Enrollment
553
New Jersey · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
51.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
10.8:1
vs 11.8:1 New Jersey avg
-8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
20.9%
vs 29.6% New Jersey avg
-29% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Plainfield Middle School compares with New Jersey and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Plainfield Middle School
South Plainfield Middle School is a mid-sized middle school in South Plainfield, New Jersey, enrolling 553 students.
At 10.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the New Jersey median, within a few percentage points of the 11.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 20.9% lands close to the New Jersey typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 553 puts it in the larger third of New Jersey schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 93% of the 2,501 New Jersey schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 560 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need New Jersey schools statewide, it ranks #22, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (37%) and White (33%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 138 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
11.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
South Plainfield School District also operates South Plainfield High School (1,044 students) and Grant Elementary School (568 students) alongside South Plainfield Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How South Plainfield Middle School compares
South Plainfield Middle School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$23,119
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $24,984
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.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for South Plainfield School District, which includes South Plainfield Middle School.
$23,119
Per student
-7%
vs New Jersey
Avg $24,984
+39%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 65.0%
State 29.7%
Federal 5.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
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
- 1,044
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
- 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
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Jersey, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~553 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Plainfield Middle School's federal record.
- Compare South Plainfield Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- South Plainfield School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
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.
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, counselor availability, attendance rates. 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.
Is South Plainfield Middle School a good school?
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. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
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.
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Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.