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Central Middle School

Q: Is Central Middle School a good school?

Central Middle School ranks 95 th of 752 New Jersey middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

95^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 752 New Jersey Middle Schools

Better than 87% of New Jersey middle schools

Summary

Central Middle School is a public middle school located in Stirling, New Jersey, serving 281 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Long Hill Township School District, which is ranked 134 out of 609 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Central Middle School consistently performs well on state assessments, with a high percentage of students proficient or better in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics across all grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, 81.8% of 6th graders, 77.8% of 7th graders, and 77.6% of 8th graders were proficient or better in ELA, significantly higher than the state averages. In Mathematics, the school also outperformed the state, with 44.4% of 6th graders, 55.9% of 7th graders, and 52% of 8th graders proficient or better. The school's performance on state assessments is particularly strong for certain student subgroups, ranking 6th out of 204 New Jersey middle schools for Asian students and 82nd out of 608 for Hispanic students in ELA proficiency.

Compared to nearby middle schools, such as Malcolm E Nettingham Middle School and North Plainfield Middle School, Central Middle School generally outperforms its peers in academic performance, with higher proficiency rates in ELA and Mathematics. For instance, the school's 8th-grade Algebra I proficiency rate of 100% is significantly higher than the state average of 72.7% and the rates of these nearby schools. Additionally, Central Middle School has relatively low chronic absenteeism rates and a low percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, suggesting the school is effectively utilizing its resources to support student engagement and address the needs of its student population.

284

Students ?

11.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,645

Per pupil spending ?

10.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

90 Central Avenue
Stirling, NJ 07980

(908) 647-2311

District: Long Hill Township School District

Students who attend Central Middle School usually attend:

High:

Watchung Hills Regional High School

Feeder schools for Central Middle School:

Elementary:	Gillette Elementary School
	Millington Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

71.8%

Hispanic:

15.8%

Asian:

8.8%

See top rated New Jersey middle schools

Compare Central Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 67th percentile in 2015 → 87th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the New Jersey average (64% vs 43% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 13% of New Jersey middle schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 20 percentile points since 2015

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school64%

District avg64%

New Jersey avg43%

95^th of 752

New Jersey public middle schools ?

Top 13%▲ up 20 pts since 2015

From top 33% (2015) to top 13% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of New Jersey Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

134^th of 609Long Hill Township School District among New Jersey districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	83.4	95 of 752	87.4%	★★★★☆
2024	77.3	143 of 743	80.8%	★★★★☆
2023	81.3	115 of 748	84.6%	★★★★☆
2022	81.9	105 of 745	85.9%	★★★★☆
2021	84.1	84 of 652	87.1%	★★★★☆
2019	82.1	100 of 745	86.6%	★★★★☆
2018	76.3	158 of 716	77.9%	★★★★☆
2017	84.6	77 of 712	89.2%	★★★★☆
2016	75.4	143 of 713	79.9%	★★★★☆
2015	63.3	232 of 713	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	85.2	66 of 717	90.8%	★★★★★
2013	85.2	57 of 704	91.9%	★★★★★
2012	86.9	42 of 677	93.8%	★★★★★
2011	85.2	58 of 684	91.5%	★★★★★
2010	85.3	60 of 677	91.1%	★★★★★
2009	80.4	111 of 664	83.3%	★★★★☆
2008	80.3	106 of 640	83.4%	★★★★☆
2007	79.7	111 of 631	82.4%	★★★★☆
2006	84.8	60 of 615	90.2%	★★★★★
2005	85.8	53 of 599	91.2%	★★★★★
2004	89.7	13 of 588	97.8%	★★★★★
2003	85.3	57 of 574	90.1%	★★★★★

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	88.2	6 of 204	97.1%	★★★★★
2024	91.4	2 of 200	99.0%	★★★★★
2023	83.7	16 of 201	92.0%	★★★★★

