Enrollment
434
New Jersey · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Scotch Plains, NJ
Howard B. Brunner Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Howard B. Brunner Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 66/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 341467005684
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Howard B. Brunner Elementary School earns 66/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of New Jersey schools.
- #3 of 4
- schools in Scotch Plains · Resource Index
- 66
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.8:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 3.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Howard B. Brunner Elementary School has class sizes larger than 72% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Howard B. Brunner Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 schools in Scotch Plains, NJ.
School address
District: Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341467005684 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.8:1
vs 11.8:1 New Jersey avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
3.3%
vs 29.6% New Jersey avg
-89% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Howard B. Brunner Elementary School compares with New Jersey and U.S. medians
What stands out at Howard B. Brunner Elementary School
Howard B. Brunner Elementary School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, enrolling 434 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 12.8:1 puts it in the larger third of New Jersey schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 3.3% free-meal eligibility runs 89% below the New Jersey average.
With 434 students, its enrollment sits close to the New Jersey median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,501 scored New Jersey schools.
Against 610 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #78.
Its student body is led by White (58%) and Hispanic or Latino (14%) (diversity index 61/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 8.8% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District also operates Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (1,562 students) and Malcolm E Nettingham Middle School (913 students) alongside Howard B. Brunner 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 Howard B. Brunner Elementary School compares
Howard B. Brunner 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 | 12.8:1 | ▲ 8% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 3.3% | ▼ 89% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 434 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.8:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
434
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
3.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 89% 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
12.8:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 72% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
8.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$20,364
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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
White 58.1%
Hispanic or Latino 14.3%
Asian 13.6%
African American 8.5%
Two or More 5.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 58.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.3, Howard B. Brunner Elementary School is more mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District, which includes Howard B. Brunner Elementary School.
$20,364
Per student
-18%
vs New Jersey
Avg $24,984
+23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 74.7%
State 23.2%
Federal 2.1%
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 Howard B. Brunner Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Malcolm E Nettingham Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Terrill Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| William J. Mcginn Elementary School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Howard B. Brunner Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,562
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 913
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 822
- Students per teacher
- 11.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 543
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 67/100
- Enrollment
- 526
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 67/100
Similar other 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 (~434 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Howard B. Brunner Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Howard B. Brunner Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Scotch Plains-Fanwood 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 Howard B. Brunner Elementary School
How many students attend Howard B. Brunner Elementary School?
Howard B. Brunner Elementary School has 434 students enrolled. It is a public school in Scotch Plains, NJ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Howard B. Brunner Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Howard B. Brunner Elementary School is 12.8:1, which is 8% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 18% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Howard B. Brunner Elementary School?
3.3% of students at Howard B. Brunner Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Howard B. Brunner Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Howard B. Brunner Elementary School is White at 58.1% of enrollment, in Scotch Plains, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Howard B. Brunner Elementary School?
Howard B. Brunner Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 66/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Howard B. Brunner Elementary School rank among schools in Scotch Plains?
By Resource Investment Index, Howard B. Brunner Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 schools in Scotch Plains, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Scotch Plains on the city page.
Is Howard B. Brunner Elementary School a good school?
Howard B. Brunner Elementary School earns 66/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of 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 Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District?
Besides Howard B. Brunner Elementary School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District also operates Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (1,562 students), Malcolm E Nettingham Middle School (913 students), and Terrill Middle School (822 students). See the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District district page for the complete list.
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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.