South Plainfield High School

Summary:

South Plainfield High School is a public high school serving 1,097 students in grades 9-12 in South Plainfield, New Jersey. The school is part of the South Plainfield School District, which is ranked 357 out of 613 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

South Plainfield High School has consistently ranked in the top half of New Jersey high schools, with a current ranking of 168 out of 426 schools. The school's performance on state assessments is generally above the state average, with 60% of 9th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts and 27.2% proficient or better in Algebra I End of Course in 2023-2024. The school also maintains a strong four-year graduation rate, ranging from 90.9% to 93.3% over the past few years, which is higher than the state average. Additionally, the school's dropout rate is low, ranging from 0.5% to 1.2% in recent years.

When compared to nearby high schools, South Plainfield High School generally outperforms schools in the Plainfield Public School District, such as Plainfield High School and Plainfield Academy for the Arts & Advanced Studies, which have lower academic performance and higher rates of poverty. The area is also home to several specialized high schools, such as Union County Technical, Academy for Performing Arts, and Union County Career & Technical Institute, which tend to outperform South Plainfield High School in academic measures but serve a smaller student population.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 200 Lake Street
       South Plainfield, NJ  07080


(908) 754-4620

District: South Plainfield School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
168th of 426 New Jersey High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $6,934 Help


Feeder schools for South Plainfield High School:

Elementary:    Franklin Elementary School
    John E. Riley Elementary School
    John F Kennedy Elementary School
    Roosevelt Elementary School
Middle:    Grant Elementary School
    South Plainfield Middle School

Student/teacher ratio:  11.3 Help
Number of students:  1,091

Racial breakdown:

White:
35.9%
Hispanic:
34.6%
Asian:
13.7%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  30.9% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details South Plainfield High School ranks better than 60.6% of high schools in New Jersey. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 49.39. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at South Plainfield High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
Help
The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.
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 Student population at South Plainfield High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (35.9%), Hispanic (34.6%), Asian (13.7%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 30.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Plainfield High School is 11.3. (See more...)
Help
Compare South Plainfield High School employs 96.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Plainfield High School is $6,934.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

South Plainfield High School:

SchoolDigger ranks South Plainfield High School 168th of 426 New Jersey public high schools. (See South Plainfield High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


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


South Plainfield School District:

SchoolDigger ranks South Plainfield School District 357th of 613 New Jersey school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for South Plainfield High School?

Rank History for South Plainfield High School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at South Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 51.24 211th 343 38.5%
2004 65.49 139th 348 60.1%
2005 58.73 187th 351 46.7%
2006 73.77 100th 357 72.0%
2007 64.21 159th 361 56.0%
2008 60.82 180th 359 49.9%
2009 65.62 158th 370 57.3%
2010 57.35 205th 371 44.7%
2011 62.48 182nd 378 51.9%
2012 61.36 196th 388 49.5%
2013 67.65 153rd 396 61.4%
2014 64.32 180th 411 56.2%
2015 29.26 289th 406 28.8%
2016 65.59 76th 409 81.4%
2017 68.85 71st 411 82.7%
2018 56.68 129th 415 68.9%
2019 45.07 192nd 416 53.8%
2021 58.82 110th 405 72.8%
2022 53.62 141st 415 66.0%
2023 53.66 141st 422 66.6%
2024 49.39 168th 426 60.6%
See the entire list of New Jersey High School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at South Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.24 96th 146 34.2%
2022 20.69 131st 137 4.4%
2023 67.83 22nd 161 86.3%
2024 19.22 170th 179 5.0%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at South Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.90 215th 355 39.4%
2019 38.62 188th 349 46.1%
2021 34.79 208th 333 37.5%
2022 37.69 181st 344 47.4%
2023 42.68 157th 339 53.7%
2024 29.52 240th 349 31.2%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at South Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 63.14 70th 345 79.7%
2019 64.99 71st 347 79.5%
2021 72.77 32nd 326 90.2%
2022 66.07 45th 324 86.1%
2023 66.18 44th 344 87.2%
2024 62.34 52nd 350 85.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at South Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.00 144th 403 64.3%
2019 48.22 180th 408 55.9%
2021 58.95 119th 402 70.4%
2022 52.45 137th 414 66.9%
2023 52.51 135th 416 67.5%
2024 52.26 141st 416 66.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at South Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 48.12 163rd 405 59.8%
2019 41.40 199th 407 51.1%
2021 57.93 112th 402 72.1%
2022 51.22 134th 410 67.3%
2023 55.00 121st 414 70.8%
2024 45.38 175th 415 57.8%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at South Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.36 124th 198 37.4%
2019 32.07 140th 191 26.7%
2021 46.02 85th 165 48.5%
2022 39.06 106th 175 39.4%
2023 61.77 50th 172 70.9%
2024 32.85 121st 174 30.5%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at South Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 77.59 32nd 266 88.0%
2019 66.27 49th 254 80.7%
2021 84.48 19th 247 92.3%
2022 56.81 60th 256 76.6%
2023 68.91 29th 250 88.4%
2024 66.45 38th 260 85.4%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at South Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 49.47 147th 368 60.1%
2019 56.52 120th 364 67.0%
2021 59.12 104th 374 72.2%
2022 54.80 115th 382 69.9%
2023 53.99 129th 385 66.5%
2024 45.31 174th 394 55.8%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at South Plainfield High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.75 147th 340 56.8%
2019 35.35 192nd 339 43.4%
2021 57.92 77th 336 77.1%
2022 47.40 135th 335 59.7%
2023 48.28 131st 335 60.9%
2024 48.67 141st 337 58.2%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey High 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.

