Laura Donovan School

Summary:

Laura Donovan School is an elementary school in Freehold, New Jersey, serving students from kindergarten to 5th grade as part of the Freehold Township School District. The school has consistently ranked in the middle range of New Jersey elementary schools over the past decade, maintaining a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger, which indicates average performance compared to other schools in the state.

In academics, Laura Donovan School's proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics are generally higher than the state averages, with 3rd-grade students scoring 52.7% and 61.3% proficient, respectively, in 2023-2024. However, the school's performance in Science lags behind, with only 22.3% of 5th-graders proficient, compared to the state average of 27.5%. The school's data also reveals disparities in academic achievement between different student subgroups, with female, Hispanic, and White students outperforming their male, English Language Learner, Special Education, and low socioeconomic status peers.

While Laura Donovan School performs well within the Freehold Township School District, the comparison to nearby Howell Township schools suggests that the Freehold Township district as a whole may be underperforming compared to other districts in the region. Additionally, the school has seen a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, rising from 11.1% in 2021-2022 to 16.6% in 2022-2023, which may negatively impact student learning and overall school performance if not addressed.


Detail:

Public K-5

 237 Stonehurst Blvd
       Freehold, NJ  07728-3198


(732) 431-3321

District: Freehold Township School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
517th of 1,338 New Jersey Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,648 Help


Students who attend Laura Donovan School usually attend:

Middle:    Clifton T. Barkalow School
High:    Freehold Township High School

Student/teacher ratio:  11.0 Help
Number of students:  454

Racial breakdown:

White:
70.3%
Hispanic:
20.5%
Two or more races:
3.3%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  19.6% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Laura Donovan School ranks better than 61.4% of elementary schools in New Jersey. It also ranks 4th among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Freehold Township School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 62.22. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (70.3%), Hispanic (20.5%), two or more races (3.3%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 19.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Laura Donovan School is 11. 4 elementary schools in the Freehold Township School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Laura Donovan School employs 41 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Laura Donovan School is $10,648, which is the 3rd highest among 5 elementary schools in the Freehold Township School District.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Laura Donovan School:

SchoolDigger ranks Laura Donovan School 517th of 1338 New Jersey public elementary schools. (See Laura Donovan School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Freehold Township School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Freehold Township School District 192nd of 613 New Jersey school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Laura Donovan School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Laura Donovan School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 84.75 117th 1204 90.3%
2004 77.59 253rd 1298 80.5%
2005 70.59 447th 1303 65.7%
2006 76.90 278th 1314 78.8%
2007 75.01 297th 1329 77.7%
2008 75.57 318th 1338 76.2%
2009 73.90 368th 1346 72.7%
2010 68.34 494th 1354 63.5%
2011 71.64 422nd 1360 69.0%
2012 73.00 421st 1363 69.1%
2013 74.22 388th 1367 71.6%
2014 65.26 569th 1363 58.3%
2015 68.69 445th 1357 67.2%
2016 68.00 467th 1346 65.3%
2017 67.13 501st 1352 62.9%
2018 67.23 485th 1353 64.2%
2019 63.28 540th 1360 60.3%
2021 66.35 397th 1317 69.9%
2022 70.02 429th 1345 68.1%
2023 66.34 466th 1342 65.3%
2024 62.22 517th 1338 61.4%
See the entire list of New Jersey Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Laura Donovan School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 6.41 422nd 434 2.8%
2024 51.04 187th 559 66.5%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Laura Donovan School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 80.22 144th 1007 85.7%
2021 72.62 159th 868 81.7%
2022 62.21 285th 949 70.0%
2023 48.85 399th 958 58.4%
2024 72.62 182nd 989 81.6%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Laura Donovan School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.25 784th 942 16.8%
2019 26.92 701st 948 26.1%
2021 74.01 95th 839 88.7%
2022 55.60 308th 863 64.3%
2023 30.58 636th 910 30.1%
2024 42.96 490th 939 47.8%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Laura Donovan School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.58 420th 1333 68.5%
2019 67.37 472nd 1331 64.5%
2021 55.60 511th 1290 60.4%
2022 72.00 389th 1326 70.7%
2023 65.27 469th 1318 64.4%
2024 64.86 465th 1317 64.7%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Laura Donovan School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.26 522nd 1334 60.9%
2019 58.70 564th 1335 57.8%
2021 72.71 298th 1297 77.0%
2022 65.50 452nd 1324 65.9%
2023 64.85 457th 1315 65.2%
2024 58.91 538th 1313 59.0%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Laura Donovan School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.41 458th 870 47.4%
2019 32.26 608th 899 32.4%
2021 58.47 281st 896 68.6%
2022 56.89 339th 953 64.4%
2023 51.55 426th 982 56.6%
2024 49.50 448th 989 54.7%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Laura Donovan School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 66.70 330th 1022 67.7%
2019 67.72 313th 1023 69.4%
2021 57.94 354th 964 63.3%
2022 63.20 344th 976 64.8%
2023 60.08 385th 975 60.5%
2024 57.35 413th 963 57.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: New Jersey Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Laura Donovan School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: New Jersey Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Friday, November 18, 2016

