The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in English language arts. The lowest is 51% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on William Annin Middle School
William Annin Middle School serves grades six through eight in Basking Ridge, part of the Bernards Township School District. This is a regular public school with a sizable enrollment for a middle school. Its student body is predominantly white and Asian, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and very few Black or Native American students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals is very low, indicating a student population that comes from households with high socioeconomic standing. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported for this school.
Academically, William Annin performs at a high level overall. In English language arts, a large majority of students at all three grade levels meet state proficiency standards. In math, sixth and seventh graders also show strong proficiency rates. The picture changes in eighth grade, where the math proficiency rate drops sharply. This is a notable gap that a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand the curriculum or placement structure behind it. In science, just over half of eighth graders met the state’s proficiency standard. When looking across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s combined proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in Somerset County.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. No information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or course access was available in the data.
William Annin sits in Basking Ridge, an unincorporated community within Bernards Township that functions as a commercial hub and a commuter town for New York City. The area has a historic downtown district and several county parks. Major employers located in Basking Ridge include Verizon Wireless, Peraton Labs, Collabera, and Lawyer.com. NJ Transit’s Gladstone Branch serves the community with train stations at Basking Ridge and Lyons. Housing in this part of Somerset County commands high prices; the cost of a home and rent are well above national medians, and the ratio of home price to income is steep. For families moving in, this means a substantial housing investment.
The district has made several recent changes that affect the school environment. In 2022, voters approved a bond for infrastructure improvements across all school buildings, including HVAC, roof, window, and security upgrades. Full-day kindergarten was implemented in the 2023-2024 school year, a shift from the previous half-day program. The district adopted a new literacy curriculum for kindergarten through fifth grade aligned with the science of reading, with full implementation in 2023-2024. The 2024-2025 district budget includes a tax levy increase, and publicly reported figures show that the average homeowner pays a substantial amount annually in school taxes.
For a parent or resident considering this school, the picture is one of a strong academic environment with high achievement in ELA and math through seventh grade, and a real question about eighth-grade math performance. The student body is economically advantaged, which shapes the peer context. The housing market in Basking Ridge is expensive, and district taxes are a long-term cost factor. The school offers no special programs or pathways data in the available records, so a family interested in specific elective or enrichment offerings would need to inquire directly. This is a school that fits families who place a high priority on academic outcomes, can afford the area’s housing costs, and want a middle school that feeds into a high-performing high school district.
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