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South Mountain Elementary School

444 West South Orange Ave
South Orange, NJ 07079

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Top 20%

Tel: (973) 378-5216

SAVE SCHOOL

Serving 613 students in grades Kindergarten-5, South Mountain Elementary School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in New Jersey for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 20%, and reading proficiency is top 20%).

The percentage of students achieving is 62% (which is higher than the New Jersey state average of 38%). The percentage of students achieving is 70% (which is higher than the New Jersey state average of 49%).

The student-teacher ratio of 12:1 is higher than the New Jersey state level of 11:1.

Minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is lower than the New Jersey state average of 63% (majority Hispanic).

Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 613 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
Minority Enrollment: 40%
: Top 20% in NJ
: 62% (Top 20%)
: 70% (Top 20%)
: 40-44% (Top 20%)
: South Mountain Elementary/Annex serves a central area in South Orange, NJ, covering approximately 1.8 square miles. Most students live within a 5-10 minute drive of the school, with the furthest distance from the school to the zone's edge being about 1.3 miles.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NJ Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

South Mountain Elementary School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in New Jersey for:

School Overview

South Mountain Elementary School's student population of 613 students has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

The teacher population of 53 teachers has grown by 6% over five school years.

Grades Offered

Grades Kindergarten-5
(No virtual instruction)

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	South Mountain Elementary School
Kind	85
1	109
2	113
3	107
4	92
5	107

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Total Students

613 students

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Students Trends (1987-2025)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School
2025	613
2024	650
2023	618
2022	589
2021	612
2020	647
2019	605
2018	591
2017	600
2016	607
2015	598
2014	604
2013	619
2012	623
2011	623
2010	628
2009	578
2008	589
2007	549
2006	513
2005	513
2004	514
2003	531
2002	540
2001	542
2000	555
1999	503
1998	417
1996	386
1995	361
1994	344
1993	339
1992	324
1991	416
1990	384
1989	360
1988	356
1987	327

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Total Classroom Teachers

53 teachers

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Total Classroom Teachers Trends (1987-2025)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School
2025	53
2024	49
2023	49
2022	46
2021	50
2020	49
2019	48
2018	47
2017	43
2016	38
2015	37
2014	39
2013	41
2012	44
2011	36
2010	41
2009	34
2008	31
2007	34
2006	31
2005	32
2004	30
2003	31
2002	33
2001	30
2000	30
1999	27
1998	27
1996	23
1995	24
1994	23
1993	22
1992	23
1991	24
1990	19
1989	18
1988	17
1987	15

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School Rankings

South Mountain Elementary School ranks within the top 20% of all 2,184 schools in New Jersey (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).

The of South Mountain Elementary School is 0.60, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.72. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.

This School

State Level (NJ)

#379 out of 2184 schools
(Top 20%)

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Overall School Rank Trends (2010-2023)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School
2023	#379
2022	#389
2021	#463
2019	#704
2018	#461
2017	#368
2016	#216
2015	#250
2014	#553
2013	#622
2012	#456
2011	#310
2010	#346

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62%

38%

View Data

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

Math Proficiency Comparison (2010-2023)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2023	62%	38%	49%
2022	61%	36%	47%
2021	45%	26%	33%
2019	63%	44%	56%
2018	65%	42%	57%
2017	63%	41%	56%
2016	70%	40%	54%
2015	63%	36%	49%
2014	86%	75%	83%
2013	88%	75%	83%
2012	90%	75%	83%
2011	92%	75%	82%
2010	92%	73%	79%

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70%

49%

View Data

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Comparison (2010-2022)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2022	70%	49%	65%
2021	57%	47%	63%
2019	66%	57%	68%
2018	74%	55%	57%
2017	77%	53%	66%
2016	77%	50%	61%
2015	75%	47%	60%
2014	87%	69%	83%
2013	81%	69%	83%
2012	85%	69%	82%
2011	83%	69%	80%
2010	80%	69%	79%

