Carl Sandburg Middle School

Summary:

Carl Sandburg Middle School is a public middle school in Old Bridge, New Jersey, serving students in grades 6-8 as part of the Old Bridge Township School District. This school consistently ranks in the top half of New Jersey middle schools, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger and outperforming state and district averages on standardized tests, particularly in English Language Arts and Algebra I.

One of the key strengths of Carl Sandburg Middle School is its diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 48.42% White, 19.67% Hispanic, 18.96% Asian, and 9.79% African American. This diversity is higher than nearby Jonas Salk Middle School, which has a student body that is 60.91% White. Additionally, Carl Sandburg Middle School performs well across various student subgroups, ranking highly for African American, Hispanic, English Language Learner, and Low Socio-Economic Status students compared to other New Jersey middle schools.

While the school's chronic absenteeism rate has fluctuated in recent years, its spending per student of $13,950 in 2018-2019 was higher than the nearby Jonas Salk Middle School, which spent $13,625 per student. This higher spending may contribute to Carl Sandburg Middle School's strong academic performance and support for its diverse student population, as the school consistently outperforms nearby middle schools like Sayreville Middle School and Jonas Salk Middle School on metrics such as Algebra I proficiency.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 3439 Route 516
       Old Bridge, NJ  08857


(732) 360-4400

District: Old Bridge Township School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
216th of 748 New Jersey Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,950 Help


Students who attend Carl Sandburg Middle School usually attend:

High:    Old Bridge High School

Feeder schools for Carl Sandburg Middle School:

Elementary:    Leroy Gordon Cooper Elementary School
    Madison Park Elementary School
    Memorial Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  10.4 Help
Number of students:  981

Racial breakdown:

White:
48.4%
Hispanic:
19.7%
Asian:
19.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  26.7% Help


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 Compare Carl Sandburg Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Carl Sandburg Middle School ranks better than 71.1% of middle schools in New Jersey. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 66.06. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high 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 Carl Sandburg Middle School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (48.4%), Hispanic (19.7%), Asian (19%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 26.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Carl Sandburg Middle School is 10.4. (See more...)
Help
Compare Carl Sandburg Middle School employs 93.6 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Carl Sandburg Middle School is $13,950.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Carl Sandburg Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Carl Sandburg Middle School 216th of 748 New Jersey public middle schools. (See Carl Sandburg Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
Asian students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Old Bridge Township School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Old Bridge Township School District 237th of 615 New Jersey school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Carl Sandburg Middle School?

Rank History for Carl Sandburg Middle School

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Carl Sandburg Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2003 53.33 357th 574 37.8%
2004 57.50 332nd 588 43.5%
2005 52.84 367th 599 38.7%
2006 65.16 294th 615 52.2%
2007 59.45 337th 631 46.6%
2008 62.26 306th 640 52.2%
2009 62.37 322nd 664 51.5%
2010 64.28 296th 677 56.3%
2011 64.22 296th 684 56.7%
2012 67.11 281st 677 58.5%
2013 62.40 320th 704 54.5%
2014 69.68 253rd 717 64.7%
2015 59.54 264th 713 63.0%
2016 61.13 254th 713 64.4%
2017 63.66 252nd 712 64.6%
2018 60.09 281st 716 60.8%
2019 66.42 237th 745 68.2%
2021 72.95 153rd 652 76.5%
2022 59.55 266th 745 64.3%
2023 66.06 216th 748 71.1%
See the entire list of New Jersey Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Carl Sandburg Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.62 69th 202 65.8%
2019 74.20 32nd 227 85.9%
2021 89.29 9th 197 95.4%
2022 57.07 73rd 270 73.0%
2023 70.92 41st 288 85.8%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Carl Sandburg Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 41.52 254th 471 46.1%
2019 40.78 263rd 492 46.5%
2021 37.26 231st 401 42.4%
2022 31.37 361st 535 32.5%
2023 33.75 320th 505 36.6%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Carl Sandburg Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 56.00 180th 522 65.5%
2019 73.52 81st 541 85.0%
2021 76.96 42nd 467 91.0%
2022 63.76 99th 549 82.0%
2023 70.52 79th 568 86.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Carl Sandburg Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 62.49 266th 680 60.9%
2019 65.92 238th 703 66.1%
2021 71.90 145th 625 76.8%
2022 65.83 212th 726 70.8%
2023 68.09 211th 720 70.7%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Carl Sandburg Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 57.05 278th 675 58.8%
2019 65.97 231st 697 66.9%
2021 73.14 141st 635 77.8%
2022 58.43 257th 730 64.8%
2023 66.24 214th 718 70.2%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Asian students at Carl Sandburg Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.13 154th 200 23.0%
2019 31.29 143rd 199 28.1%
2021 54.24 65th 147 55.8%
2022 35.72 137th 200 31.5%
2023 41.65 129th 201 35.8%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Asian Students!