South Plainfield High 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
Monday, June 24, 2019

Open Quote Absolutely Great School with responsible teachers. Close Quote



Enrollment information for South Plainfield High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 798 63 52 52 0 n/a n/a 0 965
1989 719 70 50 52 0 n/a n/a 0 891
1990 697 64 57 58 1 n/a n/a 0 877
1991 687 72 56 48 4 n/a n/a 0 867
1992 723 93 61 49 3 n/a n/a 0 929
1993 707 82 53 57 3 n/a n/a 0 902
1994 677 99 67 76 0 n/a n/a 0 919
1995 644 89 63 86 1 n/a n/a 0 883
1996 644 89 63 86 1 n/a n/a 0 883
1998 640 85 78 101 0 n/a n/a 0 904
1999 650 112 87 89 0 n/a n/a 0 938
2000 677 129 96 92 1 n/a n/a 0 995
2001 699 131 103 97 9 n/a n/a 0 1039
2002 725 155 126 114 2 n/a n/a 0 1122
2003 725 155 126 114 2 n/a n/a 0 1122
2004 752 162 150 124 3 n/a n/a 0 1191
2005 754 194 114 149 2 n/a n/a 0 1213
2006 723 186 106 165 2 n/a n/a 0 1182
2007 723 186 106 165 2 n/a n/a 0 1182
2008 734 157 127 198 1 n/a n/a 0 1217
2009 731 144 78 203 2 61 0 0 1219
2010 718 136 90 232 0 45 0 0 1221
2011 691 144 98 232 1 25 1 0 1192
2012 655 163 106 237 2 12 3 0 1178
2013 605 158 116 230 2 3 3 0 1117
2014 566 167 127 222 1 3 2 0 1088
2015 547 181 134 237 2 5 1 0 1107
2016 516 174 139 235 1 4 0 0 1069
2017 467 168 141 242 2 5 0 0 1025
2018 453 157 146 266 2 5 0 0 1029
2019 444 149 135 289 1 5 0 0 1023
2020 422 155 144 307 1 7 1 0 1037
2021 445 152 140 328 0 6 5 0 1076
2022 425 147 144 345 0 6 9 3 1079
2023 422 138 148 364 0 5 16 4 1097
2024 392 140 150 377 0 7 22 3 1091

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 South Plainfield High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 965 88.0 10.9 n/a
1989 891 82.0 10.8 n/a
1990 877 88.0 9.9 1.4
1991 867 81.0 10.7 2.7
1992 929 81.0 11.4 4.4
1993 902 79.7 11.3 5.3
1994 919 77.0 11.9 6.1
1995 883 74.6 11.8 5.5
1996 883 74.6 11.8 5.5
1998 904 74.4 12.2 6.4
1999 938 74.3 12.6 5.4
2000 995 79.3 12.5 9.2
2001 1039 79.7 13.0 8.1
2002 1122 85.4 13.1 5.5
2003 1122 85.4 13.1 5.5
2004 1191 90.4 13.2 6.9
2005 1213 91.8 13.2 n/a
2006 1182 91.8 12.9 7.8
2007 1182 93.0 12.7 7.9
2008 1217 81.0 15.0 13.5
2009 1219 88.8 11.9 14.2
2010 1221 81.0 15.0 19.2
2011 1192 81.0 14.7 18.8
2012 1178 90.6 12.9 21.9
2013 1117 85.8 13.0 23.2
2014 1088 84.7 12.8 23.1
2015 1107 89.0 12.4 29.4
2016 1069 91.0 11.7 28.5
2017 1025 89.1 11.5 29.2
2018 1029 76.1 13.5 29.1
2019 1023 90.3 11.3 23.9
2020 1037 87.7 11.8 24
2021 1076 86.5 12.4 20.8
2022 1079 88.3 12.2 20.6
2023 1097 97.2 11.2 25.5
2024 1091 96.2 11.3 30.9

