Franklin Middle School at Sampson G. Smith Campus, Somerset NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Franklin Middle School at Sampson G. Smith Campus

Franklin Middle School at Sampson G. Smith Campus serves sixth through eighth grade in Somerset, an unincorporated community within Franklin Township, Somerset County. The school is one of the district's regular public middle schools. Somerset itself is a car-dependent suburban area without a traditional downtown, characterized by subdivisions, strip malls, and office parks. The area has an affluent suburban character; Somerset County has been ranked among counties with the highest median household income nationally.

The student body reflects the diversity of the surrounding community. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the racial and ethnic makeup includes a large Black or African American population, a large Hispanic or Latino population, a smaller Asian population, and a smaller White population. More than one-tenth of students identify as two or more races.

Looking at academic performance on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, a clear pattern emerges. In English language arts, roughly half of students in each tested grade met the state proficiency standard. The results are consistent across the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. A parent considering the school can see that the school's ELA results are a relative bright spot.

The math results present a different picture. Proficiency rates decline steadily from sixth grade through eighth grade, and the rate for eighth graders is notably low. The science assessment, taken only by eighth graders, also shows a low proficiency rate. When the school's overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades is compared to other districts in Somerset County, it falls in the bottom quarter of the comparison set. This is a significant soft spot, and a parent considering the school for a child who needs strong math instruction or who is preparing for high school math coursework may want to investigate what math supports and interventions the school provides.

The data does not include information on discipline, course access, staffing, attendance, or chronic absenteeism. No information was available on the school's special education population or English learner population. The district's brief search for recent changes of parent interest, such as referenda, budget votes, or curriculum shifts, turned up little. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.

The housing context for the area reflects the broader affluence of Somerset County. Homes are priced well above national benchmarks, and rents are also elevated relative to national levels. The estimated monthly mortgage payment is significantly higher than the national median rent, and rent consumes a substantial share of income, making this a high-cost area for families who are not already established in the housing market.

This is a middle school in a high-cost, diverse suburban community. Its greatest strength is consistent ELA proficiency around the midpoint. Its primary challenge is low math and science proficiency, particularly in the later grades. A parent whose child is a strong reader may find a solid fit, but one whose child needs robust math instruction will want to ask detailed questions about the school's approach, intervention programs, and how it prepares students for the math demands of high school.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 625%

School 25% · District 24% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▼ 25 pts below county median

Grade 715%

School 15% · District 13% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 19 pts below state median · ▼ 31 pts below county median

Grade 85%

School 5% · District 5%

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 650%

School 50% · District 44% · ▲ 6 pts above district

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 17 pts below county median

Grade 751%

School 51% · District 44% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 850%

School 50% · District 46% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Science

Grade 810%

School 10% · District 9% · ▲ 2 pts above district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 20 pts below county median

This schoolFranklin Township Public School District, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 5Lower-income35%Higher-income57%23 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income38%Higher-income64%26 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income46%Higher-income55%9 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income39%Higher-income62%22 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income30%Higher-income58%28 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income14%Higher-income40%26 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income18%Higher-income12%5 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income3%Higher-income8%5 pp gap