Elizabeth Public Schools

Elizabeth Public Schools serves 28,266 students across 37 schools in Union County, New Jersey, representing a suburban district with modest enrollment growth of 0.9% annually. The district operates 24 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 8 high schools with a student-teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

Academically, Elizabeth Public Schools performs below state benchmarks. Math proficiency stands at 25.4% compared to the state average of 40.2%, while reading proficiency measures 46.2% against a state average of 51.7%. The graduation rate of 89.0% slightly trails the state average of 90.0%. Chronic absenteeism at 15.8% presents an additional consideration for student engagement.

The student population reflects significant economic and linguistic diversity. Approximately 78.9% of students qualify as economically disadvantaged, 33.1% are English learners, and 12.1% receive special education services. Demographically, the district is predominantly Hispanic (76.8%), with Black students comprising 15.1%, White students 6.3%, and Asian students 1.5%.

Financially, Elizabeth Public Schools operates with a total budget of $672.4M and per-pupil spending of $12,602, which falls below the state average of $13,992. Revenue is primarily state-funded at 82.2%, with local sources contributing 10.6% and federal funding accounting for 7.2%. This funding structure reflects limited local revenue capacity relative to student need.