Summary:
Zip code 07076 has two Scotch Plains–Fanwood middle schools, both serving grades 5–8: Malcolm E. Nettingham Middle School (913 students) and Terrill Middle School (822 students). In 2025–2026, both schools were generally above state results in ELA, math grades 5–7, and science, though the size of the lead varied; the clearest overall finding is that Terrill led in nearly every current subject-and-grade comparison, while Malcolm’s standout was end-of-course Algebra I.
Terrill had the stronger results across all four ELA grades, the three math grades with nonzero reported results, and both science grades. Its averages were 76% in ELA versus 67% at Malcolm, a 9-point lead; in math grades 5–7, Terrill led 61% to 56%, or 5 points, and in science it led 34% to 30%, or 4 points. Malcolm’s exception was end-of-course Algebra I: 68% versus Terrill’s 63%, a 6-point advantage. Both schools’ results were above the state average in these subject areas overall, with area-school advantages of 19 points in ELA, 17 in math, 9 in science, and 26 in end-of-course Algebra I. One unusual result merits checking: both schools report 0% in grade 8 math, compared with 23% statewide.
Recent results were mostly down in core grade-level tests, and the area’s advantage narrowed in math and science. From 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, Malcolm’s ELA average fell 6 points and Terrill’s fell 2; their math averages fell 2 and 6 points, respectively. The combined school advantage narrowed from 22 to 17 points in math and from 14 to 9 in science. Algebra I moved in opposite directions: Malcolm rose 11 points in end-of-course results, while Terrill fell 9. SchoolDigger lists Terrill at the 80th percentile and Malcolm at the 74th percentile for 2025–2026; these are rankings, not test-score percentages. The schools have similar 2024–2025 student-teacher ratios (11.0 at Terrill and 10.9 at Malcolm). Their 2024–2025 free/reduced lunch eligible shares were 2% and 8%, respectively—contextual differences that do not explain the results.
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