The top reported proficiency rate is 88% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Cedar Drive Middle School
Cedar Drive Middle School sits in Colts Neck, a wealthy, low-density Monmouth County township known for its equestrian farms and strict zoning that has kept out chain stores and large-scale development. The school serves the district's sixth through eighth graders on a separate campus, part of a three-school system that feeds into Colts Neck High School through the Freehold Regional High School District. The community is overwhelmingly residential, with no traditional downtown, minimal walkability, and a built environment of large-lot homes on two to ten acres. Home values in the area are very high, and population change has been near stagnant, reflecting the township's deliberate preservation of its rural-suburban character.
The school itself is a regular public school with a relatively small enrollment, and the student body is predominantly white, with a very modest share of Hispanic students and even smaller shares of Black and Asian students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch is low, placing the school in an affluent peer context. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Academically, Cedar Drive Middle School shows a mixed picture that a family will want to consider grade by grade. In English language arts, the school posts strong results across all three grades—a very high share of students score at or above proficiency on the state's NJSLA assessments. Math results are also strong in sixth grade, with a solid majority meeting the bar, but that share drops noticeably in seventh grade and falls further by eighth grade, where roughly half of students are proficient. Science results for eighth graders are weaker, with a modest share reaching proficiency on a different assessment scale. The school's overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to other school districts in Monmouth County, which is a mark of generally strong academic performance compared to its neighbors.
Because this is a middle school, there is no graduation rate to report. The school's academic pathway points toward high school readiness, and the strong ELA results suggest students are well prepared in reading and writing, but the declining math trajectory and low science showing are areas a parent may want to explore further with the school.
The surrounding housing market is expensive and tight. Home values in the area are well above national and state benchmarks, and the county's median listing price is high. The market shows moderate demand and constrained supply, typical of a desirable suburban area with limited new development. For families considering a move, the cost of entry is steep, and the township's zoning keeps growth minimal, so the school's enrollment is likely to remain stable.
The district itself, the Colts Neck Township School District, has no major recent changes reported—no curriculum overhauls, referendums, or property-tax shifts that would alter a family's decision. The school and community present a stable, affluent, academically strong environment for students who thrive in a setting with high ELA performance and a peer group from high-income households, though the dip in later-grade math and science outcomes warrant attention.
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