- Enrollment
- 1,044
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · South Plainfield, NJ
South Plainfield Middle School
Federal NCES profile for South Plainfield Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 68/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 341536003634
👥 S:T ratio 57
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 72
📋 Attendance 72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Plainfield Middle School earns 68/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the New Jersey median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most New Jersey schools.
- #1 of 7
- public schools in South Plainfield · Resource Index
- 68
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.8:1
- students per teacher
- 20.9%
- free-lunch eligible
South Plainfield Middle School has class sizes near the New Jersey median. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Plainfield Middle School ranks #1 of 7 public schools in South Plainfield, NJ.
School address
District: South Plainfield School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341536003634 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+39 students YoY
South Plainfield Middle School grew from 464 students in 2022-23 to 503 in 2023-24 (+8.4%).
Teacher FTE added 51.7 → 53.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+39 students YoY 341536003634 · South Plainfield, NJ Middle · MID · TRAD
553 enr · 10.8:1 · 20.9% lunch · RII 68
Nearest enrollment peer: South Plainfield High School (1,044 students)
South Plainfield Middle School grew from 464 students in 2022-23 to 503 in 2023-24 (+8.4%). Teacher FTE added 51.7 → 53.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
South Plainfield Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- South Plainfie
South Plainfield High School
1,044 students
- Grant Elementa
Grant Elementary School
568 students
- This school
South Plainfield Middle School
553 students
- Roosevelt Elem
Roosevelt Elementary School
472 students
- John E Riley E 367
John E Riley Elementary School
367 students
- Franklin Eleme 270
Franklin Elementary School
270 students
What this shows South Plainfield Middle School reports 553 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Plainfield Middle School compares
South Plainfield Middle School is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 10.8:1 | ▼ 8% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.9% | ▼ 29% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 553 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.8:1
Leaner classes than 84% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
553
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
20.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% 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
10.8:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 41% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
11.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$23,727
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 138 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 36.7%
White 32.9%
Asian 15.7%
African American 11.0%
Two or More 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 36.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.9, South Plainfield Middle School is more mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for South Plainfield School District reports $23,727 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Plainfield Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Plainfield High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Grant Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Roosevelt Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| John E Riley Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Franklin Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Plainfield Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 568
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 472
- Students per teacher
- 10.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 367
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 270
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
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 (~553 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Plainfield Middle School
How many students attend South Plainfield Middle School?
South Plainfield Middle School has 553 students enrolled. It is a middle school in South Plainfield, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 464 (2022-23) → 503 (2023-24), up 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Plainfield Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Plainfield Middle School is 10.8:1, which is 8% lower than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 31% 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 Plainfield Middle School?
20.9% of students at South Plainfield 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 Plainfield Middle School?
The largest demographic group at South Plainfield Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 36.7% of enrollment, in South Plainfield, NJ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Plainfield Middle School?
South Plainfield Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 68/100 (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 South Plainfield Middle School rank among public schools in South Plainfield?
By Resource Investment Index, South Plainfield Middle School ranks #1 of 7 public schools in South Plainfield, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in South Plainfield on the city page.
What other schools are in South Plainfield School District?
Besides South Plainfield Middle School, South Plainfield School District also operates South Plainfield High School (1,044 students), Grant Elementary School (568 students), and Roosevelt Elementary School (472 students). See the South Plainfield School District district page for the complete list.