Top Rankings
Hillside Public School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in New Jersey for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 4 public elementary schools serving 1,626 students in Hillside Public School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in New Jersey.
Public Elementary Schools in Hillside Public School District have an average math proficiency score of 20% (versus the New Jersey public elementary school average of 39%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the New Jersey public elementary school average of 64% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NJ)
# Schools
7 Schools
1,914 Schools
# Students
2,957 Students
883,477 Students
# Teachers
238 Teachers
77,662 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Hillside Public School District, which is ranked within the bottom 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 85% has decreased from 87% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#519 out of 648 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
17%
38%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
49%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
5%
23%
Graduation Rate
85%
85%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.60
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
10%
% Hispanic
38%
35%
% Black
50%
15%
% White
9%
36%
% Hawaiian
1%
n/a
% Two or more races
1%
4%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $24,984 in this school district is less than the state median of $27,031. The school district revenue/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $24,235 is less than the state median of $25,924. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$74 MM
$36,642 MM
Spending
$72 MM
$35,142 MM
Revenue / Student
$24,984
$27,031
Spending / Student
$24,235
$25,924
Best Hillside Public School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hurden Looker Elementary School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1261 Liberty Ave
Hillside, NJ 07205
(908) 352-7664
Hillside, NJ 07205
(908) 352-7664
Gr: 2-6 | 408 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #22.
Ola Edwards Community School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1530 Leslie St
Hillside, NJ 07205
(908) 352-7664
Hillside, NJ 07205
(908) 352-7664
Gr: 2-6 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #33.
Deanna G. Taylor Academy
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
614 Tillman St
Hillside, NJ 07205
(908) 352-7664
Hillside, NJ 07205
(908) 352-7664
Gr: 2-6 | 202 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: n/an/a
143 Coe Ave
Hillside, NJ 07205
(908) 352-7664
Hillside, NJ 07205
(908) 352-7664
Gr: PK-1 | 625 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Recent Articles
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
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
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
