Sparta Middle School, Sparta NJ - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Sparta Middle School

Sparta Middle School serves sixth through eighth graders in one of New Jersey’s more residential corners. The township of Sparta, which the school belongs to, is a largely rural area in Sussex County known for private lake communities, rolling hills, and a workforce that mostly commutes to jobs outside the county. The school sits on its own campus, separate from the district’s elementary and high school buildings, which are spread across the township.

Academically, the picture is mixed in ways a parent should weigh carefully. On the English language arts assessments, students perform well overall, with a solid showing across all three grades. Math results are more uneven. Sixth and seventh graders score at a moderate level, but eighth graders turn in a noticeably lower result. Science, tested only in eighth grade, is the weakest area, with a proficiency rate that falls well short of the other subjects. A family moving through the system can expect a generally capable reading and writing environment but should be aware that math and science attainment, especially as students age out of the middle school, are softer spots that may merit follow-up with the school.

Compared to other districts in Sussex County, Sparta Middle School sits above the midpoint in overall proficiency. That positioning puts it in a reasonably competitive spot locally, though it is not at the top of the county. Graduation rates and chronic absenteeism do not apply here, because the school does not serve grades that report those metrics.

The student body is a large middle school for its grade band, with a heavily white demographic profile. Hispanic students make up a notable share, and there is a modest presence of Asian and Black students. The share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch is very low, which aligns with the broader community’s affluent character. Housing values in the area are high, substantially above national benchmarks, and the local housing market shows strong demand with limited supply. The unemployment rate is moderate.

The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status is not indicated. No data on program offerings, course access, staffing, or discipline was provided, so it is not possible to speak to the breadth of electives, advanced coursework, or support structures a family might find inside the building. No recent major changes to the district were found in publicly reported materials, which suggests stability more than disruption.

For a family considering Sparta Middle School, the core takeaway is a community where economic resources are high, academic performance is solid in reading but inconsistent in math and notably lower in science, and the student population is not very diverse by income or race. The school fits a household that values a traditional public middle school in a stable, affluent, commuter-oriented township and is prepared to look into how the school supports students who may struggle in math and science as they progress through the grades.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 642%

School 42% · District 42%

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

Grade 745%

School 45% · District 45%

▲ 10 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 832%

School 32% · District 32%

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 12 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 669%

School 69% · District 69%

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 9 pts above county median

Grade 762%

School 62% · District 62%

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 861%

School 61% · District 61%

▲ 4 pts above state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Science

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 28%

▲ 15 pts above state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

This schoolSparta 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-income67%Higher-income69%2 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income47%Higher-income63%16 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income46%Higher-income63%17 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income31%Higher-income43%12 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income21%Higher-income46%25 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income27%Higher-income33%5 pp gap