Middle Schools in Franklin Township Public School District

The Franklin Township Public School District in New Jersey is home to two middle schools that serve students in grades 6-8. The data reveals notable differences in the performance and characteristics of these two schools, with Franklin Middle School at Sampson G. Smith Campus emerging as the stronger-performing institution.

The Sampson G. Smith Campus consistently ranks in the top 50% of New Jersey middle schools, boasting higher test scores across English Language Arts, Mathematics, Algebra I, and Geometry compared to the district and state averages. In contrast, the Franklin Middle School at Hamilton Street Campus has lower test scores and a higher chronic absenteeism rate of 15.6%. Additionally, the Sampson G. Smith Campus serves a more diverse student population, with a higher percentage of Asian and White students compared to the Hamilton Street Campus.

Interestingly, the higher spending per student at the Hamilton Street Campus does not translate to better academic outcomes, as the Sampson G. Smith Campus outperforms it on test scores despite lower per-student spending. This suggests that the Sampson G. Smith Campus may have more effective instructional practices, particularly in mathematics, that could be studied and potentially replicated at the other middle school. Overall, the data highlights the need for the Franklin Township Public School District to closely examine the factors contributing to the performance differences between the two middle schools and implement strategies to ensure more equitable outcomes for all students.