Ramapo Ridge, Mahwah NJ - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Ramapo Ridge

Ramapo Ridge Middle School serves grades six through eight in Mahwah Township, a large suburban community in Bergen County. The school is part of the Mahwah Township Public School District and sits in a town known for its blend of residential neighborhoods, extensive parkland, and corporate headquarters. With an enrollment that places it on the smaller side for a Bergen County middle school, Ramapo Ridge draws students from across the township’s distinct sections, including the residential areas of Cragmere Park, the town center of Mahwah Proper, and the formerly agricultural sections of Fardale and Masonicus.

Academically, the school shows a mixed profile. On state assessments, English language arts results are a clear strength in sixth and seventh grades, where a strong majority of students meet proficiency standards. Eighth‑grade ELA remains solid but is somewhat lower than the earlier grades. Math proficiency follows a more uneven pattern. Sixth and seventh graders perform at moderate levels, but eighth‑grade math proficiency drops sharply, a pattern a parent may want to explore further with the school. Science results in eighth grade are also lower, with fewer than a third of students reaching proficiency. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Bergen County. The district has adopted a data analytics platform to help staff identify and address individual student needs, which could help close these gaps over time.

The student body is predominantly White, with Asian students making up the next largest group, followed by smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, multiracial, and Native American or Pacific Islander students. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced‑price meals is low, reflecting the township’s generally upscale housing market. Mahwah’s housing stock ranges from modest Cape Cods to townhouses and high‑end homes, with home values well above national medians. The community is car‑dependent, with limited walkability, but offers extensive outdoor recreation through county and state parks.

The district is in the midst of a multi‑year strategic plan that touches on curriculum, social‑emotional learning, community connections, and facilities. Recent capital projects include window replacements at Ramapo Ridge itself, along with HVAC upgrades and athletic facility improvements at other district schools. These investments signal a district that is maintaining its physical plant while also focusing on instructional and support initiatives.

For a family considering Ramapo Ridge, the school offers a middle‑grade experience in a well‑resourced suburban setting with strong early‑middle‑school ELA performance and a relatively advantaged peer environment. The notable dip in eighth‑grade math and science scores is a point of caution, though the district’s recent data‑focused efforts may begin to address it. The school’s size and demographics will feel familiar to families accustomed to Bergen County’s suburban public schools.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 650%

School 50% · District 50%

▲ 17 pts above state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 761%

School 61% · District 61%

▲ 26 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 818%

School 18% · District 18%

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 676%

School 76% · District 76%

▲ 22 pts above state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 782%

School 82% · District 82%

▲ 24 pts above state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Grade 861%

School 61% · District 61%

▲ 3 pts above state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Science

Grade 831%

School 31% · District 31%

▲ 18 pts above state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

This schoolMahwah 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 6Lower-income50%Higher-income80%30 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income52%Higher-income87%35 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income39%Higher-income64%25 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income24%Higher-income54%30 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income28%Higher-income68%40 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income5%Higher-income21%16 pp gap