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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best New Jersey Alternative Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 58 alternative public schools serving 528 students in New Jersey.
The top-ranked alternative public schools in New Jersey are Essex Campus Academy, Essex High School and Simon Youth Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
New Jersey alternative public schools have an average math proficiency score of 31% (versus the New Jersey public school average of 38%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the New Jersey public school average of 63% (majority Hispanic).

Best Alternative Public Schools in New Jersey (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Essex Campus Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
369 Passaic Avenue
Fairfield, NJ 07004
(973) 815-1389
Gr: 9-12 | 37 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Essex High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
369 Passaic Avenue
Fairfield, NJ 07004
(973) 815-1389
Gr: 9-12 | 34 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1 - 31. - 3.
Simon Youth Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
651 Kapkowski Road
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
(908) 889-2900
Gr: 9-12 | 4 students
Rank: #44.
Alternative High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
350 Market Street
Paterson, NJ 07501
(973) 321-0110
Gr: 9-12 | 81 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1
Rank: #55.
Hillcrest Academy-south
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1571 Lamberts Mill Road
Westfield, NJ 07090
(908) 654-8558
Gr: 9-12 | 87 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #66.
Hope Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
266 Harrison Street
Passaic, NJ 07055
(973) 928-1509
Gr: 6-12 | 59 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1
Rank: #77.
Burlington County Alternative High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1020 Briggs Road
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 261-5600
Gr: 6-12 | 71 students Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: n/an/a
A.e. Burling High School
Alternative School
3600 Harris Avenue
Pennsauken, NJ 08110
(856) 662-8505
Gr: 6-12 | 49 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: n/an/a
Adult Diagnostic And Treatment Center
Alternative School
8 Production Way
Avenel, NJ 07001
(732) 574-2250
Rank: n/an/a
Ancora Psychiatric Hospital
Alternative School
202 Spring Garden Rd
Hammonton, NJ 08037
(609) 567-8306
Gr: 11
Rank: n/an/a
Ann Klein Forensic Center
Alternative School
1610 Stuyvesant Ave
Trenton, NJ 08625
(609) 633-0883
Gr: 12
Rank: n/an/a
Atlantic Co Jdc
Alternative School
800 Buffalo Avenue
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
(609) 965-3583
Gr: 8-12
Rank: n/an/a
Atlantic Regional School
Alternative School
2562 Tilton Rd
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 645-6748
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Bergen Co Jdc
Alternative School
296 E Ridgewood Ave
Paramus, NJ 07652
(201) 599-6185
Gr: 10-12
Rank: n/an/a
Bergen Regional School
Alternative School
374 E Ridgewood Ave
Paramus, NJ 07652
(201) 261-6230
Gr: 4-12
Rank: n/an/a
Burlington Regional School
Alternative School
704 Woodlane Rd
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 267-7595
Gr: 6-12
Rank: n/an/a
Camden Co Jdc
Alternative School
Woodbury Turnersville Rd Lake
Blackwood, NJ 08012
(856) 374-6100
Gr: 8-12
Rank: n/an/a
Camden Virtua
Alternative School
1000 Atlantic Ave
Camden, NJ 08104
(856) 541-9212
Gr: 5-12
Rank: n/an/a
Cape May Regional School
Alternative School
131 Crest Haven Rd
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
(609) 463-4870
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Capital Academy
Alternative School
20 Pioneer Blvd
Mount Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 261-5600
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Cherry Hill Regional School
Alternative School
210 Evesham Rd
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
(856) 795-0282
Gr: 1-12
Rank: n/an/a
Costello Prep
Alternative School
800 Carranza Rd
Vincentown, NJ 08088
(609) 268-1424
Gr: 8-12
Rank: n/an/a
Cumberland Regional School
Alternative School
928 West Sherman Ave
Vineland, NJ 08360
(856) 696-6830
Gr: 8-12
Rank: n/an/a
Doves Rch
Alternative School
188 Lindbergh Road
Hopewell, NJ 08525
(609) 466-1685
Gr: 8-11
Rank: n/an/a
Edna Mahan Correctional Facility For Women
Alternative School
30 County Rte 513
Clinton, NJ 08809
(908) 735-3641
Gr: 11-12
Rank: n/an/a
Essex Co Jdc
Alternative School
80 Duryea Street
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
(973) 484-4908
Gr: 8-12
Rank: n/an/a
Essex Rch
Alternative School
461 463 Central Avenue
Newark, NJ 07107
(973) 648-7078
Gr: 8-12
Rank: n/an/a
Essex Regional School
Alternative School
395-97 No 5th Street
Newark, NJ 07107
(973) 648-4333
Gr: PK-12
Rank: n/an/a
Garden State Correctional Facilitiy Annex
Alternative School
Ward Avenue
Bordentown, NJ 08505
(609) 298-0500
Rank: n/an/a
Garden State Correctional Facility
Alternative School
Highbridge Road
Trenton, NJ 08620
(609) 298-6300
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
Alternative School
Main Building
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
(201) 538-4298
Gr: 9-12
Rank: n/an/a
Hillcrest Academy-north
Alternative School
2630 Plainfield Avenue
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
(908) 233-9366
Gr: 9-12 | 74 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: n/an/a
Juvenile Female Secure Unit
Alternative School
W Burlington Street
Bordentown, NJ 08505
(609) 324-6350
Gr: 9-11
Rank: n/an/a
Juvenile Medium Secure Facility
Alternative School
W Burlington Street
Bordentown, NJ 08505
(609) 324-6023
Gr: 8-12
Rank: n/an/a
Juvenile Medium Secure Facility South
Alternative School
W Burlington Street
Bordentown, NJ 08505
(609) 324-6404
Show 23 more Alternative public schools in New Jersey (out of 58 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked alternative public schools in New Jersey?
The top-ranked alternative public schools in New Jersey include Essex Campus Academy, Essex High School and Simon Youth Academy.
How many alternative public schools are located in New Jersey?
58 alternative public schools are located in New Jersey.
What is the racial composition of students in New Jersey?
New Jersey alternative public schools minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the New Jersey public schools average of 63% (majority Hispanic).

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