- Enrollment
- 1,061
- Students per teacher
- 10.7:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · North Caldwell, NJ
West Essex Middle School
Federal NCES profile for West Essex Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 341746002464
👥 S:T ratio 62
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 75
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Essex Middle School earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 80% of New Jersey schools.
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 9.6:1
- small classes for New Jersey
- 1.7%
- free-lunch eligible
- 558
- students enrolled
West Essex Middle School has class sizes smaller than 80% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: West Essex Regional School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341746002464 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+23 students YoY
West Essex Middle School held near 622 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 58.6 → 58.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+23 students YoY 341746002464 · North Caldwell, NJ Middle · MID · TRAD
558 enr · 9.6:1 · 1.7% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: West Essex High School (1,061 students)
West Essex Middle School held near 622 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount). Teacher FTE held 58.6 → 58.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
How West Essex Middle School compares
West Essex 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 | 9.6:1 | ▼ 19% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 1.7% | ▼ 94% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 558 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.6:1
Leaner classes than 91% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
558
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
1.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 94% 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
9.6:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 20% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 80% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
9.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$29,199
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 279 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 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
White 74.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.5%
Asian 8.2%
African American 2.9%
Two or More 2.7%
Largest group: White at 74.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.0, West Essex Middle School is less mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
District finance for West Essex Regional School District reports $29,199 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Essex Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Essex High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Essex Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
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 (~558 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Essex Middle School
How many students attend West Essex Middle School?
West Essex Middle School has 558 students enrolled. It is a middle school in North Caldwell, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 599 (2022-23) → 622 (2023-24), nearly flat (+23).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Essex Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Essex Middle School is 9.6:1, which is 19% lower than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 39% 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 West Essex Middle School?
1.7% of students at West Essex Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Essex Middle School?
The largest demographic group at West Essex Middle School is White at 74.7% of enrollment, in North Caldwell, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Essex Middle School?
West Essex Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (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).
What other schools are in West Essex Regional School District?
Besides West Essex Middle School, West Essex Regional School District also operates West Essex High School (1,061 students). See the West Essex Regional School District district page for the complete list.