- Enrollment
- 356
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Chester, NJ
Black River Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Black River Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 72/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 340306004194
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 65
📋 Attendance 94
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Black River Middle School earns 72/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of New Jersey schools.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Chester · Resource Index
- 72
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.1:1
- small classes for New Jersey
- 2.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Black River Middle School has class sizes smaller than 72% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Black River Middle School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Chester, NJ.
School address
District: Chester Township School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 340306004194 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Black River Middle School held near 330 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 35.1 → 35.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-15 students YoY 340306004194 · Chester, NJ Middle · SMALL · TRAD
352 enr · 10.1:1 · 2.0% lunch · RII 72
Nearest enrollment peer: Dickerson Elementary School (356 students)
Black River Middle School held near 330 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount). Teacher FTE added 35.1 → 35.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
Black River Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dickerson Elem
Dickerson Elementary School
356 students
- This school
Black River Middle School
352 students
- Bragg Elementa
Bragg Elementary School
297 students
What this shows Black River Middle School reports 352 students on the CCD universe file.
How Black River Middle School compares
Black River Middle School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.1:1 | ▼ 14% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 2.0% | ▼ 93% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 352 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.1:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
352
Bigger than 40% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
2.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 93% below the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
10.1:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 28% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
2.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$27,299
per pupil, district-wide
- above New Jersey avg of $26,225
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 176 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 72.4%
Hispanic or Latino 14.8%
Asian 8.2%
Two or More 2.3%
African American 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 72.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.6, Black River Middle School is less mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Chester Township School District reports $27,299 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Black River Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dickerson Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bragg Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Black River Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 297
- Students per teacher
- 7.6:1
- Resource Index
- 70/100
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~352 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Black River Middle School
How many students attend Black River Middle School?
Black River Middle School has 352 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Chester, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 345 (2022-23) → 330 (2023-24), nearly flat (-15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Black River Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Black River Middle School is 10.1:1, which is 14% lower than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 36% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Black River Middle School?
2.0% of students at Black River Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Black River Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Black River Middle School is White at 72.4% of enrollment, in Chester, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Black River Middle School?
Black River Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 72/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Black River Middle School rank among public schools in Chester?
By Resource Investment Index, Black River Middle School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Chester, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Chester Township School District?
Besides Black River Middle School, Chester Township School District also operates Dickerson Elementary School (356 students) and Bragg Elementary School (297 students). See the Chester Township School District district page for the complete list.