Explore Middle School

Summary:

Explore Middle School is a high-performing public middle school in Jersey City, New Jersey, serving grades 6-8 with a student population of 152. The school consistently ranks among the top middle schools in the state, with a current ranking of 26 out of 743 New Jersey middle schools and a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Explore Middle School's academic performance is exceptional, with significantly higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics compared to state averages. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school had 89.1% of 6th graders, 88% of 7th graders, and 90.7% of 8th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, far surpassing the state averages. In Mathematics, the school also outperformed the state, with 67.2% of 6th graders, 58.8% of 7th graders, and 43.5% of 8th graders proficient or better. The school's performance is particularly noteworthy for specific student subgroups, ranking 9th out of 589 New Jersey middle schools for Hispanic students, 12th out of 510 for White students, and 11th out of 584 for students of low socioeconomic status, all with 5-star ratings.

In addition to its academic excellence, Explore Middle School stands out for its low chronic absenteeism rate of 10.7%, lower than the state average of 16.6%, and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 10.2 students per teacher, also lower than the state average. While Explore Middle School is the highest-performing school in the immediate vicinity, there are several other high-performing middle schools within a few miles, such as Academy I and Middle School #4 in Jersey City, suggesting a concentration of educational excellence in the local area.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 180-9th St
       Jersey City, NJ  07302


(201) 631-6395

District: Hudson County Schools of Technology School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
26th of 743 New Jersey Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,449 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  10.4 Help
Number of students:  151

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
44.4%
White:
23.2%
African American:
12.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  17.9% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Explore Middle School ranks better than 96.5% of middle schools in New Jersey. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 92.22. (See more...)
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Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
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Compare Details Student population at Explore Middle School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (44.4%), White (23.2%), African American (12.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 17.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Explore Middle School is 10.4. (See more...)
Help
Compare Explore Middle School employs 14.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Explore Middle School is $10,449.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Explore Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Explore Middle School 26th of 743 New Jersey public middle schools. (See Explore Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Hudson County Schools of Technology School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Hudson County Schools of Technology School District 119th of 613 New Jersey school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Explore Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Explore Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 91.42 1st 599 99.8%
2007 84.34 43rd 631 93.2%
2008 79.60 118th 640 81.6%
2009 73.41 196th 664 70.5%
2010 77.05 157th 677 76.8%
2011 65.41 285th 684 58.3%
2012 73.29 216th 677 68.1%
2013 71.07 234th 704 66.8%
2014 63.60 309th 717 56.9%
2015 71.29 160th 713 77.6%
2016 70.91 182nd 713 74.5%
2017 60.66 273rd 712 61.7%
2018 73.94 176th 716 75.4%
2019 79.91 126th 745 83.1%
2021 90.96 44th 652 93.3%
2022 85.07 77th 745 89.7%
2023 85.29 79th 748 89.4%
2024 92.22 26th 743 96.5%
See the entire list of New Jersey Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Explore Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 85.63 34th 522 93.5%
2019 76.37 67th 541 87.6%
2021 98.41 9th 467 98.1%
2022 94.77 17th 549 96.9%
2023 91.40 18th 568 96.8%
2024 96.15 11th 584 98.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Explore Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 74.37 171st 680 74.9%
2019 79.99 132nd 703 81.2%
2021 84.34 69th 625 89.0%
2022 81.77 110th 726 84.8%
2023 80.65 122nd 720 83.1%
2024 91.13 38th 717 94.7%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Explore Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 69.62 198th 675 70.7%
2019 76.93 157th 697 77.5%
2021 92.52 31st 635 95.1%
2022 85.61 80th 730 89.0%
2023 91.88 39th 718 94.6%
2024 93.71 31st 719 95.7%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Explore Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.78 156th 200 22.0%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Explore Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 96.43 10th 326 96.9%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Explore Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 73.15 97th 504 80.8%
2019 81.54 50th 524 90.5%
2021 96.00 10th 480 97.9%
2022 89.09 36th 591 93.9%
2023 93.90 15th 587 97.4%
2024 97.79 9th 589 98.5%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Explore Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 87.00 36th 504 92.9%
2021 93.02 14th 435 96.8%
2022 81.78 62nd 512 87.9%
2023 77.82 85th 509 83.3%
2024 94.31 12th 510 97.6%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: New Jersey Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Explore Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 






Data source: New Jersey Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Open Quote A unique approach to teaching, students get hands on projects creating a one of a kind experience. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Explore Middle School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1998 0 20 0 12 2 n/a n/a 0 34
1999 0 22 0 11 1 n/a n/a 0 34
2000 1 29 5 10 0 n/a n/a 0 45
2001 1 26 5 13 0 n/a n/a 0 45
2002 0 17 10 18 0 n/a n/a 0 45
2003 0 17 10 18 0 n/a n/a 0 45
2004 2 13 12 18 0 n/a n/a 0 45
2005 9 9 9 18 0 n/a n/a 0 45
2006 12 13 9 14 0 n/a n/a 0 48
2007 14 10 12 12 0 n/a n/a 0 48
2008 9 14 15 10 0 n/a n/a 0 48
2009 14 10 13 11 0 0 0 0 48
2010 8 13 10 17 0 0 0 0 48
2012 8 18 4 16 0 0 0 0 46
2013 11 19 7 20 0 0 0 0 57
2014 13 13 8 15 0 0 0 0 49
2015 15 7 12 18 0 0 0 0 52
2016 14 9 23 32 2 0 0 0 80
2017 23 18 26 48 2 2 0 0 119
2018 26 27 33 59 2 2 1 0 150
2019 41 21 24 60 0 0 2 0 148
2020 42 20 17 67 1 1 8 0 156
2021 47 19 12 68 1 2 11 0 160
2022 34 20 19 65 1 2 15 0 156
2023 37 20 17 65 0 1 12 0 152
2024 35 19 18 67 0 0 12 0 151