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40-44%

23%

View Data

Science Proficiency Comparison (2021-2022)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2022	42%	23%	35%
2021	42%	22%	35%

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Student-Teacher Ratio

12:1

11:1

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 39-year historical data available below ↓

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison (1987-2025)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2025	12:1	11:1
2024	13:1	11:1
2023	13:1	11:1	11:1
2022	13:1	11:1	11:1
2021	12:1	11:1	12:1
2020	13:1	12:1	13:1
2019	13:1	12:1	13:1
2018	13:1	12:1	13:1
2017	14:1	12:1	13:1
2016	16:1	12:1	13:1
2015	16:1	12:1	13:1
2014	15:1	12:1	12:1
2013	15:1	12:1	12:1
2012	14:1	13:1	12:1
2011	17:1	15:1	14:1
2010	15:1	14:1	14:1
2009	17:1	12:1	13:1
2008	19:1	15:1	16:1
2007	16:1	13:1	13:1
2006	17:1	13:1	14:1
2005	16:1	13:1	14:1
2004	17:1	13:1	14:1
2003	17:1	14:1	14:1
2002	16:1	14:1	15:1
2001	18:1	15:1	15:1
2000	19:1	15:1	15:1
1999	19:1	15:1	15:1
1998	15:1	15:1	16:1
1996	17:1	15:1	15:1
1995	15:1	15:1	14:1
1994	15:1	15:1	14:1
1993	15:1	15:1	14:1
1992	14:1	16:1	15:1
1991	17:1	15:1	16:1
1990	20:1	15:1	15:1
1989	20:1	16:1	16:1
1988	21:1	16:1	16:1
1987	22:1	16:1	16:1

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Asian

11%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Asian Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2025	4%	11%
2024	4%	11%
2023	5%	10%	3%
2022	5%	10%	4%
2021	5%	10%	4%
2020	4%	10%	4%
2019	5%	11%	4%
2018	5%	10%	3%
2017	5%	10%	3%
2016	5%	10%	3%
2015	5%	10%	3%
2014	5%	10%	4%
2013	4%	9%	4%
2012	5%	9%	5%
2011	5%	9%	5%
2010	6%	9%	4%
2009	5%	8%	5%
2008	4%	8%	4%
2007	5%	8%	4%
2006	4%	7%	4%
2005	4%	7%	4%
2004	4%	7%	4%
2003	3%	7%	4%
2002	4%	7%	4%
2001	3%	6%	4%
2000	2%	6%	3%
1999	3%	6%	3%
1998	3%	6%	4%
1996	4%	5%	5%
1995	5%	5%	5%
1994	5%	5%	5%
1993	6%	5%	5%
1992	7%	5%	4%
1991	7%	5%	5%
1990	6%	4%	4%
1989	6%	4%	4%
1988	6%	4%	4%

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Hispanic

11%

35%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2025	11%	35%
2024	10%	34%
2023	9%	33%	10%
2022	10%	32%	9%
2021	9%	31%	8%
2020	9%	30%	8%
2019	8%	29%	8%
2018	8%	29%	7%
2017	7%	27%	7%
2016	6%	26%	7%
2015	7%	25%	7%
2014	6%	24%	6%
2013	6%	24%	6%
2012	6%	23%	6%
2011	6%	22%	5%
2010	4%	21%	5%
2009	4%	20%	5%
2008	4%	20%	5%
2007	5%	19%	5%
2006	4%	18%	4%
2005	3%	18%	4%
2004	4%	17%	4%
2003	5%	16%	4%
2002	4%	16%	4%
2001	3%	15%	3%
2000	3%	15%	4%
1999	3%	14%	4%
1998	4%	14%	4%
1996	4%	14%	4%
1995	4%	13%	4%
1994	4%	13%	4%
1993	4%	12%	4%
1992	2%	12%	4%
1991	3%	12%	4%
1990	3%	11%	4%
1989	3%	11%	4%
1988	3%	10%	3%

