- Enrollment
- 1,985
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · S Orange, NJ
South Orange Middle School
Federal NCES profile for South Orange Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 341533002426
👥 S:T ratio 63
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 76
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Orange Middle School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of New Jersey schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in S Orange · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 9.3:1
- small classes for New Jersey
- 9.6%
- free-lunch eligible
South Orange Middle School has class sizes smaller than 83% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Orange Middle School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in S Orange, NJ.
School address
District: South Orange-Maplewood School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341533002426 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-1 students YoY
South Orange Middle School held near 769 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 81.8 → 80.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-1 students YoY 341533002426 · S Orange, NJ Middle · MID · TRAD
752 enr · 9.3:1 · 9.6% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbia High School (1,985 students)
South Orange Middle School held near 769 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 81.8 → 80.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
South Orange Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbia High
Columbia High School
1,985 students
- Maplewood Midd 762
Maplewood Middle School
762 students
- This school 752
South Orange Middle School
752 students
- South Mountain 613
South Mountain Elementary School
613 students
- Clinton Elemen 542
Clinton Elementary School
542 students
- Tuscan Element 531
Tuscan Elementary School
531 students
What this shows South Orange Middle School reports 752 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Orange Middle School compares
South Orange 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 | 9.3:1 | ▼ 21% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 9.6% | ▼ 68% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 752 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.3:1
Leaner classes than 92% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
752
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
9.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% below the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
9.3:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 17% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
9.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$24,186
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 376 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 55.9%
African American 20.2%
Two or More 10.5%
Hispanic or Latino 9.0%
Asian 3.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 55.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.6, South Orange Middle School is more mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
District finance for South Orange-Maplewood School District reports $24,186 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Orange Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Maplewood Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Mountain Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Clinton Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tuscan Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Orange Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 762
- Students per teacher
- 9.6:1
- Resource Index
- 64/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 68/100
- Enrollment
- 542
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 70/100
- Enrollment
- 531
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
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 (~752 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Orange Middle School
How many students attend South Orange Middle School?
South Orange Middle School has 752 students enrolled. It is a middle school in S Orange, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 770 (2022-23) → 769 (2023-24), nearly flat (-1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Orange Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Orange Middle School is 9.3:1, which is 21% lower than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 41% 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 South Orange Middle School?
9.6% of students at South Orange Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Orange Middle School?
The largest demographic group at South Orange Middle School is White at 55.9% of enrollment, in S Orange, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Orange Middle School?
South Orange Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical 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 South Orange Middle School rank among public schools in S Orange?
By Resource Investment Index, South Orange Middle School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in S Orange, 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 South Orange-Maplewood School District?
Besides South Orange Middle School, South Orange-Maplewood School District also operates Columbia High School (1,985 students), Maplewood Middle School (762 students), and South Mountain Elementary School (613 students). See the South Orange-Maplewood School District district page for the complete list.