Palisades Park 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.

Palisades Park, New Jersey - 3 schools

An equity score of 39/100 ranks Palisades Park School District #410 of 587 districts in New Jersey (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $20,625 per pupil, Palisades Park School District ranks #555 of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending (New Jersey districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,786
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$20,625
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Palisades Park School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,786 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 $20,625 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 66.4% local, 26.1% state, and 7.5% 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 39/100, ranked #410 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 (16 AP courses district-wide), a 505.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 21.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 70.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 6.7% White across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Palisades Park Jr-Sr High School, with a diversity index of 49.4/100.

Its largest campus is Lindbergh Elementary School, enrolling 762 students (43% of the district's total enrollment).

Lindbergh Elementary School accounts for 42.7% of all Palisades Park School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Palisades Park School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. 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

Palisades Park School District school enrollment varies 2.8× across entities

Palisades Park School District school enrollment ranges from 277 students (lowest) to 762 students (highest), a spread of 485 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Palisades Park School District student-counselor ratio is 506:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

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 above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

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

Palisades Park School District chronic absenteeism rate is 21.8% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Palisades Park School District is typically wider than the Palisades Park School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

7.5%
Federal
26.1%
State
66.4%
Local

Funding Equity

39
Equity Score
410 / 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 Palisades Park School District.

White 6.7%
Hispanic or Latino 70.5%
African American 2.1%
Asian 19.8%
Multiracial 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 45.6/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Palisades Park School District's schools, below the New Jersey average of 51.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Palisades Park Jr-Sr High School 49.4
  2. 2 Charles R Smith Early Chilhood Center 45.7
  3. 3 Lindbergh Elementary School 41.7

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
16 AP courses total
505.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
21.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Palisades Park School District

School Enrollment
Lindbergh Elementary School
762
Palisades Park Jr-Sr High School
747
Charles R Smith Early Chilhood Center
277

How Palisades Park School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Watchung Hills Regional High School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Pascack Valley Regional High School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Pompton Lakes School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Somerset Hills Regional School District Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Atlantic County Vocational School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Palisades Park 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 Palisades Park School District →
Elizabeth Public Schools
28,266 students · 37 schools · $24,380/pupil
Compare vs Palisades Park School District →
Jersey City Public Schools
26,647 students · 39 schools · $26,862/pupil
Compare vs Palisades Park School District →

Compare Palisades Park 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 Palisades Park School District?

Palisades Park School District has 3 schools, including 1 elementary, 2 combined. Total enrollment is 1,786 students.

How much does Palisades Park School District spend per student?

Palisades Park School District spends $20,625 per student. The district has an equity score of 39/100, ranking #410 in New Jersey.

What is the demographic composition of Palisades Park School District?

Palisades Park School District students are 70.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 6.7% White, 2.1% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Palisades Park School District?

Palisades Park School District has an equity score of 39/100, ranking #410 out of 587 districts in New Jersey.