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 South Plainfield High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 965 88.0 10.9 n/a
1989 891 82.0 10.8 n/a
1990 877 88.0 9.9 1.4
1991 867 81.0 10.7 2.7
1992 929 81.0 11.4 4.4
1993 902 79.7 11.3 5.3
1994 919 77.0 11.9 6.1
1995 883 74.6 11.8 5.5
1996 883 74.6 11.8 5.5
1998 904 74.4 12.2 6.4
1999 938 74.3 12.6 5.4
2000 995 79.3 12.5 9.2
2001 1039 79.7 13.0 8.1
2002 1122 85.4 13.1 5.5
2003 1122 85.4 13.1 5.5
2004 1191 90.4 13.2 6.9
2005 1213 91.8 13.2 n/a
2006 1182 91.8 12.9 7.8
2007 1182 93.0 12.7 7.9
2008 1217 81.0 15.0 13.5
2009 1219 88.8 11.9 14.2
2010 1221 81.0 15.0 19.2
2011 1192 81.0 14.7 18.8
2012 1178 90.6 12.9 21.9
2013 1117 85.8 13.0 23.2
2014 1088 84.7 12.8 23.1
2015 1107 89.0 12.4 29.4
2016 1069 91.0 11.7 28.5
2017 1025 89.1 11.5 29.2
2018 1029 76.1 13.5 29.1
2019 1023 90.3 11.3 23.9
2020 1037 87.7 11.8 24
2021 1076 86.5 12.4 20.8
2022 1079 88.3 12.2 20.6
2023 1097 97.2 11.2 25.5
2024 1091 96.2 11.3 30.9

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 South Plainfield High School

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $6,934

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

Impact of COVID-19 on South Plainfield High 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 192nd of 416 High schoolsRanks 141st of 422 High schools
 12.7%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
9th Grade English Language Arts (South Plainfield High School)56.561.3
 4.8%
   9th Grade English Language Arts (South Plainfield School District)56.561.3
 4.8%
   9th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)55.952.1
 3.8%
9th Grade Algebra I (South Plainfield High School)26.828.5
 1.7%
   9th Grade Algebra I (South Plainfield School District)26.828.5
 1.7%
   9th Grade Algebra I (New Jersey)27.219.2
 8%
9th Grade Geometry (South Plainfield High School)65.671.9
 6.3%
   9th Grade Geometry (South Plainfield School District)65.671.9
 6.3%
   9th Grade Geometry (New Jersey)59.150
 9.1%
10th Grade Geometry (South Plainfield High School)8.87.7
 1.1%
   10th Grade Geometry (South Plainfield School District)8.87.7
 1.1%
   10th Grade Geometry (New Jersey)15.37.7
 7.6%
End of Course Algebra I (South Plainfield High School)24.628.1
 3.5%
   End of Course Algebra I (South Plainfield School District)44.541.4
 3.1%
   End of Course Algebra I (New Jersey)43.335.1
 8.2%
End of Course Geometry (South Plainfield High School)29.960
 30.1%
   End of Course Geometry (South Plainfield School District)29.960
 30.1%
   End of Course Geometry (New Jersey)32.251.2
 19%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students10231097
 7.2%
African American149138
 7.4%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian135148
 9.6%
Hispanic289364
 26%
Pacific Islander55
White444422
 5%
Two or More Races016
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients23.9%25.5%
 1.7%


Schools Near South Plainfield High School









Frequently Asked Questions about South Plainfield High School

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,091 students attended South Plainfield High School.

Students at South Plainfield High School are 36% White, 35% Hispanic, 14% Asian, 13% African American, 2% Two or more races.

South Plainfield High School ranks 168th of 426 New Jersey high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.


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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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