Cranbury School is the only public school in the Cranbury Township district in Middlesex County, New Jersey. The only other schools in Cranbury are private preschools. Cranbury School is a small suburban school; its 55 teachers instruct students from pre-K through grade 8. High school students become part of the Princeton school system.

The Cranbury community is an upscale area, as is borne out by the fact that less than 1% of the students qualify for a federal reduced-cost lunch program. According to the most recent data from the National Center for Educational statistics, Cranbury’s taxpayers spent $17,402 per pupil for the 2007-2008 school year. This compares with a statewide average of $15,798.

When the all-volunteer Cranbury Township School Board recently approved the General Operating Funds for the 2010-2011 school year, it totaled $16,744,466, including a million for a new roof. If the minutes from past board meetings indicate current issues that a school faces, then the Cranbury school district concerns itself with mundane operational issues and recognitions of student achievement in chess matches, Leadership Day at the state capitol, math competitions and book swaps. The school has community support and an active PTO that is involved with student activities.

This approach is delivering results when measured by test scores. Students in grades 3 through 8 are given the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK) in language arts literacy and math. Science is added beginning in grade 4. The NJ ASK is a standards-based test that tests specific skills defined by the state of New Jersey. All subjects in all grades were significantly above the state average for 2009, continuing a consistent history of exceeding state averages. Literacy scores were higher across the board than any other elementary schools within a five-mile radius with the lone exception of third grade scores at Wicoff elementary in nearby Plainsboro, NJ.

The school has four computer labs. Instrumental and vocal music programs are available beginning in grade 4. The school offers its students extra-curricular activities in sports, publication of a school newspaper, and drama productions.