B+
Above Average
84/100

South Mountain Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 🏫 Elementary
📍 444 WEST SOUTH ORANGE AVE, S Orange, NJ 07079
Overall
B+
84/100 · the blend of everything below
Achievement
A
1.6 grade levels above the U.S. average · 77th percentile in New Jersey
Growth
B+
Students gain 1.26 grade levels a year (U.S. average 1.0) · 68th percentile
Resources
A+
Class size, funding, school size and type

Each score is graded separately against New Jersey schools. A school can be strong at moving students forward (growth) without having the highest test scores, or the reverse. How we score schools

84
Repit Score
out of 100
650
Students
enrolled
13.2:1
Student:Teacher
ratio
$31K
Per Student
spending

What Goes Into This Rating

FactorWeightScoreBasis
📚 Achievement (reading & math, grades 3–8)40%77/1001.6 grade levels above the national average, 2022–25 (Stanford SEDA)
📈 Growth (how fast students learn)45%68/100Students gain 1.26 grade levels per school year in 2022–25 (national average ≈ 1.0) and gained 1.05 in 2009–19; 78th percentile in New Jersey (recent period weighted 70%)
🏫 Resources (class size, funding, size, type)15%96/100Inputs from NCES school and district data

Students served: 6% students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Compared with New Jersey schools serving a similar share of low-income students, this school’s reading and math results are −3 points worse than expected. (Context only; not part of the score.)

The overall Repit Score ranks this blend against every rated school in New Jersey. Schools are compared within their state because each state sets its own tests and proficiency bar. How we rate schools

Test Scores & Graduation

📖 Reading proficiency66% (+9 pts vs. state avg 57%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19
➗ Math proficiency63% (+16 pts vs. state avg 47%)
Students scoring proficient on the state test, 2018–19

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Federal reporting rounds small schools to ranges; we show the midpoint. Proficiency standards differ by state, so compare schools within the same state.

How Student Groups Do Here

Share of each group of students scoring proficient on the New Jersey state test (2018–19), compared with the same group of students across the state. Differences between groups are shown as reported; they reflect many factors inside and outside school.

StudentsReadingMathvs. same group statewideRank in state for this group
White72%72%reading +7 pts, math +9 pts73rd percentile (list)
Black35%35%reading -1 pts, math +7 pts61st percentile (list)
Hispanic70%50%reading +28 pts, math +13 pts86th percentile (list)
Multiracial70%70%reading +11 pts, math +15 pts65th percentile (list)

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts via the Urban Institute. Groups with fewer than 20 tested students are not shown. Results are achievement (proficiency), not growth; growth by group is not published for individual schools.

School Information

Address 444 WEST SOUTH ORANGE AVE
City S Orange
ZIP Code 07079
District 3415330
NCES School ID 341533002442
Data Year 2024-25

Community Context for 07079

Understanding the community around South Mountain Elementary School helps evaluate the school environment and neighborhood.

💰 Income & Economy

Median Household Income $173,012
Per Capita Income $77,719
Poverty Rate 1.9%
Households Earning $100K+ 69.2%

🎓 Education Level

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 75.9%
High School or Higher 97.6%

🏠 Housing

Median Home Value $769,100
Median Rent $2,186
Owner-Occupied 65.5%
Renter-Occupied 34.5%
View full data for ZIP 07079 →

Thinking about moving into this school’s area? See what homes and rents actually cost in ZIP 07079 — values, rent, and how it compares to nearby ZIPs. Free, no signup. See 07079 housing costs →

Student Demographics

Enrollment and demographic breakdown for South Mountain Elementary School.

👫 Gender Distribution

Male 50.8%
Female 49.1%

🌎 Race & Ethnicity

White 60.2%
Two or More Races 13.7%
Black 11.9%
Hispanic/Latino 10.2%
Asian 3.9%
Pacific Islander 0.2%

📋 Enrollment Summary

Total Enrollment 650
Teachers (FTE) 49.4
Student:Teacher Ratio 13.2:1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Repit School Score for South Mountain Elementary School?
South Mountain Elementary School has a Repit School Score of 84 out of 100, earning a grade of B+. The score is based mainly on reading and math proficiency compared with other schools in the state, with class size and funding counting for a smaller share.
How many students attend South Mountain Elementary School?
South Mountain Elementary School has 650 students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.2:1.
What grades does South Mountain Elementary School serve?
South Mountain Elementary School serves grades Pre-K – 05 and is classified as a Elementary. This is a public school.
How much funding does South Mountain Elementary School receive per student?
South Mountain Elementary School receives $30,915 in per-pupil spending from its district. This is above the national average.
🏠 Rental Market Around South Mountain Elementary School in 07079 ▼
Avg Home Value
$1,087,816
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,977
1-Year Change
+6.7%
% Renters
34.5%

Other Schools in 07079

View all schools and real estate data for 07079 →

About Repit School Scores

Parents choosing a school deserve to see what it actually delivers. Since October 2026 the Repit School Score is built mainly on results:

  • Academics (largest share) — the share of students scoring proficient in reading and math on the state test, ranked against schools of the same level in the same state.
  • Graduation (high schools) — the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. Only regular diplomas count; GEDs and certificates of attendance do not.
  • Resources (smaller share) — class size, per-pupil funding, school size and type.

Scores compare schools within their own state, because every state writes its own tests and sets its own proficiency bar. Full methodology

Data sources: NCES CCD 2024-25, U.S. Dept. of Education EDFacts (test results & graduation) | Last updated: October 2026