Open Quote Great school! amazing teachers and staff- warm family feel. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Laura Donovan School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 290 10 12 1 0 n/a n/a 0 313
1989 302 4 8 6 0 n/a n/a 0 320
1990 310 8 12 4 0 n/a n/a 0 334
1991 360 11 22 17 0 n/a n/a 0 410
1992 341 19 24 13 0 n/a n/a 0 397
1993 359 16 21 13 0 n/a n/a 0 409
1994 368 22 30 14 3 n/a n/a 0 437
1995 386 33 33 25 1 n/a n/a 0 478
1996 386 33 33 25 1 n/a n/a 0 478
1998 429 42 36 18 0 n/a n/a 0 525
1999 505 36 36 19 0 n/a n/a 0 596
2000 612 14 26 10 3 n/a n/a 0 665
2001 636 10 36 23 1 n/a n/a 0 706
2002 684 16 54 30 0 n/a n/a 0 784
2003 684 16 54 30 0 n/a n/a 0 784
2004 706 19 58 32 0 n/a n/a 0 815
2005 466 13 47 47 0 n/a n/a 0 573
2006 461 16 49 56 0 n/a n/a 0 582
2007 438 15 43 49 0 n/a n/a 0 545
2008 417 17 41 56 0 n/a n/a 0 531
2009 415 23 44 55 0 0 0 0 537
2010 389 19 35 59 0 3 1 0 506
2011 382 15 36 70 0 3 1 0 507
2012 371 12 24 63 2 2 1 0 475
2013 356 20 23 72 3 2 1 0 477
2014 348 19 26 89 3 0 0 0 485
2015 322 19 20 91 2 0 0 0 454
2016 304 19 23 91 1 1 2 0 441
2017 295 25 19 97 1 1 2 0 440
2018 287 21 24 95 0 2 4 0 433
2019 288 16 26 96 2 2 6 0 436
2020 307 13 24 92 0 1 6 0 443
2021 297 12 23 88 0 1 8 0 429
2022 307 17 19 92 0 0 7 0 442
2023 322 11 16 91 0 1 8 0 449
2024 319 13 13 93 0 1 15 0 454

