Top Rankings
Clifton 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 2025 school year, there are 16 public elementary schools serving 7,013 students in Clifton Public School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in New Jersey.
Public Elementary Schools in Clifton Public School District have an average math proficiency score of 31% (versus the New Jersey public elementary school average of 37%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the New Jersey public elementary school average of 63% (majority Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NJ)
# Schools
19 Schools
1,930 Schools
# Students
10,473 Students
886,629 Students
# Teachers
907 Teachers
77,858 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
District Rank
Clifton Public School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 646 school districts in New Jersey (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has decreased from 87% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#460 out of 650 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
28%
36%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
38%
49%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
14%
23%
Graduation Rate
82%
85%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.54
0.72
# American Indian Students
77 Students
1,992 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
n/a
# Asian Students
625 Students
92,318 Students
% Asian Students
6%
10%
# Hispanic Students
6,550 Students
301,752 Students
% Hispanic Students
62%
34%
# Black Students
387 Students
132,335 Students
% Black Students
4%
15%
# White Students
2,700 Students
325,482 Students
% White Students
26%
37%
# Hawaiian Students
10 Students
1,690 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
113 Students
30,907 Students
% of Two or more races Students
1%
4%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
413
41,362
# Students in K Grade:
753
85,425
# Students in 1st Grade:
720
93,943
# Students in 2nd Grade:
792
96,713
# Students in 3rd Grade:
756
95,865
# Students in 4th Grade:
735
97,373
# Students in 5th Grade:
785
98,202
# Students in 6th Grade:
780
99,575
# Students in 7th Grade:
787
80,278
# Students in 8th Grade:
811
80,823
# Students in 9th Grade:
774
4,713
# Students in 10th Grade:
815
4,047
# Students in 11th Grade:
798
3,770
# Students in 12th Grade:
754
4,350
# Ungraded Students:
-
190
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $22,914 in this school district is less than the state median of $26,931. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $22,398 is less than the state median of $25,828. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$240 MM
$36,642 MM
Spending
$235 MM
$35,142 MM
Revenue / Student
$22,914
$26,931
Spending / Student
$22,398
$25,828
Best Clifton Public School District Public Elementary Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
School #9
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
25 Brighton Road
Clifton, NJ 07012
(973) 470-2396
Clifton, NJ 07012
(973) 470-2396
Grades: PK-5
| 301 students
Rank: #22.
School #16
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
755 Grove Street
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2420
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2420
Grades: K-5
| 209 students
Rank: #33.
School #2
(Math: 45% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1270 Van Houten Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2380
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2380
Grades: K-5
| 400 students
Rank: #44.
School #1
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
158 Park Slope
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2370
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2370
Grades: PK-5
| 257 students
Rank: #55.
School #3
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
365 Washington Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2390
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2390
Grades: K-5
| 227 students
Rank: #66.
School #5
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
136 Valley Road
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2386
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2386
Grades: K-5
| 417 students
Rank: #77.
School #14
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
99 St Andrews Boulevard
Clifton, NJ 07012
(973) 470-2411
Clifton, NJ 07012
(973) 470-2411
Grades: PK-5
| 375 students
Rank: #88.
School #8
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
41 Oak Street
Clifton, NJ 07014
(973) 470-2392
Clifton, NJ 07014
(973) 470-2392
Grades: PK-5
| 165 students
Rank: #99.
School #13
(Math: 39% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
782 Van Houten Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2410
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2410
Grades: K-5
| 461 students
Rank: #1010.
Woodrow Wilson Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1400 Van Houten Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2348
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2348
Grades: 6-8
| 1,232 students
Rank: #1111.
School #15
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
700 Gregory Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2418
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2418
Grades: PK-5
| 248 students
Rank: #1212.
School #11
(Math: 29% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
147 Merselis Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2401
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2401
Grades: PK-5
| 377 students
Rank: #1313.
School #12
(Math: 27% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
165 Clifton Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2404
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2404
Grades: PK-5
| 555 students
Rank: #1414.
School #17
(Math: 24% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
361 Lexington Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 458-6017
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 458-6017
Grades: PK-5
| 502 students
Rank: #1515.
Christopher Columbus Middle School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
350 Piaget Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2360
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2360
Grades: 6-8
| 1,146 students
Rank: #1616.
School #4
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
194 West Second Street
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2382
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 470-2382
Grades: PK-5
| 141 students
Recent Articles
Sexual Harassment at Age 6: The Tale of a First Grade Suspension
A six-year old in Aurora, Colorado, was suspended after singing an LMFAO song to a little girl in his class and reportedly “shaking his booty.” We look at the case and the sexual harassment problem in public schools today.
How Scaffolding Could Change the Way Your Child Learns
This article explores the concept of instructional scaffolding, a teaching method that enhances learning by breaking down complex tasks into manageable parts. It highlights how scaffolding supports students in developing critical thinking skills and becoming more independent learners. The article discusses the benefits of scaffolding, including improved engagement and reduced anxiety, and provides strategies for its implementation across various educational levels.
February 05, 2025
Understanding the U.S. Department of Education: Structure, Impact, and EvolutionWe explore how the Department of Education shapes American education, from its cabinet-level leadership to its impact on millions of students, written for general audiences seeking clarity on this vital institution.
