- Enrollment
- 1,141
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 68/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tenafly, NJ
J Spencer Smith School
Federal NCES profile for J Spencer Smith School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 62/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 341611000866
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 91
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J Spencer Smith School earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Jersey median.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Tenafly · Resource Index
- 62
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.1:1
- students per teacher
- 0.9%
- free-lunch eligible
J Spencer Smith School has class sizes near the New Jersey median. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J Spencer Smith School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Tenafly, NJ.
School address
District: Tenafly Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341611000866 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-35 students YoY
J Spencer Smith School shrank from 347 students in 2022-23 to 312 in 2023-24 (-10.1%).
Teacher FTE added 27.6 → 29.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-35 students YoY 341611000866 · Tenafly, NJ Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
326 enr · 12.1:1 · 0.9% lunch · RII 62
Nearest enrollment peer: Tenafly High School (1,141 students)
J Spencer Smith School shrank from 347 students in 2022-23 to 312 in 2023-24 (-10.1%). Teacher FTE added 27.6 → 29.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
J Spencer Smith School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Tenafly High S
Tenafly High School
1,141 students
- Tenafly Middle
Tenafly Middle School
916 students
- Ralph S Maugha 358
Ralph S Maugham School
358 students
- Malcolm S Mack 349
Malcolm S Mackay School
349 students
- This school 326
J Spencer Smith School
326 students
- Walter Stillma 314
Walter Stillman School
314 students
What this shows J Spencer Smith School reports 326 students on the CCD universe file.
How J Spencer Smith School compares
J Spencer Smith School is a shrinking campus on CCD: 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 | 12.1:1 | ▲ 3% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 0.9% | ▼ 97% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 326 | top 69% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
326
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
0.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 97% 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
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 63% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
3.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$26,135
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 326 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 55.5%
Asian 34.7%
Two or More 5.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.7%
African American 0.3%
Largest group: White at 55.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.7, J Spencer Smith School is more mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tenafly Public School District reports $26,135 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How J Spencer Smith School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenafly High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tenafly Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ralph S Maugham School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Malcolm S Mackay School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Walter Stillman School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J Spencer Smith School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 916
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 358
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 349
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 314
- Students per teacher
- 10.5:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
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 (~326 students)
Frequently asked questions about J Spencer Smith School
How many students attend J Spencer Smith School?
J Spencer Smith School has 326 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tenafly, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 347 (2022-23) → 312 (2023-24), down 35.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J Spencer Smith School?
The student-teacher ratio at J Spencer Smith School is 12.1:1, which is 3% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 23% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at J Spencer Smith School?
0.9% of students at J Spencer Smith School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J Spencer Smith School?
The largest demographic group at J Spencer Smith School is White at 55.5% of enrollment, in Tenafly, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J Spencer Smith School?
J Spencer Smith School has a Resource Investment Index of 62/100 (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 J Spencer Smith School rank among elementary schools in Tenafly?
By Resource Investment Index, J Spencer Smith School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Tenafly, 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 Tenafly on the city page.
What other schools are in Tenafly Public School District?
Besides J Spencer Smith School, Tenafly Public School District also operates Tenafly High School (1,141 students), Tenafly Middle School (916 students), and Ralph S Maugham School (358 students). See the Tenafly Public School District district page for the complete list.