Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 08068

The 08068 zip code area is home to two middle schools, Helen A. Fort Middle School and Marcus W. Newcomb Middle School, both of which serve students in grades 6-8 and are part of the Pemberton Township School District. However, the data reveals that these middle schools are consistently underperforming compared to state-level metrics across various academic measures.

Both Helen A. Fort Middle School and Marcus W. Newcomb Middle School have low proficiency rates on the NJSLA exams in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, significantly below the state averages. For instance, in the 2024-2025 school year, the 7th grade ELA proficiency rate at Helen A. Fort Middle School was 36.9%, compared to the state average of 57%. Additionally, the schools' performance on Algebra I exams is also much lower than the district and state averages.

The data also reveals that these middle schools serve a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, with high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The chronic absenteeism rate for both schools is 14.9%, higher than the state average. Despite the higher per-student spending and smaller class sizes, the schools are still struggling to achieve better academic outcomes, suggesting a need for more targeted interventions and support to address the underlying factors contributing to their low performance.