Sharp Elementary ranks No. 42 in New Jersey

Joseph D. Sharp Elementary School scored a 97.04 out of 100 in the 2027 U.S. News Best Elementary Schools rankings, earning the No. 42 spot among 1,386 ranked elementary schools in New Jersey.

That makes Sharp the highest-rated elementary school in the Cherry Hill School District, where it topped four other ranked schools: A. Russell Knight, Richard Stockton, James F. Cooper and Bret Harte elementary schools.

Sharp's test scores drive the ranking. Eighty-five percent of students scored at or above the proficient level in math, and 82% hit that mark in reading, according to the school's U.S. News profile. Both figures land well above the Cherry Hill district averages of 60% in math and 66% in reading. Statewide, only 44% of elementary students tested proficient in math and 51% in reading.

U.S. News rated Sharp's math and reading performance as "well above expectations." The school ranked No. 47 statewide in math proficiency and No. 71 in reading proficiency.

The U.S. News profile lists 455 students at the K-5 school on Old Orchard Road with a 17:1 student-teacher ratio. It has 27 full-time teachers, 95% of whom are certified, and one full-time counselor. Fifteen percent of students are economically disadvantaged.

Sharp also earned a National Blue Ribbon School designation in September 2019, according to the school's website.

The U.S. News methodology weights four factors equally at 25% each: math proficiency, math performance, reading proficiency and reading performance. Half the formula assessed raw scores. The other half factored in test results alongside socioeconomic demographics. Rankings are based on 2023-2024 state assessment data.

The 2027 edition includes nearly 47,000 elementary schools. U.S. News assigns state and district rankings, rather than a national elementary-school ranking.

New Jersey's top 10 elementary schools, per U.S. News: