The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in English language arts. The lowest is 77% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mount Pleasant Middle School
Mount Pleasant Middle School serves a single grade, sixth, as one of two middle schools in the Livingston public school district. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, located on Broadlawn Drive in Livingston, an affluent and predominantly residential suburban township in Essex County. Livingston is a community built around single-family homes, tree-lined streets, and a highly regarded public school system, with a population that is notably diverse and one of the highest-income in the state. The school sits within a residential neighborhood, separated from the township's Town Center commercial hub, and the district as a whole operates six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school on separate campuses.
The school's enrollment is concentrated entirely in sixth grade, which makes it a focused transitional year between elementary school and the upper grades. The student body reflects the surrounding community's diversity. A substantial share of students are Asian, and a comparable share are White. Smaller shares of students identify as Hispanic, Black, or of two or more races. Very few students at the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which aligns with the high-income character of the township. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support structures for those populations.
State testing results are available for math and English language arts for sixth grade, and they show strong performance. In math, a large majority of students scored at proficient or above levels, and in English language arts, an even larger majority did. The school's overall proficiency index placed it in the top quartile among districts in Essex County. This is a notable academic strength, indicating that most students are meeting or exceeding state standards coming out of elementary school and entering middle school. The scores are from the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, the state's regular assessment. No trend data from prior years is available, so it is not possible to see whether performance is improving or declining.
The district itself, the Livingston Board of Education School District, recently made a lasting change relevant to families with younger children. In late 2024, voters approved a referendum to build additional classrooms at multiple elementary schools to expand full-day kindergarten for all students, with construction expected to be completed for the 2026-27 school year. The district also adopted a budget with a modest tax levy increase, typical of high-performing suburban districts managing enrollment and facility needs.
Livingston's housing market is expensive, with home values well above national and state medians, and rents are similarly high. For a family considering moving to the area for the schools, the housing cost is a significant factor. The median home value and monthly rent are elevated, and the price-to-income ratio is high, reflecting the premium placed on the school district. The county's housing market is active, with homes selling relatively quickly and new listings coming on steadily.
For parents evaluating this school, the academic picture is clear: sixth graders at Mount Pleasant are performing at high levels on state assessments, and the school is among the strongest in its county. The single-grade structure means a student has one year in this building before moving on, so the transition is contained. The school's location in an affluent, high-demand suburb means the student peer environment is one of overall academic readiness and low poverty. However, because data was not available on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, or staffing, a parent may want to visit the school and ask about these aspects directly. The district's recent expansion of full-day kindergarten may not directly affect a sixth-grade parent, but it signals the district's broader investment in early learning and facility capacity.
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