Emerson Public School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Emerson, New Jersey - 3 schools

An equity score of 33/100 ranks Emerson Public School District #465 of 587 districts in New Jersey (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $23,888 per pupil, Emerson Public School District ranks #339 of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending (New Jersey districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,082
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$23,888
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Emerson Public School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,082 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New Jersey. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Bergen County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $23,888 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending. See how New Jersey compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 74.7% local, 20.3% state, and 5.0% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 33/100, ranked #465 of 587 in New Jersey against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (25 AP courses district-wide), a 146.7:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 7.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 60.5% White, 23.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Patrick M Villano School, with a diversity index of 59.7/100.

Its largest campus is Emerson Jr Sr High, enrolling 440 students (42% of the district's total enrollment).

Emerson Jr Sr High accounts for 40.7% of all Emerson Public School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Emerson Public School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Emerson Public School District student-counselor ratio is 147:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Emerson Public School District chronic absenteeism rate is 7.3% — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

5.0%
Federal
20.3%
State
74.7%
Local

Funding Equity

33
Equity Score
465 / 587
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Emerson Public School District.

White 60.5%
Hispanic or Latino 23.4%
African American 1.7%
Asian 8.3%
Multiracial 5.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 56.8/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Emerson Public School District's schools, above the New Jersey average of 51.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Patrick M Villano School 59.7
  2. 2 Memorial School 55.5
  3. 3 Emerson Jr Sr High 55.3

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
25 AP courses total
146.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
7.3%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Emerson Public School District

School Enrollment
Emerson Jr Sr High
440
Memorial School
374
Patrick M Villano School
240

How Emerson Public School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The New Jersey districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Cumberland County Board of Vocational Education Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Upper Saddle River School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Foundation Academy Charter School Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Sussex-Wantage Regional School District Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Plumsted Township School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Emerson Public School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in New Jersey

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Newark Public School District
41,672 students · 63 schools · $25,301/pupil
Compare vs Emerson Public School District →
Elizabeth Public Schools
28,266 students · 37 schools · $24,380/pupil
Compare vs Emerson Public School District →
Jersey City Public Schools
26,647 students · 39 schools · $26,862/pupil
Compare vs Emerson Public School District →

Compare Emerson Public School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Newark Public School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Emerson Public School District?

Emerson Public School District has 3 schools, including 2 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,082 students.

How much does Emerson Public School District spend per student?

Emerson Public School District spends $23,888 per student. The district has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #465 in New Jersey.

What is the demographic composition of Emerson Public School District?

Emerson Public School District students are 60.5% White, 23.4% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 1.7% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Emerson Public School District?

Emerson Public School District has an equity score of 33/100, ranking #465 out of 587 districts in New Jersey.