Rank History for African American students at Carl Sandburg Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 80.00 40th 326 87.7%
2021 84.77 20th 291 93.1%
2022 62.41 90th 356 74.7%
2023 76.73 49th 361 86.4%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Carl Sandburg Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 53.42 211th 504 58.1%
2019 60.96 170th 524 67.6%
2021 66.67 104th 480 78.3%
2022 60.22 176th 591 70.2%
2023 72.84 104th 587 82.3%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Carl Sandburg Middle School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.20 314th 497 36.8%
2019 49.16 260th 504 48.4%
2021 53.83 177th 435 59.3%
2022 39.04 304th 512 40.6%
2023 42.32 295th 509 42.0%
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.

Carl Sandburg 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%

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0%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Open Quote Great School! The teachers really cared about the students and made learning fun. From the first bell to the last the school was always full of energy. Ever school should be like this one. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Carl Sandburg Middle School

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Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 716 40 62 35 3 n/a n/a 0 856
1989 728 56 59 47 4 n/a n/a 0 894
1990 733 62 78 51 4 n/a n/a 0 928
1991 719 74 91 58 5 n/a n/a 0 947
1992 705 72 99 70 3 n/a n/a 0 949
1993 721 80 85 81 3 n/a n/a 0 970
1994 748 73 91 80 3 n/a n/a 0 995
1995 755 85 114 82 9 n/a n/a 0 1045
1996 755 85 114 82 9 n/a n/a 0 1045
1998 747 99 139 87 1 n/a n/a 0 1073
1999 782 94 135 101 2 n/a n/a 0 1114
2000 802 94 165 107 4 n/a n/a 0 1172
2001 881 110 177 98 0 n/a n/a 0 1266
2002 818 100 243 97 2 n/a n/a 0 1260
2003 818 100 243 97 2 n/a n/a 0 1260
2004 785 107 239 110 1 n/a n/a 0 1242
2005 782 113 216 118 0 n/a n/a 0 1229
2006 757 107 219 119 0 n/a n/a 0 1202
2007 807 112 236 139 1 n/a n/a 0 1295
2008 858 112 256 133 0 n/a n/a 0 1359
2009 902 110 275 163 0 0 0 0 1450
2010 844 112 253 151 0 0 0 0 1360
2011 730 109 251 160 0 0 0 0 1250
2012 684 115 232 151 0 0 0 0 1182
2013 660 120 233 150 0 1 0 0 1164
2014 650 138 231 146 0 0 0 0 1165
2015 623 132 261 149 0 1 0 0 1166
2016 622 135 250 138 0 1 1 0 1147
2017 646 124 221 147 0 1 4 0 1143
2018 630 99 194 129 0 0 8 0 1060
2019 619 96 202 127 0 1 11 0 1056
2020 565 86 208 146 0 3 13 0 1021
2021 520 79 203 157 1 5 16 0 981
2022 504 93 188 173 2 4 19 0 983
2023 475 96 186 193 3 5 23 0 981

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 Carl Sandburg Middle School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 856 82.0 10.4 n/a
1989 894 78.0 11.4 n/a
1990 928 83.0 11.1 7.9
1991 947 83.0 11.4 8.6
1992 949 78.0 12.1 10.6
1993 970 81.0 12.0 12.4
1994 995 81.6 12.2 14.2
1995 1045 83.0 12.6 14.3
1996 1045 83.0 12.6 14.3
1998 1073 84.0 12.8 15.1
1999 1114 83.0 13.4 16.5
2000 1172 85.5 13.7 22.5
2001 1266 86.3 14.7 22
2002 1260 90.0 14.0 18.7
2003 1260 90.0 14.0 18.7
2004 1242 88.8 14.0 17.4
2005 1229 87.8 14.0 n/a
2006 1202 88.8 13.5 19.9
2007 1295 93.0 13.9 20.6
2008 1359 82.0 16.6 19.3
2009 1450 107.0 12.1 18.2
2010 1360 97.0 14.0 20.1
2011 1250 88.1 14.1 23.2
2012 1182 93.7 12.6 25.4
2013 1164 94.8 12.2 28.8
2014 1165 94.8 12.2 32.9
2015 1166 92.0 12.6 31.8
2016 1147 92.0 12.4 28.8
2017 1143 88.4 12.9 27.8
2018 1060 88.9 11.9 28.3
2019 1056 92.6 11.4 26.9
2020 1021 88.6 11.5 27.5
2021 981 89.6 10.9 26.6
2022 983 90.1 10.9 21.9
2023 981 93.6 10.4 26.7