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Black

12%

14%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Black Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2025	12%	14%
2024	12%	14%
2023	12%	15%	24%
2022	11%	15%	25%
2021	11%	15%	25%
2020	11%	15%	27%
2019	13%	15%	27%
2018	14%	15%	32%
2017	16%	16%	32%
2016	17%	16%	34%
2015	17%	16%	36%
2014	18%	16%	36%
2013	19%	16%	38%
2012	22%	16%	39%
2011	20%	16%	40%
2010	23%	17%	42%
2009	26%	17%	44%
2008	29%	17%	46%
2007	29%	17%	47%
2006	35%	18%	49%
2005	37%	18%	51%
2004	35%	18%	51%
2003	36%	18%	51%
2002	36%	18%	52%
2001	38%	18%	51%
2000	38%	18%	51%
1999	38%	18%	49%
1998	36%	18%	47%
1996	31%	18%	41%
1995	25%	19%	37%
1994	23%	18%	32%
1993	18%	19%	30%
1992	16%	18%	27%
1991	18%	18%	25%
1990	17%	19%	23%
1989	16%	18%	22%
1988	17%	18%	21%

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White

60%

37%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

White Student Percentage Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2025	60%	37%
2024	60%	38%
2023	62%	39%	54%
2022	62%	40%	54%
2021	64%	41%	55%
2020	64%	42%	55%
2019	64%	43%	55%
2018	64%	44%	53%
2017	64%	45%	53%
2016	64%	46%	52%
2015	61%	48%	51%
2014	62%	49%	50%
2013	63%	50%	49%
2012	61%	51%	48%
2011	65%	52%	48%
2010	63%	53%	47%
2009	65%	54%	46%
2008	62%	55%	45%
2007	60%	56%	44%
2006	56%	57%	43%
2005	55%	57%	41%
2004	56%	58%	41%
2003	55%	59%	41%
2002	56%	59%	40%
2001	56%	61%	42%
2000	57%	61%	42%
1999	56%	62%	44%
1998	57%	62%	45%
1996	61%	63%	50%
1995	66%	63%	54%
1994	68%	64%	59%
1993	72%	64%	61%
1992	75%	65%	64%
1991	72%	65%	66%
1990	73%	66%	69%
1989	75%	67%	70%
1988	74%	68%	72%

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Two or more races

13%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 15-year historical data available below ↓

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison (2011-2025)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2025	13%	3%
2024	14%	3%
2023	12%	3%	9%
2022	12%	3%	8%
2021	11%	3%	8%
2020	12%	3%	6%
2019	10%	2%	6%
2018	9%	2%	5%
2017	8%	2%	5%
2016	8%	2%	4%
2015	10%	1%	3%
2014	9%	1%	4%
2013	8%	1%	3%
2012	6%	1%	2%
2011	4%	1%	2%

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All Ethnic Groups

40%

63%

0.60

0.72

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 38-year historical data available below ↓

Diversity Score Comparison (1988-2025)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2025	0.60	0.72
2024	0.60	0.71
2023	0.58	0.71	0.64
2022	0.58	0.71	0.64
2021	0.56	0.71	0.63
2020	0.56	0.71	0.62
2019	0.56	0.70	0.62
2018	0.56	0.70	0.61
2017	0.56	0.70	0.61
2016	0.55	0.69	0.61
2015	0.59	0.68	0.61
2014	0.57	0.67	0.62
2013	0.56	0.67	0.62
2012	0.58	0.66	0.62
2011	0.54	0.65	0.61
2010	0.55	0.64	0.60
2009	0.51	0.64	0.59
2008	0.53	0.63	0.58
2007	0.56	0.62	0.58
2006	0.57	0.61	0.58
2005	0.56	0.61	0.58
2004	0.57	0.60	0.57
2003	0.57	0.59	0.57
2002	0.56	0.59	0.57
2001	0.55	0.58	0.57
2000	0.53	0.58	0.57
1999	0.55	0.57	0.57
1998	0.55	0.57	0.58
1996	0.53	0.55	0.58
1995	0.50	0.55	0.57
1994	0.49	0.54	0.55
1993	0.45	0.54	0.53
1992	0.41	0.53	0.51
1991	0.45	0.53	0.50
1990	0.44	0.52	0.48
1989	0.41	0.51	0.46
1988	0.42	0.50	0.44

