J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School

www.spfk12.org/coles

535 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.

535

Total Students

39.4

Full-Time Teachers

13.6

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	349
Hispanic	61
Black	28
Asian	70
Two or More	24
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	1

White
349 (65.2 %)
Asian
70 (13.1 %)
Hispanic
61 (11.4 %)
Black
28 (5.2 %)
Two or More
24 (4.5 %)
American Indian
2 (0.4 %)
Pacific Islander
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:	535
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	39.4
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.6
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 61

Kindergarten 81

Grade 1 99

Grade 2 96

Grade 3 103

Grade 4 95