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Laura Donovan School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 313 25.0 12.5 n/a
1989 320 25.0 12.8 n/a
1990 334 23.0 14.5 1.8
1991 410 26.0 15.7 2.4
1992 397 27.0 14.7 5
1993 409 28.0 14.6 6.4
1994 437 26.5 16.5 5.9
1995 478 35.0 13.7 7.1
1996 478 35.0 13.7 7.1
1998 525 34.0 15.4 6.9
1999 596 37.0 16.1 5.4
2000 665 41.0 16.2 4.2
2001 706 41.2 17.1 3.7
2002 784 43.4 18.1 4.6
2003 784 43.4 18.1 4.6
2004 815 46.0 17.7 4.3
2005 573 40.0 14.3 n/a
2006 582 38.0 15.3 7.2
2007 545 40.0 13.6 7.3
2008 531 38.0 14.0 9.2
2009 537 43.4 9.3 9.7
2010 506 44.0 11.5 11.5
2011 507 43.0 11.7 12
2012 475 46.2 10.2 11.6
2013 477 43.5 10.9 17
2014 485 46.5 10.4 20.8
2015 454 40.0 11.3 22
2016 441 42.0 10.5 22.2
2017 440 39.5 11.1 22.5
2018 433 43.5 9.9 19.6
2019 436 40.5 10.7 16.5
2020 443 42.5 10.4 17.2
2021 429 38.5 11.1 14.2
2022 442 42.5 10.4 15.2
2023 449 44.0 10.2 14.9
2024 454 41.0 11.0 19.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Laura Donovan School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 313 25.0 12.5 n/a
1989 320 25.0 12.8 n/a
1990 334 23.0 14.5 1.8
1991 410 26.0 15.7 2.4
1992 397 27.0 14.7 5
1993 409 28.0 14.6 6.4
1994 437 26.5 16.5 5.9
1995 478 35.0 13.7 7.1
1996 478 35.0 13.7 7.1
1998 525 34.0 15.4 6.9
1999 596 37.0 16.1 5.4
2000 665 41.0 16.2 4.2
2001 706 41.2 17.1 3.7
2002 784 43.4 18.1 4.6
2003 784 43.4 18.1 4.6
2004 815 46.0 17.7 4.3
2005 573 40.0 14.3 n/a
2006 582 38.0 15.3 7.2
2007 545 40.0 13.6 7.3
2008 531 38.0 14.0 9.2
2009 537 43.4 9.3 9.7
2010 506 44.0 11.5 11.5
2011 507 43.0 11.7 12
2012 475 46.2 10.2 11.6
2013 477 43.5 10.9 17
2014 485 46.5 10.4 20.8
2015 454 40.0 11.3 22
2016 441 42.0 10.5 22.2
2017 440 39.5 11.1 22.5
2018 433 43.5 9.9 19.6
2019 436 40.5 10.7 16.5
2020 443 42.5 10.4 17.2
2021 429 38.5 11.1 14.2
2022 442 42.5 10.4 15.2
2023 449 44.0 10.2 14.9
2024 454 41.0 11.0 19.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Laura Donovan School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $484 (4.5%) $10,164 (95.5%) $10,648

Data source: New Jersey Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Laura Donovan School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 540th of 1360 Elementary schoolsRanks 466th of 1342 Elementary schools
 5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Laura Donovan School)63.550.6
 12.9%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Freehold Township School District)61.550.7
 10.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)50.242
 8.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Laura Donovan School)60.651.6
 9%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Freehold Township School District)68.260.7
 7.5%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)55.145.9
 9.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Laura Donovan School)55.458
 2.6%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Freehold Township School District)56.962
 5.1%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)57.451.3
 6.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Laura Donovan School)53.441.2
 12.2%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Freehold Township School District)63.161.6
 1.5%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)5144.3
 6.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Laura Donovan School)76.474.3
 2.1%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Freehold Township School District)69.571.7
 2.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)57.953.2
 4.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Laura Donovan School)56.271.2
 15%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Freehold Township School District)60.163
 2.9%
   5th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)46.840.1
 6.7%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students436449
 3%
African American1611
 31.3%
American Indian20
 100%
Asian2616
 38.5%
Hispanic9691
 5.2%
Pacific Islander21
 50%
White288322
 11.8%
Two or More Races68
 33.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients16.5%14.9%
 1.6%


Schools Near Laura Donovan School









Frequently Asked Questions about Laura Donovan School

In the 2023-24 school year, 454 students attended Laura Donovan School.

Laura Donovan School ranks 517th of 1338 New Jersey elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Laura Donovan School are 70% White, 20% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 3% African American, 3% Asian.

Students who attend Laura Donovan School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Clifton T. Barkalow School
High : Freehold Township High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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