68%
  • : 93% (Top 30% in NJ)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 40% (Top 50%)
  • : 53% (Top 50%)
  • : 23% (Top 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NJ Dept. of Education

Quick Links