- Enrollment
- 1,116
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 67/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Cranford, NJ
Hillside Avenue School
Federal NCES profile for Hillside Avenue School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 340357005460
👥 S:T ratio 62
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 1
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hillside Avenue School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of New Jersey schools.
- #1 of 5
- elementary schools in Cranford · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 9.5:1
- small classes for New Jersey
- 2.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Hillside Avenue School has class sizes smaller than 81% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hillside Avenue School ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Cranford, NJ.
School address
District: Cranford Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 340357005460 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Hillside Avenue School held near 748 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 78.2 → 73.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 340357005460 · Cranford, NJ Elementary · MID · TRAD
743 enr · 9.5:1 · 2.0% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Cranford High School (1,116 students)
Hillside Avenue School held near 748 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 78.2 → 73.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
Hillside Avenue School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cranford High
Cranford High School
1,116 students
- Orange Avenue
Orange Avenue School
750 students
- This school
Hillside Avenue School
743 students
- Brookside Plac 364
Brookside Place School
364 students
- Walnut Avenue 304
Walnut Avenue School
304 students
- Livingston Ave 270
Livingston Avenue School
270 students
What this shows Hillside Avenue School reports 743 students on the CCD universe file.
How Hillside Avenue School compares
Hillside Avenue School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 9.5:1 | ▼ 19% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 2.0% | ▼ 93% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 743 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.5:1
Leaner classes than 91% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
743
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
2.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 93% below the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
9.5:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 19% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
8.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$22,905
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $26,225
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 495 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 65.1%
Hispanic or Latino 18.6%
Asian 6.9%
Two or More 4.8%
African American 4.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 65.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.3, Hillside Avenue School is more mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cranford Public School District reports $22,905 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Hillside Avenue School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cranford High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Orange Avenue School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brookside Place School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walnut Avenue School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Livingston Avenue School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hillside Avenue School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 750
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 364
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 304
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 270
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~743 students)
Frequently asked questions about Hillside Avenue School
How many students attend Hillside Avenue School?
Hillside Avenue School has 743 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Cranford, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 734 (2022-23) → 748 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hillside Avenue School?
The student-teacher ratio at Hillside Avenue School is 9.5:1, which is 19% lower than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 39% 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 Hillside Avenue School?
2.0% of students at Hillside Avenue School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hillside Avenue School?
The largest demographic group at Hillside Avenue School is White at 65.1% of enrollment, in Cranford, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hillside Avenue School?
Hillside Avenue School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Hillside Avenue School rank among elementary schools in Cranford?
By Resource Investment Index, Hillside Avenue School ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Cranford, 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 Cranford on the city page.
What other schools are in Cranford Public School District?
Besides Hillside Avenue School, Cranford Public School District also operates Cranford High School (1,116 students), Orange Avenue School (750 students), and Brookside Place School (364 students). See the Cranford Public School District district page for the complete list.