Enrollment
526
New Jersey · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Scotch Plains, NJ
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 67/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 341467005686
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 85
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School earns 67/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of New Jersey schools.
- #2 of 4
- schools in Scotch Plains · Resource Index
- 67
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.5:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 1.3%
- free-lunch eligible
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School has class sizes larger than 81% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 schools in Scotch Plains, NJ.
School address
District: Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341467005686 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 11.8:1 New Jersey avg
+14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
1.3%
vs 29.6% New Jersey avg
-96% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School compares with New Jersey and U.S. medians
What stands out at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, enrolling 526 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 13.5:1 puts it in the larger third of New Jersey schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 1.3% free-meal eligibility runs 96% below the New Jersey average.
With 526 students, its enrollment sits close to the New Jersey median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 91% of the 2,501 New Jersey schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 529 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need New Jersey schools statewide, it ranks #51, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (63%) and Asian (13%) (diversity index 57/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 6.1% 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 J. Ackerman Coles 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 J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School compares
J. Ackerman Coles 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 | 13.5:1 | ▲ 14% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 1.3% | ▼ 96% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 526 | top 36% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
526
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
1.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 96% 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
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 81% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
6.1%
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 62.5%
Asian 13.1%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%
Two or More 6.3%
African American 5.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 62.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.1, J. Ackerman Coles 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 J. Ackerman Coles 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 J. Ackerman Coles 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 | Lower S:T ratio |
| Terrill Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| William J. Mcginn Elementary School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Evergreen Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J. Ackerman Coles 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
- 449
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 68/100
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 (~526 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare J. Ackerman Coles 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 J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School
How many students attend J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School?
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School has 526 students enrolled. It is a public school in Scotch Plains, NJ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School is 13.5:1, which is 14% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 14% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School?
1.3% of students at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School is White at 62.5% of enrollment, in Scotch Plains, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School?
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 67/100 (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 J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School rank among schools in Scotch Plains?
By Resource Investment Index, J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School ranks #2 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 J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School a good school?
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School earns 67/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% 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 J. Ackerman Coles 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.