Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center

www.wtsd.org

257 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - K

School Overview

Thomas Richards Elementary School, located on Lincoln Avenue in Atco, New Jersey, serves as a foundational educational institution within the Waterford Township School District. The school is dedicated to fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment for students in the primary grade levels. By prioritizing academic growth alongside social-emotional development, the school strives to prepare young learners for future success through a curriculum that emphasizes core subjects while encouraging curiosity and collaboration.

The school is deeply integrated into the Atco community, acting as a focal point for families in the area. With a focus on inclusive practices and individualized attention, Thomas Richards Elementary works to cultivate a sense of belonging among its student body. Through active faculty engagement and a commitment to maintaining a safe, structured, and enriching atmosphere, the school aims to build a strong educational baseline that empowers students to reach their full potential throughout their early formative years.

257

Total Students

25.0

Full-Time Teachers

10.3

Student/Teacher Ratio

30.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Thomas Richards Early Childhood Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	194
Hispanic	31
Black	17
Asian	1
Two or More	13
Pacific Islander	1

White
194 (75.5%)
Hispanic
31 (12.1%)
Black
17 (6.6%)
Two or More
13 (5.1%)
Asian
1 (0.4%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.4%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Waterford Township School District
Phone:	(856)767-2421
Website:	http://www.wtsd.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - K
Total Students:	257
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	25.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	10.3
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	71
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	8

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 153

Kindergarten 104