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	85.9	85 of 728	88.3%	★★★★☆
2024	84.4	98 of 717	86.3%	★★★★☆
2023	82.4	110 of 720	84.7%	★★★★☆
2022	83.4	93 of 726	87.2%	★★★★☆
2021	88.1	52 of 625	91.7%	★★★★★
2019	83.6	92 of 703	86.9%	★★★★☆
2018	72.8	180 of 680	73.5%	★★★★☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	77.9	82 of 608	86.5%	★★★★☆
2024	66.5	139 of 589	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	60.0	183 of 587	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	64.7	142 of 591	76.0%	★★★★☆
2021	76.5	62 of 480	87.1%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	58.5	210 of 613	65.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	79.4	137 of 726	81.1%	★★★★☆
2024	67.4	198 of 719	72.5%	★★★★☆
2023	79.0	130 of 718	81.9%	★★★★☆
2022	79.3	132 of 730	81.9%	★★★★☆
2021	77.6	113 of 635	82.2%	★★★★☆
2019	76.9	156 of 697	77.6%	★★★★☆
2018	76.5	157 of 675	76.7%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	67.2	107 of 507	78.9%	★★★★☆
2024	72.2	75 of 510	85.3%	★★★★☆
2023	69.3	76 of 505	85.0%	★★★★☆
2022	73.8	72 of 535	86.5%	★★★★☆
2021	48.1	173 of 401	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.3	123 of 492	75.0%	★★★★☆
2018	72.7	82 of 471	82.6%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	73.1	106 of 502	78.9%	★★★★☆
2024	65.0	158 of 510	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	73.7	106 of 509	79.2%	★★★★☆
2022	76.6	92 of 512	82.0%	★★★★☆
2021	72.9	78 of 435	82.1%	★★★★☆
2019	70.3	126 of 504	75.0%	★★★★☆
2018	63.9	168 of 497	66.2%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Asian (2025)97th percentile+10 vs school

Female (2025)88th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)87th percentile~ school

Male (2025)81st percentile-6 vs school

Special Education (2025)79th percentile-8 vs school

White (2025)79th percentile-8 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)66th percentile-22 vs school

By subject vs New Jersey (2024-2025) ?

