The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bloomfield Middle School
Bloomfield Middle School is the sole public middle school for the Bloomfield Township School District, serving seventh and eighth graders. It is a regular public school and not a magnet or charter institution. The school is large for a two-grade building, and its student body is diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest share, with Black students and White students each representing roughly a quarter of the population. Asian students and students of two or more races make up smaller shares. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The community Bloomfield serves is an inner-ring suburb of Newark in Essex County, densely populated and diverse in income and housing. The township’s own website describes “historic growth in retail, residential, and entertainment venues,” and the population has grown measurably in recent years. The housing market is expensive relative to national medians, with home values and rents reflecting the broader trend in Essex County. NJ Transit rail service on the Montclair-Boonton Line provides a connection to New York City, which matters for families considering commute times. The township has several named neighborhoods—Brookdale, Watsessing, Ampere North, Halcyon—so the school draws from a mix of residential pockets.
On state assessments, the picture is mixed. In English language arts, the school posts results that are decent: roughly half of seventh graders and half of eighth graders scored proficient or above, based on the most recent testing data. In math, the numbers are considerably softer, with about a third of seventh graders at that benchmark and a smaller share of eighth graders. Science results for eighth graders are also low. Overall, the school’s proficiency index sits below the midpoint when measured against other districts in Essex County. This is a clear signal that while literacy outcomes are in a reasonable range, math and science achievement are areas where a parent may want to investigate further with the school.
The school’s grade configuration means it does not have a graduation rate to report—that metric applies only to high schools. No recent district-level changes or strategic initiatives were identified in publicly available sources, so that section is absent by design.
For a family considering Bloomfield Middle School, the key considerations are these. The school serves a large, diverse population, which can be a strength for families who want their child in a setting that reflects the broader community’s demographics. The housing market in Bloomfield is active and expensive, so the decision to move into the district is a financial one that carries weight. The ELA results are a relative bright spot, but the math and science scores are an open question that warrants direct conversation with school staff. The lack of a graduation rate is not a concern—it simply does not apply. The school itself is a conventional public middle school, not a specialized program, so the academic pathway is the standard district curriculum leading into Bloomfield High School. This is a school where the strongest case rests on its diversity and its literacy instruction, while the math and science performance is the softer side that families would do well to understand more deeply.
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