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(22-23)

8.5%

16.7%

View Data

Chronic Absenteeism Rate (2021-2023)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2023	8.5%	16.7%	15.9%
2022	6.5%	18.2%	12.8%
2021	0.8%	13.2%	9%

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Participates in the

Yes

Eligible for

38%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison (1990-2025)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2025	5%	38%
2024	3%	32%
2023	2%	31%	10%
2022	2%	30%	10%
2021	3%	32%	12%
2020	3%	33%	13%
2019	3%	33%	13%
2018	4%	33%	14%
2017	4%	33%	14%
2016	4%	33%	15%
2015	5%	31%	15%
2014	4%	32%	16%
2013	4%	31%	15%
2012	6%	29%	15%
2011	4%	27%	14%
2010	4%	26%	14%
2009	4%	24%	13%
2008	4%	22%	12%
2007	5%	21%	12%
2006	5%	21%	12%
2004	6%	21%	11%
2003	4%	21%	11%
2002	3%	22%	11%
2001	5%	22%	12%
2000	4%	23%	9%
1999	3%	23%	12%
1998	5%	24%	11%
1996	7%	24%	10%
1995	4%	24%	7%
1994	3%	24%	5%
1993	2%	23%	4%
1992	3%	21%	3%
1991	4%	18%	2%
1990	4%	16%	3%

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Eligible for

View Data

Showing 2014–2024. Full 25-year historical data available below ↓

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison (2000-2024)
Year	South Mountain Elementary School	New Jersey	South Orange-Maplewood School District
2024	1%	6%
2023	1%	5%	2%
2022	1%	4%	2%
2020	1%	5%	3%
2019	1%	5%	3%
2018	1%	5%	3%
2017	1%	5%	3%
2016	1%	5%	3%
2015	2%	5%	4%
2014	2%	5%	4%
2013	1%	6%	5%
2012	2%	6%	4%
2011	1%	5%	4%
2010	2%	6%	5%
2009	2%	6%	5%
2008	1%	6%	5%
2007	2%	6%	4%
2006	1%	6%	5%
2004	2%	6%	6%
2003	3%	6%	6%
2002	2%	6%	6%
2001	3%	6%	5%
2000	2%	5%	4%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

South Orange-Maplewood School District

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NJ Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is South Mountain Elementary School's ranking?

South Mountain Elementary School is ranked #379 out of 2,184 schools, which ranks it among the top 20% of public schools in New Jersey.

What schools are South Mountain Elementary School often compared to?

South Mountain Elementary Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Marshall Elementary School by visitors of our site.

What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?

62% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 38% NJ state average), while 70% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 49% NJ state average).

How many students attend South Mountain Elementary School?

613 students attend South Mountain Elementary School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

60% of South Mountain Elementary School students are White, 13% of students are Two or more races, 12% of students are Black, 11% of students are Hispanic, and 4% of students are Asian.

What is the student-teacher ratio of South Mountain Elementary School?

South Mountain Elementary School has a student ration of 12:1, which is higher than the New Jersey state average of 11:1.

What grades does South Mountain Elementary School offer ?

South Mountain Elementary School offers enrollment in grades Kindergarten-5 (No virtual instruction).

What school district is South Mountain Elementary School part of?

South Mountain Elementary School is part of South Orange-Maplewood School District.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

Grades: Kindergarten-5
Enrollment: 613 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1
Minority Enrollment: 40%
: Top 20%
: 62% (Top 20%)
: 70% (Top 20%)
: 40-44% (Top 20%)
: South Mountain Elementary/Annex serves a central area in South Orange, NJ, covering approximately 1.8 square miles. Most students live within a 5-10 minute drive of the school, with the furthest distance from the school to the zone's edge being about 1.3 miles.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NJ Dept. of Education