Algebra I100%+54 vs state

English Language Arts79%+22 vs state

Mathematics51%+16 vs state

Science38%+19 vs state

★

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Schools Near Central Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NJSLA-S Science (2025)		NJSLA English Language Arts (2025)				NJSLA Mathematics (2025)				NJSLA Algebra I (2025)			NJSLA Geometry (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NJSLA-S Science 5th Grade	NJSLA-S Science 8th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 5th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 6th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 7th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 8th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 5th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 6th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 7th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 8th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I 7th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I 8th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I End of Course	NJSLA Geometry 8th Grade	NJSLA Geometry End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Central Middle School	Public	6-8	90 Central Avenue	Stirling	07980	Morris County	Long Hill Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(908) 647-2311	284	26	11.0	10.6%	204 (71.8%)	4 (1.4%)	45 (15.8%)	25 (8.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.1%)	83.4	95^th of 752 public middle schools	87.4%		77.3	143^rd of 743 public middle schools	80.8%	48		37.8		81.8	77.8	77.6		44.4	55.9	52.0		100.0	100.0			$9,645	$37	$9,608
Warren Middle School	Public	6-8	100 Old Stirling Road	Warren	07060	Somerset County	Warren Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(908) 753-5300	547	59	9.2	7.7%	287 (52.5%)	20 (3.7%)	61 (11.2%)	140 (25.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (7.1%)	82.1	108^th of 752 public middle schools	85.6%		83.7	89^th of 743 public middle schools	88.0%	19		44.3		66.8	62.7	70.6		69.0	64.5	50.5		98.5	97.4			$13,671	$10	$13,661
Columbia Middle School	Public	6-8	345 Plainfield Ave	Berkeley Hts	07922	Union County	Berkeley Heights School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(908) 464-1600	523	52	10.0	2.7%	293 (56.0%)	13 (2.5%)	72 (13.8%)	105 (20.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (7.6%)	79	135^th of 752 public middle schools	82.0%		83.4	91^st of 743 public middle schools	87.8%	44		39.3		86.7	75.2	77.6		69.3	61.7		100.0	56.5	62.0	100.0	100.0	$10,202	$41	$10,161
Valley View School	Public	5-8	50 Valley View Road	Watchung	07069	Somerset County	Watchung Borough School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(908) 755-4422	276	30	9.2	2.2%	133 (48.2%)	24 (8.7%)	43 (15.6%)	57 (20.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.9%)	84.6	87^th of 752 public middle schools	88.4%		85.3	79^th of 743 public middle schools	89.4%	8	56.1	37.9	72.0	73.5	75.8	72.7	70.8	69.6	60.4	40.5		100.0	100.0			$9,487		$9,487
William Annin Middle School	Public	6-8	70 Quincy Road	Basking Ridge	07920	Somerset County	Bernards Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(908) 204-2610	1,122	113	9.9	2.6%	507 (45.2%)	12 (1.1%)	109 (9.7%)	444 (39.6%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	47 (4.2%)	90.7	39^th of 752 public middle schools	94.8%		91.9	29^th of 743 public middle schools	96.1%	10		51.1		84.7	89.7	84.3		86.4	76.2	32.7	100.0	91.4	93.6	100.0	100.0	$10,219		$10,219
North Plainfield Middle School	Public	7-8	34 Wilson Avenue	North Plainfield	07060	Somerset County	North Plainfield School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(908) 769-6040	538	52	10.3	78.6%	37 (6.9%)	80 (14.9%)	399 (74.2%)	10 (1.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.9%)	18.7	620^th of 752 public middle schools	17.6%		19.2	608^th of 743 public middle schools	18.2%	12		4.1			36.8	28.6			12.3	10.6		83.3	83.3			$8,550	$03	$8,547
New Providence Middle School	Public	7-8	35 Pioneer Drive	New Providence	07974	Union County	New Providence School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(908) 464-9161	396	37	10.7	2.0%	219 (55.3%)	4 (1.0%)	55 (13.9%)	104 (26.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.5%)	92.6	22^nd of 752 public middle schools	97.1%		91	36^th of 743 public middle schools	95.2%	14		54.1			88.2	86.2			74.1	53.8		94.8	95.4	100.0	100.0	$9,397	$396	$9,001
Somerset School	Public	5-6	303 Somerset Street	North Plainfield	07060	Somerset County	North Plainfield School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(908) 769-6080	485	51	9.4	82.1%	26 (5.4%)	80 (16.5%)	364 (75.1%)	8 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.4%)								(n/a)	10.9		26.9	32.7			21.2	17.2								$6,936	$34	$6,902
Green Brook Middle School	Public	5-8	132 Jefferson Avenue	Green Brook	08812	Somerset County	Green Brook Township Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(732) 968-1051	304	36	8.5	19.7%	129 (42.4%)	9 (3.0%)	78 (25.7%)	72 (23.7%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.7%)	13 (4.3%)	69.5	206^th of 752 public middle schools	72.6%		64.7	239^th of 743 public middle schools	67.8%	33	15.9	28.1	42.9	61.1	76.9	58.5	35.7	40.2	46.1	48.4	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0	$12,964	$91	$12,873
Bernardsville Middle School	Public	5-8	141 Seney Drive	Bernardsville	07924	Somerset County	Somerset Hills Regional School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(908) 204-1916	419	43	9.7	17.9%	269 (64.2%)	3 (0.7%)	108 (25.8%)	18 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.0%)	87.7	65^th of 752 public middle schools	91.4%		83.1	94^th of 743 public middle schools	87.3%	29	45.4	45.3	69.7	76.5	79.8	87.2	52.3	63.2	68.2	32.8		95.7	96.2			$9,053	$134	$8,919

Frequently Asked Questions about Central Middle School

What district is Central Middle School in?

Long Hill Township School District

Is Central Middle School a good school?

Central Middle School ranks 95^th of 752 New Jersey middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Central Middle School?

Students at Central Middle School are 72% White, 16% Hispanic, 9% Asian, 2% Two or more races, 1% African American.

How many students attend Central Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 284 students attended Central Middle School.

What high school do graduates of Central Middle School attend?

Students who attend Central Middle School usually go on to attend Watchung Hills Regional High School

Rate Central Middle School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.