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Explore Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1998 34 3.0 11.3 n/a
1999 34 3.0 11.3 47.1
2000 45 3.0 15.0 82.2
2001 45 3.3 13.6 88.9
2002 45 5.0 9.0 77.8
2003 45 5.0 9.0 77.8
2004 45 5.0 9.0 77.8
2005 45 3.0 15.0 n/a
2006 48 3.0 16.0 45.8
2007 48 3.0 16.0 41.7
2008 48 4.0 12.0 37.5
2009 48 3.6 12.0 35.4
2010 48 3.0 16.0 45.8
2012 46 3.3 13.6 56.5
2013 57 6.0 9.5 59.6
2014 49 6.1 8.0 57.1
2015 52 6.0 8.6 46.2
2016 80 8.0 10.0 33.8
2017 119 11.7 10.1 31.9
2018 150 10.4 14.4 49.3
2019 148 12.6 11.7 33.8
2020 156 14.0 11.1 30.8
2021 160 14.0 11.4 32.5
2022 156 14.9 10.4 31.4
2023 152 14.9 10.2 23.7
2024 151 14.5 10.4 17.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Explore Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1998 34 3.0 11.3 n/a
1999 34 3.0 11.3 47.1
2000 45 3.0 15.0 82.2
2001 45 3.3 13.6 88.9
2002 45 5.0 9.0 77.8
2003 45 5.0 9.0 77.8
2004 45 5.0 9.0 77.8
2005 45 3.0 15.0 n/a
2006 48 3.0 16.0 45.8
2007 48 3.0 16.0 41.7
2008 48 4.0 12.0 37.5
2009 48 3.6 12.0 35.4
2010 48 3.0 16.0 45.8
2012 46 3.3 13.6 56.5
2013 57 6.0 9.5 59.6
2014 49 6.1 8.0 57.1
2015 52 6.0 8.6 46.2
2016 80 8.0 10.0 33.8
2017 119 11.7 10.1 31.9
2018 150 10.4 14.4 49.3
2019 148 12.6 11.7 33.8
2020 156 14.0 11.1 30.8
2021 160 14.0 11.4 32.5
2022 156 14.9 10.4 31.4
2023 152 14.9 10.2 23.7
2024 151 14.5 10.4 17.9

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Explore Middle School

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YearTotal Expenditures Per Pupil
2019 $10,449

Data source: New Jersey Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Explore Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 126th of 745 Middle schoolsRanks 79th of 748 Middle schools
 6.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Explore Middle School)83.384.9
 1.6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Hudson County Schools of Technology School District)83.384.9
 1.6%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)56.149
 7.1%
6th Grade Mathematics (Explore Middle School)68.856.6
 12.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Hudson County Schools of Technology School District)68.856.6
 12.2%
   6th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)40.634.3
 6.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Explore Middle School)79.693.5
 13.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Hudson County Schools of Technology School District)79.693.5
 13.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)62.855.7
 7.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Explore Middle School)61.463
 1.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Hudson County Schools of Technology School District)61.463
 1.6%
   7th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)42.133.8
 8.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Explore Middle School)81.279.6
 1.6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Hudson County Schools of Technology School District)81.279.6
 1.6%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)62.955.3
 7.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Explore Middle School)24.327.6
 3.3%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Hudson County Schools of Technology School District)24.327.6
 3.3%
   8th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)29.317.8
 11.5%
8th Grade Algebra I (Explore Middle School)5080
 30%
   8th Grade Algebra I (Hudson County Schools of Technology School District)5080
 30%
   8th Grade Algebra I (New Jersey)75.166
 9.1%
End of Course Algebra I (Explore Middle School)5080
 30%
   End of Course Algebra I (Hudson County Schools of Technology School District)3442.1
 8.1%
   End of Course Algebra I (New Jersey)43.335.1
 8.2%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students148152
 2.7%
African American2120
 4.8%
American Indian00
Asian2417
 29.2%
Hispanic6065
 8.3%
Pacific Islander01
White4137
 9.8%
Two or More Races212
 500%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients33.8%23.7%
 10.1%


Schools Near Explore Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Explore Middle School

Yes! Explore Middle School is one of the best middle schools in the state. It ranks 26th of 743 New Jersey middle schools.

Students at Explore Middle School are 44% Hispanic, 23% White, 13% African American, 12% Asian, 8% Two or more races.

In the 2023-24 school year, 151 students attended Explore Middle School.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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