Enrollment
649
New Jersey · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Perth Amboy, NJ
Edward J. Patten Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Edward J. Patten Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 341293000152
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 7
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Edward J. Patten Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Jersey median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most New Jersey schools.
- #7 of 7
- elementary schools in Perth Amboy · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.6:1
- students per teacher
- 74.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Edward J. Patten Elementary School has class sizes near the New Jersey median. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Edward J. Patten Elementary School ranks #7 of 7 elementary schools in Perth Amboy, NJ.
School address
District: Perth Amboy Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341293000152 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
61.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
10.6:1
vs 11.8:1 New Jersey avg
-10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
74.6%
vs 29.6% New Jersey avg
+152% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Edward J. Patten Elementary School compares with New Jersey and U.S. medians
What stands out at Edward J. Patten Elementary School
Edward J. Patten Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, enrolling 649 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 10.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of New Jersey schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 74.6% of students qualify for free meals, 152% above the New Jersey average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 649 puts it in the larger third of New Jersey schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,501 scored New Jersey schools.
Against 190 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #63.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (88% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 22/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 325 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 37.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Perth Amboy Public School District spends $39,196 per pupil, 57% above the New Jersey average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Perth Amboy's elementary schools, it stands alongside Rose M. Lopez Elementary School (793 students): Edward J. Patten Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (10.6:1 vs 14.7:1).
Perth Amboy Public School District also operates Perth Amboy High School (2,769 students) and William C. Mcginnis Middle School (984 students) alongside Edward J. Patten Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Edward J. Patten Elementary School compares
Edward J. Patten Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.6:1 | ▼ 10% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 74.6% | ▲ 152% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 649 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.6:1
Leaner classes than 85% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
649
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
74.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 152% above the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.6:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 38% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 62% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
37.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$39,196
per pupil, district-wide
- above New Jersey avg of $24,984
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 325 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 88.1%
African American 8.8%
White 1.7%
Two or More 0.8%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 88.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 21.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 21.6, Edward J. Patten Elementary School is less mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Perth Amboy Public School District, which includes Edward J. Patten Elementary School.
$39,196
Per student
+57%
vs New Jersey
Avg $24,984
+136%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 9.0%
State 83.9%
Federal 7.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Edward J. Patten Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perth Amboy High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William C. Mcginnis Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Samuel E. Shull Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rose M. Lopez Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Herbert N. Richardson 21st Century School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Edward J. Patten Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,769
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 984
- Students per teacher
- 9.8:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 941
- Students per teacher
- 10.7:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 793
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 632
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Similar elementary schools in Perth Amboy
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Jersey, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~649 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Edward J. Patten Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Edward J. Patten Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Perth Amboy Public School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Edward J. Patten Elementary School
How many students attend Edward J. Patten Elementary School?
Edward J. Patten Elementary School has 649 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Perth Amboy, NJ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Edward J. Patten Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Edward J. Patten Elementary School is 10.6:1, which is 10% lower than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 32% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Edward J. Patten Elementary School?
74.6% of students at Edward J. Patten Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Edward J. Patten Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Edward J. Patten Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 88.1% of enrollment, in Perth Amboy, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Edward J. Patten Elementary School?
Edward J. Patten Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Edward J. Patten Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Perth Amboy?
By Resource Investment Index, Edward J. Patten Elementary School ranks #7 of 7 elementary schools in Perth Amboy, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Perth Amboy on the city page.
Is Edward J. Patten Elementary School a good school?
Edward J. Patten Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Jersey median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most New Jersey schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Perth Amboy Public School District?
Besides Edward J. Patten Elementary School, Perth Amboy Public School District also operates Perth Amboy High School (2,769 students), William C. Mcginnis Middle School (984 students), and Samuel E. Shull Middle School (941 students). See the Perth Amboy Public School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.