The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in English language arts. The lowest is 62% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Millburn Middle School
Millburn Middle School is the single public school for grades six through eight in the Millburn Township School District, a community about a short commute from Midtown Manhattan. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, serving a single-township district that is known for its affluent, largely residential character, with neighborhoods like Short Hills and Wyoming and a downtown core anchored by the Paper Mill Playhouse and the Millburn train station. The school shares a campus with the high school on Millburn Avenue, set back from the downtown area.
The student body is large for a middle school and academically oriented. The enrollment is split roughly evenly across the three grade levels. The racial and ethnic composition is notably diverse for a suburban school in this part of New Jersey: a substantial share of students are Asian, a large share are white, and smaller but present shares identify as two or more races, Hispanic, or Black. A very small fraction of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a figure that places the school in an unusually low-poverty context. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the range of support services offered.
The state testing results are consistently strong, with one exception that a parent may wish to explore further. In English language arts, proficiency levels are high across all three grades, well above what is typical for the state. In math, sixth and seventh grade performance is similarly strong. The eighth grade math proficiency rate, however, drops significantly. This pattern is common in districts where algebra I is offered as a separate, more rigorous course to eighth graders, but it may also reflect that a portion of the cohort is taking a higher-level math assessment rather than the standard grade-level test. Given the school’s overall high performance, a parent should ask whether the eighth grade math results include students taking algebra versus standard math and how the school tracks course placement. Science results for eighth grade show a majority of students meeting or exceeding the state benchmark, which is solid.
Because the school serves only grades six through eight, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism data was not available in the provided materials. The school does not have Title I status, which is consistent with the very low share of students from low-income households.
A comparison to other districts in Essex County places the school’s overall proficiency index in the top quartile. This is a high-achieving school relative to its county peers, and the strength of the academic results across most tested subjects and grades is a clear point of confidence.
The community context matters for a family considering this school. Millburn is an affluent suburban township with a median household income that, in published reports, has ranked among the highest in the state. The housing market reflects this: typical home values in the area are well above both the state and national benchmarks, and monthly housing costs, whether for a mortgage or rent, are high. The county housing market shows active listings and new listings rising year over year, with a median days on market that suggests homes move quickly. This is a competitive and expensive market, and families moving here should expect a significant financial commitment.
The district has a notable structural feature: all fifth graders from the township’s six elementary schools attend a single district-wide fifth-grade school before moving to Millburn Middle School. This means the middle school receives an entire cohort from one feeder school, which may create a more uniform academic and social starting point for new sixth graders.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a consistently high-performing academic environment in a very affluent, high-cost suburb with a strong commuter connection to New York City. The student body is academically focused and diverse in background, though not economically diverse. The one area where test performance drops, eighth grade math, warrants a conversation with the school to understand course placement policy. For families who value a stable, high-achieving public middle school and can afford the housing market, this is a strong option.
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