For the 2025 school year, there are 24 public middle schools serving 13,781 students in Ocean County, NJ.
The top ranked public middle schools in Ocean County, NJ are Memorial Middle School, G. Harold Antrim Elementary School and Bay Head Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Ocean County, NJ public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 30% (versus the New Jersey public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 48% statewide average). Middle schools in Ocean County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of New Jersey public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New Jersey public middle school average of 68% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Middle Schools in Ocean County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Memorial Middle School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
808 Laura Herbert Dr
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 701-1900
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 701-1900
Grades: 6-8
| 593 students
Rank: #22.
G. Harold Antrim Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
401 Niblick Street
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 899-3737
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 899-3737
Grades: PK-8
| 310 students
Rank: #33.
Bay Head Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
145 Grove Street
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 892-0668
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 892-0668
Grades: K-8
| 120 students
Rank: #44.
Lavallette Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
105 Brooklyn Ave.
Lavallette, NJ 08735
(732) 793-7722
Lavallette, NJ 08735
(732) 793-7722
Grades: PK-8
| 160 students
Rank: #55.
Carl W. Goetz Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
835 Patterson Road
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 833-4610
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 833-4610
Grades: 6-8
| 1,011 students
Rank: #66.
Southern Regional Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
75 Cedar Bridge Road
Manahawkin, NJ 08050
(609) 597-9481
Manahawkin, NJ 08050
(609) 597-9481
Grades: 7-8
| 849 students
Rank: #77.
New Egypt Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
115 Evergreen Road
New Egypt, NJ 08533
(609) 758-6800
New Egypt, NJ 08533
(609) 758-6800
Grades: 6-8
| 264 students
Rank: #88.
Lake Riviera Middle School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
171 Beaverson Boulevard
Brick, NJ 08723
(732) 785-3000
Brick, NJ 08723
(732) 785-3000
Grades: 6-8
| 896 students
Rank: #99.
Central Regional Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
509 Forest Hills Parkway
Bayville, NJ 08721
(732) 269-1100
Bayville, NJ 08721
(732) 269-1100
Grades: 7-8
| 707 students
Rank: #1010.
Russell O. Brackman Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
600 Barnegat Blvd North
Barnegat, NJ 08005
(609) 698-5880
Barnegat, NJ 08005
(609) 698-5880
Grades: 7-8
| 509 students
Rank: #1111.
Christa Mcauliffe Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
35 South Hope Chapel Road
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 833-4701
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 833-4701
Grades: 6-8
| 662 students
Rank: #1212.
Toms River Intermediate School East
(Math: 27% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1519 Hooper Avenue
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-5777
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-5777
Grades: 6-8
| 1,278 students
Rank: #1313.
Lacey Township Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
660 Denton Avenue
Forked River, NJ 08731
(609) 242-2100
Forked River, NJ 08731
(609) 242-2100
Grades: 6-8
| 845 students
Rank: #1414.
Veterans Memorial Middle School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
105 Hendrickson Avenue
Brick, NJ 08724
(732) 785-3000
Brick, NJ 08724
(732) 785-3000
Grades: 6-8
| 884 students
Rank: #1515.
Toms River Intermediate School North
(Math: 24% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
150 Intermediate North Way
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-5800
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-5800
Grades: 6-8
| 932 students
Rank: #1616.
Manchester Township Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2759 Ridgeway Rd
Manchester Township, NJ 08759
(732) 657-1717
Manchester Township, NJ 08759
(732) 657-1717
Grades: 6-8
| 614 students
Rank: #1717.
Toms River Intermediate School South
(Math: 20% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1675 Pinewald Road
Beachwood, NJ 08722
(732) 505-3900
Beachwood, NJ 08722
(732) 505-3900
Grades: 6-8
| 1,095 students
Rank: #1818.
Pinelands Regional Jr. High School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
590 Nugentown Road
Tuckerton, NJ 08087
(609) 296-3106
Tuckerton, NJ 08087
(609) 296-3106
Grades: 7-8
| 503 students
Rank: #1919.
Lakewood Middle School
(Math: 19% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
755 Somerset Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 905-3600
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 905-3600
Grades: 7-8
| 582 students
Rank: #2020.
Ocean Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1650 Massachusetts Ave.
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 987-6525
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 987-6525
Grades: K-8
| 499 students
Rank: #2121.
Lakehurst Elementary School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 12%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
301 Union Ave
Lakehurst, NJ 08733
(732) 657-5741
Lakehurst, NJ 08733
(732) 657-5741
Grades: PK-8
| 404 students
Rank: n/an/a
Manchester Regional Day School
Special Education School
890 Toms River Road
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 928-1500
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 928-1500
Grades: PK-12
| 64 students
Rank: n/an/a
Ocean Rch
Alternative School
1 Game Farm Road
Forked River, NJ 08731
(609) 693-9282
Forked River, NJ 08731
(609) 693-9282
Grades: 7-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
Ocean Regional School
Alternative School
1141 Old Freehold Rd
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-4180
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-4180
Grades: 2-12
| n/a students
Ocean County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
25 Birdsall Street
Barnegat, NJ 08005
(609) 698-5818
Barnegat, NJ 08005
(609) 698-5818
Grades: K-5
| 138 students
Enhancement Technical Prg Lake High School (Closed 2012)
Vocational School
Naes
Lakehurst, NJ 08733
(732) 657-8198
Lakehurst, NJ 08733
(732) 657-8198
Grades: 12
| 2 students
Merdian Acad-lakewood (Closed 2010)
Special Education School
150 Oberlin Avenue North
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 905-1228
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 905-1228
Grades: Inquire with school
| 34 students
Middle School U At New Lisbon (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
M S U New Lisbon, Developmenta
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-4180
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-4180
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
131 Evergreen Road
New Egypt, NJ 08533
(609) 758-6800
New Egypt, NJ 08533
(609) 758-6800
Grades: PK-K
| 98 students
Ocean County Juv Det Center (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
165 Sunset Avenue
Toms River, NJ 08754
(732) 341-1365
Toms River, NJ 08754
(732) 341-1365
Grades: 10-12
| 12 students
Hangar One, Joint Base Mcguire
Lakehurst, NJ 08733
(732) 286-5678
Lakehurst, NJ 08733
(732) 286-5678
Grades: 11-12
| n/a students
Ocean Trans Ed Center (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
1141 Old Freehold Rd
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-4180
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-4180
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Central And Fourth Aves
Seaside Park, NJ 08752
(732) 793-0177
Seaside Park, NJ 08752
(732) 793-0177
Grades: PK-6
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public middle schools in Ocean County, NJ?
The top ranked public middle schools in Ocean County, NJ include Memorial Middle School, G. Harold Antrim Elementary School and Bay Head Elementary School.
How many public middle schools are located in Ocean County?
24 public middle schools are located in Ocean County.
What is the racial composition of students in Ocean County?
Ocean County public middle schools minority enrollment is 40% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New Jersey public middle schools average of 68% (majority Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Ocean County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Ocean County include: Christa Mcauliffe Middle School vs. Carl W. Goetz Middle School, Carl W. Goetz Middle School vs. Christa Mcauliffe Middle School, Ocean Rch vs. Ocean Regional School
Recent Articles
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.
