Public schools in South Plainfield, NJ
9 open public schools with an address in South Plainfield, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
9
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,767
9 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
10.7:1
New Jersey median 11.2:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of South Plainfield public schools
The federal directory lists 9 public schools in South Plainfield, NJ: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 2 combined or other. The 9 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,767 students, an average of 419 per school. The largest campus is South Plainfield High School (1,044 students), and the largest elementary school is Roosevelt Elementary School (472).
Every listed school belongs to South Plainfield School District. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 10.7:1, similar to the statewide school median of 11.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 34% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving South Plainfield
Elementary schools in South Plainfield
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Elementary School South Plainfield School District | KG–04 | 270 | 11.6:1 | |
| John E. Riley Elementary School South Plainfield School District | KG–04 | 367 | 10.3:1 | |
| John F Kennedy Elementary School South Plainfield School District | KG–04 | 256 | 9.4:1 | |
| Roosevelt Elementary School South Plainfield School District | KG–04 | 472 | 10.4:1 |
Middle schools in South Plainfield
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Elementary School South Plainfield School District | 05–06 | 568 | 11:1 | |
| South Plainfield Middle School South Plainfield School District | 07–08 | 553 | 10.7:1 |
High schools in South Plainfield
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Plainfield High School South Plainfield School District | 09–12 | 1,044 | 11.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in South Plainfield
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riley Preschool Annex South Plainfield School District | PK–PK | 145 | 8.5:1 | |
| Roosevelt Preschool Annex South Plainfield School District | PK–PK | 92 | 30.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White32.2%
- Hispanic34.7%
- Black10.4%
- Asian18.2%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.5%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.5%
- Multiracial3.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 9 South Plainfield schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,767 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in South Plainfield
How many public schools are in South Plainfield, NJ?
The current NCES directory lists 9 open public schools with a location address in South Plainfield: 4 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 3,767 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve South Plainfield?
All listed public schools with an address in South Plainfield belong to South Plainfield School District. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in South Plainfield?
South Plainfield High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in South Plainfield, with 1,044 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in South Plainfield?
No school with an address in South Plainfield is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in New Jersey.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in South Plainfield schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across South Plainfield public schools is 10.7:1, similar to the New Jersey school median of 11.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in South Plainfield guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby New Jersey cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All New Jersey cities