Below Average
#2144 of 2,466 schools in NJ
John L. Costley Middle School
Middle School · East Orange School District · East Orange, NJ
An East Orange School District middle school where students score 24 points below what's typical for similar communities.
116 HAMILTON ST, East Orange, NJ 07017
- Math 8% vs NJ 30% (2025)
- Reading 13% vs NJ 57% (2025)
- 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at John L. Costley Middle School score 10% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
2025 NJSLA proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NJ average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2021, to 10% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 16 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 15% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 26% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NJ state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
59.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where John L. Costley Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the New York map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 71Very Walkable
- Transit 60Good Transit
- Bike 43Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,446/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (East Orange), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$61,552
Median home value
$316,700
Median rent
$1,346/mo
College educated
21.8%
Homeownership
31.3%
Poverty rate
17.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 07017; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sojourner Truth Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.5 | 6–8 | 0.0 mi | 262 | Compare → |
| Patrick F. Healy Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.7 | 6–8 | 0.1 mi | 329 | Compare → |
| Rosa Parks Community SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 8.5 | 3–7 | 1.2 mi | 538 | Compare → |
| Pride Academy Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 3.4 | 5–8 | 1.4 mi | 297 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
East Orange School District
- Schools in district
- 20
- Rank in district
- #15 of 20
- District spending per student
- $32,491NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
John L. Costley Middle School is listed in East Orange School District; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About John L. Costley Middle School
John L. Costley Middle School is a public middle school in East Orange, NJ, part of East Orange School District, serving approximately 320 students in grades 6th-8th with a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #2,144 of 2,466 schools in NJ.
State assessment records show 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about John L. Costley Middle School
What grades does John L. Costley Middle School serve?
John L. Costley Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.
How many students attend John L. Costley Middle School?
John L. Costley Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 320 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at John L. Costley Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at John L. Costley Middle School is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does John L. Costley Middle School rank in NJ?
John L. Costley Middle School ranks #2,144 of 2,466 schools in NJ.
What is John L. Costley Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
John L. Costley Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 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 John L. Costley Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, John L. Costley Middle School has 15% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 26% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is John L. Costley Middle School a charter school?
No, John L. Costley Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is John L. Costley Middle School a Title I school?
No, John L. Costley Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for John L. Costley Middle School?
59.4% of students at John L. Costley 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 320
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 25
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Essex County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.4%
- Phone
- (973) 266-5660
- Area population (ZIP 07017)
- 40,809
- Area average commute
- 37.9 min
- Area median age
- 36.2
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NJSLA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 NJSLA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NJSLA · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 NJSLA. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- State assessments · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 07017; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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