J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School

www.spfk12.org/coles

526 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 4th

School Overview

J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School, located on Kevin Road in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, is a public school serving students in grades K–4. As part of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District, the school is known for its commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment. It emphasizes a strong academic foundation balanced with social-emotional development, encouraging students to become curious, lifelong learners within a tight-knit community setting.

The school is characterized by its dedication to community involvement and parent-teacher collaboration, which plays a central role in the students' overall educational experience. With a focus on preparing children for future academic success, Coles Elementary utilizes a diverse curriculum designed to meet individual student needs while promoting core values such as empathy, responsibility, and respect. Its location in a suburban residential area contributes to the school’s atmosphere as a neighborhood-centric institution that prioritizes both personal growth and scholastic achievement.

526

Total Students

44.0

Full-Time Teachers

12.0

Student/Teacher Ratio

3.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	329
Hispanic	62
Black	29
Asian	69
Two or More	33
American Indian	1
Pacific Islander	3

White
329 (62.5%)
Asian
69 (13.1%)
Hispanic
62 (11.8%)
Two or More
33 (6.3%)
Black
29 (5.5%)
Pacific Islander
3 (0.6%)
American Indian
1 (0.2%)

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:	Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District
Phone:	(908)757-7555
Website:	http://www.spfk12.org/coles
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 4th
Total Students:	526
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	44.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	12.0
NSLP Participation:¹	No
Qualified Free Lunch:	16
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	2

* 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 39

Kindergarten 81

Grade 1 108

Grade 2 92

Grade 3 105

Grade 4 101