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Excellent

#235 of 2,463 schools in NJ

Top 10% in state

Liberty Middle School

Middle School · West Orange Public Schools

1 KELLY DRIVE, West Orange, NJ 07052

Enrollment

542

Student-Teacher

9.5:1

Score

8.3

Grades

7th – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In West Orange

#1 of 3

public schools

New Jersey middle schools

#38 of 441

In district

#5 of 12

West Orange Public Schools

School environment

9.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Liberty Middle School

Liberty Middle School is a public middle school in West Orange, NJ, part of the West Orange Public Schools. The school serves approximately 542 students in grades 7th – 8th with a student-teacher ratio of 9.5:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 90.5th percentile among NJ schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 40% proficiency in math, 2 points below the state average and 56% in reading/language arts, 2 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.7/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $131,456, where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a large suburban setting.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.5:1, Liberty Middle School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.4Excellent40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+0.33 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics7.1Very Good35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency29%
Reading/ELA Proficiency59%
Math vs. State Avg-12.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+4.7 pts
Overall Proficiency44%
Expected (poverty-adj.)39%
vs. Expected+5.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile57th
Resources & Environment9.7Exceptional25%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$30,720

Liberty Middle School — Students at Liberty Middle School score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 39%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

43.2%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 40.3%
School
State
41.9%
ELA Proficiency 56.1%
School
State
53.8%

Based on 12 test records from NJ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
38%
ELA
61%
2021*
Math
25%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
29%
ELA
59%
2024
Math
47.5%
ELA
54.4%

* 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: 8.4/10.

How Liberty Middle School Compares

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

Overall Score
8.3/10
91th percentile in NJ
Academic
7.1/10
7.1/10
Growth
8.4/10
Above average
Environment
9.7/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
43%
Teaching Staff
10:1 student-teacher ratio
57 teachers

Location

1 KELLY DRIVE, West Orange, NJ 07052

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Liberty Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. Mount Pleasant Middle School (rated 8.1/10, 1.0 miles away, in nearby Livingston), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Roosevelt Middle School (rated 7.8/10, 2.1 miles away, in nearby W. Orange), with a comparable rating. For more schools in West Orange, see our West Orange schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.1 mi
School Distance Rating
GARDEN ACADEMY West Orange 0.3 mi 7.1
Mount Pleasant Elementary School West Orange 0.4 mi 8.0
Mount Pleasant Middle School Livingston 1.0 mi 8.1
Mount Pleasant Elementary School Livingston 1.0 mi 7.7
GOLDA OCH ACADEMY West Orange 1.3 mi 7.4
St. Cloud Elementary School W. Orange 1.6 mi 8.5
JUMP EMMERSION SCHOOL Livingston 1.3 mi
Betty Maddalena Early Learning Center West Orange 1.7 mi 7.6
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER METROWEST ROSS CAMPUS West Orange 1.8 mi
Kelly Elementary School W. Orange 1.6 mi 7.7
Harrison Elementary School Livingston 1.6 mi 8.6
THE ARC OF ESSEX COUNTY'S STEPPING STONES SCHOOL Roseland 2.0 mi
West Orange High School West Orange 1.7 mi 7.9
FEDCAP - 4T Orange 1.8 mi 6.9
Collins Elementary School Livingston 1.7 mi 8.1
AQUINAS ACADEMY Livingston 1.9 mi 7.9
Livingston High School Livingston 1.9 mi 8.6
Roosevelt Middle School W. Orange 2.1 mi 7.8
Essex Fells Elementary School Essex Fells 2.6 mi 9.2
GOLDA OCH ACADEMY West Orange 2.1 mi 7.7

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 07052 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$131,456

Median Home Value

$527,200

Median Rent

$1,791/mo

Population

48,323

College Educated

53%

Homeownership

70.2%

Avg Commute

36.5 min

Poverty Rate

7.2%

Median Age

41.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Liberty Middle School has a median household income of $131,456. It is a well-educated community where 53% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $527,200, with a median rent of $1,791/month. The local poverty rate of 7.2% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 37 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Charles DeWolf Middle School Old Tappan, NJ 8.3
Lakewood Middle School Lakewood, NJ 8.3
Edison Middle School W. Orange, NJ 8.4
George G White Hillsdale, NJ 8.4
Holdrum Middle School River Vale, NJ 8.4
Montgomery Upper Middle School Skillman, NJ 8.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Liberty Middle School

What grades does Liberty Middle School serve?

Liberty Middle School serves students in grades 7th through 8th.

How many students attend Liberty Middle School?

Liberty Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 542 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Liberty Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Liberty Middle School is 9.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Liberty Middle School rank in NJ?

Liberty Middle School is ranked #235 out of 2,463 schools in NJ.

What is Liberty Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Liberty Middle School has a composite rating of 8.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Liberty Middle School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Liberty Middle School has 40.3% math proficiency and 56.1% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Liberty Middle School a charter school?

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

Is Liberty Middle School a Title I school?

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

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

43.2% of students at Liberty 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
11 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
14 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (1,558/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (West Orange). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
7th – 8th
Enrollment
542
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
57
Free/Reduced Lunch
43.2%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Essex County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

West Orange Public Schools
District Enrollment
7,030
Schools in District
13
Per-Pupil Spending
$31,340
District Rank
#5 of 12

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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