The top reported proficiency rate is 53% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on David Brearley Middle/high School
David Brearley Middle/High School is a regular public school in Kenilworth, New Jersey, serving grades seven through twelve. It operates as the sole secondary school within the Kenilworth School District, drawing from the borough's residential neighborhoods. Kenilworth itself is a small suburban borough in Union County, shaped historically by industrial recruitment and more recently by the presence of Merck & Co.'s global headquarters, though Merck announced its departure to Rahway in 2023, creating uncertainty about the future use of that campus. The borough is car-oriented, with limited walkability, and lacks a traditional downtown core; civic life is distributed across its small footprint. Housing values in the area are above the national median and broadly in line with New Jersey state levels, reflecting the borough's position as a modestly priced suburb within a region of generally high costs.
The school enrolls a student body that is mixed in its composition. Economically, roughly a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Racially and ethnically, the student population is predominantly white, with a sizable Hispanic plurality, and smaller shares of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. Enrollment appears stable across the middle and high school grades, with no dramatic dips or bulges.
Academically, the picture is mixed and deserves close reading. On the 2024-25 New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, seventh graders posted proficiency rates above the midpoint in both math and English language arts, with ELA notably stronger than math. However, eighth-grade results show a sharp drop in math proficiency and a more modest decline in ELA. Eighth-grade science results are much lower, though New Jersey's science assessment uses a different proficiency threshold than math and ELA, so direct comparisons should be cautious. Overall, when averaged across tested subjects and grades, the school's proficiency index falls below the midpoint among districts in Union County. This means that while some grade-subject combinations perform at or above typical levels for the county, the composite picture is softer, and a parent may want to ask the school specifically about the drop in eighth-grade math.
State testing data covers only grades seven and eight for David Brearley. That is because New Jersey administers NJSLA to those grades; high school assessments exist for some subjects but were not available in this dataset. There is no reported four-year graduation rate, no chronic absenteeism rate, and no information on Advanced Placement, dual-credit, career and technical education programs, or staffing ratios. Those are significant gaps for a school serving grades nine through twelve. Without a graduation rate or program offerings, it is hard to gauge the full high school experience. A parent considering this school for high school should follow up directly with the district to understand course access, postsecondary preparation, and graduation outcomes.
The district brief found little in the way of recent notable changes, so the school's operations appear to be in a steady state with no major reorganizations or controversies publicly reported. The school is not a charter or magnet, and there is no Title I status indicated. It is a straightforward neighborhood secondary school serving a single small borough.
For a family weighing this school, the draw is that David Brearley is the only public option for grades seven through twelve in Kenilworth, offering the convenience of a single campus through the secondary years. The community is compact, with parks and a developing rail trail, and the borough's housing market is accessible relative to wealthier Union County communities. The academic picture, however, is uneven: seventh-grade performance is solid, but eighth-grade results dip notably, and the overall proficiency index trails most other districts in the county. With key high school metrics absent, the decision may hinge on how the school addresses that middle-to-high-school transition and what opportunities it provides for older students.
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