Washington Avenue School

Washington Avenue School is a close-knit elementary-level community in CHATHAM, New Jersey, one of the schools within School District of the Chathams. The school caters to 286 students in grades K through 3. Enrollment runs roughly 29% leaner than the state mean of about 405.

Within School District of the Chathams, which oversees 6 schools and 3,548 students, Washington Avenue School is one campus in the system.

On demographics, Washington Avenue School lists that 68% of the student body identifies as White. Other groups include 14% Asian, 9% Hispanic, 8% multiracial. Compared to Morris County overall, the school's racial mix sits in roughly the same range.

On the resource side, The school currently runs with 28 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 10.3:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 11.4:1 average. Around 4% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. By comparison, Morris County runs at roughly 19%, so the school's eligibility rate is below the surrounding baseline.

After controlling for student poverty, Washington Avenue School sits in the top 10% of New Jersey schools after the BeatsExpectations adjustment. Predicted proficiency for the school's FRL share is roughly 64.1%; actual is 79.3%, +15.2 points clear of the demographic baseline.

In the area at large, census data for Morris County shows median household earnings sit near $137,326, roughly 58% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 3% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Across Morris County's 156 public schools (combined enrollment of about 72,239 students), Washington Avenue School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Lafayette Avenue School, roughly 0.5 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 8 other public schools cluster around Washington Avenue School. Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), Washington Avenue School ranks 3rd on composite proficiency, higher than the local average of 72.5%.

The school occupies a suburban site.

Five-year trend. Over the past 7-year window, the student count declined 24%: 377 students in 2018 compared to 286 in 2025. The White share of enrollment ticked down from 75% to 68% over that span. Class-load math has pulled in: from 14.2:1 in 2018 to 10.3:1 in 2025.

On the community side, posts here usually surface around science fair prep, picture-day reminders, and bus-route questions. Anyone with firsthand experience at this school can post or comment.