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 Carl Sandburg Middle School

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Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 856 82.0 10.4 n/a
1989 894 78.0 11.4 n/a
1990 928 83.0 11.1 7.9
1991 947 83.0 11.4 8.6
1992 949 78.0 12.1 10.6
1993 970 81.0 12.0 12.4
1994 995 81.6 12.2 14.2
1995 1045 83.0 12.6 14.3
1996 1045 83.0 12.6 14.3
1998 1073 84.0 12.8 15.1
1999 1114 83.0 13.4 16.5
2000 1172 85.5 13.7 22.5
2001 1266 86.3 14.7 22
2002 1260 90.0 14.0 18.7
2003 1260 90.0 14.0 18.7
2004 1242 88.8 14.0 17.4
2005 1229 87.8 14.0 n/a
2006 1202 88.8 13.5 19.9
2007 1295 93.0 13.9 20.6
2008 1359 82.0 16.6 19.3
2009 1450 107.0 12.1 18.2
2010 1360 97.0 14.0 20.1
2011 1250 88.1 14.1 23.2
2012 1182 93.7 12.6 25.4
2013 1164 94.8 12.2 28.8
2014 1165 94.8 12.2 32.9
2015 1166 92.0 12.6 31.8
2016 1147 92.0 12.4 28.8
2017 1143 88.4 12.9 27.8
2018 1060 88.9 11.9 28.3
2019 1056 92.6 11.4 26.9
2020 1021 88.6 11.5 27.5
2021 981 89.6 10.9 26.6
2022 983 90.1 10.9 21.9
2023 981 93.6 10.4 26.7

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 Carl Sandburg Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $64 (0.5%) $13,886 (99.5%) $13,950

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Carl Sandburg 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 237th of 745 Middle schoolsRanks 216th of 748 Middle schools
 2.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Carl Sandburg Middle School)68.354
 14.3%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Old Bridge Township School District)61.752.7
 9%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)56.149
 7.1%
6th Grade Mathematics (Carl Sandburg Middle School)43.540.7
 2.8%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Old Bridge Township School District)43.142.8
 0.3%
   6th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)40.634.3
 6.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Carl Sandburg Middle School)68.161.2
 6.9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Old Bridge Township School District)68.859.8
 9%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)62.855.7
 7.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Carl Sandburg Middle School)46.843.4
 3.4%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Old Bridge Township School District)47.645.5
 2.1%
   7th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)42.133.8
 8.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Carl Sandburg Middle School)70.957.6
 13.3%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Old Bridge Township School District)68.556.6
 11.9%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)62.955.3
 7.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Carl Sandburg Middle School)40.231.3
 8.9%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Old Bridge Township School District)4329.3
 13.7%
   8th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)29.317.8
 11.5%
8th Grade Algebra I (Carl Sandburg Middle School)10093.1
 6.9%
   8th Grade Algebra I (Old Bridge Township School District)98.993.9
 5%
   8th Grade Algebra I (New Jersey)75.166
 9.1%
End of Course Algebra I (Carl Sandburg Middle School)10093.1
 6.9%
   End of Course Algebra I (Old Bridge Township School District)33.931
 2.9%
   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 Students1056981
 7.1%
African American9696
American Indian03
Asian202186
 7.9%
Hispanic127193
 52%
Pacific Islander15
 400%
White619475
 23.3%
Two or More Races1123
 109.1%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients26.9%26.7%
 0.2%


Schools Near Carl Sandburg Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Carl Sandburg Middle School

Students who attend Carl Sandburg Middle School usually go on to attend Old Bridge High School

Students at Carl Sandburg Middle School are 48% White, 20% Hispanic, 19% Asian, 10% African American, 2% Two or more races.

Carl Sandburg Middle School ranks 216th of 748 New Jersey middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

In the 2022-23 school year, 981 students attended Carl Sandburg Middle School.


Rate Carl Sandburg 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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