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Very Good

#433 of 2,466 schools in NJ

Top 18% in state

Buzz Aldrin Middle School

Middle School · Montclair Public School District

173 BELLEVUE AVE, Upper Montclair, NJ 07042

Enrollment

607

Student-Teacher

10.1:1

Score

7.9

Grades

6th – 8th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Jersey schools

#433 of 2,466

In Upper Montclair

#1 of 3

public schools

In district

#4 of 11

Montclair Public School District

School environment

9.1 / 10

Excellent

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Buzz Aldrin Middle School

7.9/10

Middle School in Upper Montclair · grades 6th – 8th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Cassian Elementary School

7.0/10

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Lacordaire Academy

8.1/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Buzz Aldrin Middle School

Buzz Aldrin Middle School is a public middle school in Upper Montclair, NJ, part of Montclair Public School District. Buzz Aldrin Middle School serves approximately 607 students, and covers grades 6th-8th, and has a 10.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Buzz Aldrin Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #433 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

Structured state assessment records for Buzz Aldrin Middle School show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.3 pts below district
  • This school 7.9 · Very Good
  • District avg 8.2
  • NJ avg 6.9

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.8Very Good40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change+3.18 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendImproving
Academics7.2Very Good35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency46.7% (2025 NJSLA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency72.6% (2025 NJSLA)
Math vs. State Avg+5.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+19 pts
Overall Proficiency60% (2025 NJSLA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)61% (model expectation from 2025 NJSLA)
vs. Expected-1.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile59th
Resources & Environment9.1Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio10.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$26,943
Chronic Absenteeism7.7%

Buzz Aldrin Middle School — Students at Buzz Aldrin Middle School score 60% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

13.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 53.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
34.8% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 70.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
55.3% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 42 test records from NJ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
69%
ELA
78%
2010
Math
75%
ELA
74%
2011
Math
73%
ELA
73%
2012
Math
68%
ELA
71%
2013
Math
77%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
54%
ELA
74%
2015
Math
55%
ELA
65%
2016
Math
60%
ELA
71%
2017
Math
54%
ELA
65%
2018
Math
56%
ELA
71%
2019
Math
56%
ELA
71%
2020*
Math
32%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
44%
ELA
66%
2024
Math
43.7%
ELA
69.3%
2025
Math
46.7%
ELA
72.6%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.8/10.

How Buzz Aldrin Middle School Compares

See how Buzz Aldrin Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.9/10
83th percentile in NJ
Academic
7.2/10
Very Good
Growth
7.8/10
Very Good
Environment
9.1/10
Excellent

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
14%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
60 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
7.7%

Location

173 BELLEVUE AVE, Upper Montclair, NJ 07042

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Buzz Aldrin Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Memorial Middle School (rated 8.7/10, 1.3 miles away, in nearby Cedar Grove), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Renaissance Middle School at the Rand Building (rated 8.1/10, 1.4 miles away, in nearby Montclair), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Bloomfield Middle School (rated 5.7/10, 1.5 miles away, in nearby Bloomfield), a more accessible option. For more schools in Upper Montclair, see our Upper Montclair schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.5 mi
School Distance Rating
ST CASSIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Upper Montclair 0.1 mi 7.0
LACORDAIRE ACADEMY Upper Montclair 0.2 mi 8.1
Northeast Elementary School Upper Montclair 0.6 mi 6.7
Watchung Elementary School Montclair 0.9 mi 8.1
Bradford Elementary School Upper Montclair 0.9 mi 7.5
Edgemont Elementary School Montclair 0.9 mi 7.4
LOOKING GLASS CHILDREN'S CENTER Bloomfield 0.9 mi
THE MONTCLAIR KIMBERLEY ACADEMY Montclair 1.2 mi 7.1
Montclair High School Montclair 1.3 mi 5.0
MONTCLAIR COOPERATIVE SCHOOL Montclair 1.4 mi 7.2
Memorial Middle School Cedar Grove 1.3 mi 8.7
Renaissance Middle School at the Rand Building Montclair 1.4 mi 8.1
Forest Avenue School Glen Ridge 1.5 mi 6.4
Brookdale Elementary School Bloomfield 1.2 mi 8.8
Cedar Grove High School Cedar Grove 1.3 mi 8.2
RAINBOW MONTESSORI INC Bloomfield 1.2 mi
ST CATHERINE OF SIENA SCHOOL Cedar Grove 1.3 mi 5.0
School #16 Clifton 1.5 mi 8.8
Bloomfield Middle School Bloomfield 1.5 mi 5.7
CLIFTON CHEDER, INC. Clifton 1.5 mi 6.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 07042 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$127,083

Median Home Value

$733,100

Median Rent

$2,017/mo

Population

27,173

College Educated

67.1%

Homeownership

50.3%

Avg Commute

33.4 min

Poverty Rate

8.5%

Median Age

38.8

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Brookside School Allendale, NJ 7.9
Clifton T. Barkalow School Freehold, NJ 7.9
Collingswood Middle School Collingswood, NJ 7.9
Lincoln Park Middle School Lincoln Park, NJ 7.9
Manchester Township Middle School Manchester, NJ 7.9
Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School Cliffwood, NJ 7.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Buzz Aldrin Middle School

What grades does Buzz Aldrin Middle School serve?

Buzz Aldrin Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Buzz Aldrin Middle School?

Buzz Aldrin Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 607 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Buzz Aldrin Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Buzz Aldrin Middle School is 10.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Buzz Aldrin Middle School rank in NJ?

Buzz Aldrin Middle School ranks #433 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

What is Buzz Aldrin Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Buzz Aldrin Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Buzz Aldrin Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Buzz Aldrin Middle School has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 70% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Buzz Aldrin Middle School a charter school?

No, Buzz Aldrin Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Buzz Aldrin Middle School a Title I school?

No, Buzz Aldrin Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Buzz Aldrin Middle School?

13.5% of students at Buzz Aldrin Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
87 Very Walkable
Bike Score
52 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
607
Student-Teacher Ratio
10.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
60
Free/Reduced Lunch
13.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Essex County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
7.7%

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