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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Essex County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 244 public schools serving 145,774 students in Essex County, NJ (there are 93 private schools, serving 16,089 private students). 90% of all K-12 students in Essex County, NJ are educated in public schools (compared to the NJ state average of 87%).
The top-ranked public schools in Essex County, NJ are Wyoming School, Essex Fells Elementary School and Harrison Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Essex County, NJ public schools have an average math proficiency score of 33% (versus the New Jersey public school average of 38%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 49% statewide average). Schools in Essex County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of New Jersey public schools.
Minority enrollment is 81% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the New Jersey public school average of 63% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Essex County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Wyoming School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
55 Myrtle Ave
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 761-1619
Gr: K-4 | 346 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Essex Fells Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
102 Hawthorne Rd
Essex Fells, NJ 07021
(973) 226-0505
Gr: PK-6 | 251 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #2 - 32. - 3.
Harrison Elementary School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
148 North Livingston Ave
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Gr: K-5 | 522 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Deerfield School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
26 Troy Lane
Short Hills, NJ 07078
(973) 379-4843
Gr: K-4 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #4 - 54. - 5.
Millburn High School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
462 Millburn Ave
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 564-7130
Gr: 9-12 | 1,380 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #66.
Glenwood School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
325 Taylor Road South
Short Hills, NJ 07078
(973) 379-7576
Gr: K-4 | 315 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Hartshorn School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
400 Hartshorn Drive
Short Hills, NJ 07078
(973) 379-7550
Gr: K-4 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
South Mountain School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2 Southern Slope Drive
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 921-1394
Gr: PK-4 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #99.
Millburn Middle School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
25 Old Short Hills Rd
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 379-2600
Gr: 6-8 | 1,106 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1010.
Mount Pleasant Elementary School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
11 Broadlawn Dr
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Gr: K-5 | 407 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1111.
Washington School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
71 Spring Street
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 218-7500
Gr: 5 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1212.
Hillside Elementary School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
98 Belmont Drive
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Gr: K-5 | 476 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1313.
Burnet Hill Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
25 Byron Place
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Gr: PK-5 | 425 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1414.
Grandview Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
35 Hamilton Dr East
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 712-4400
Gr: PK-3 | 420 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1515.
Gould/mountain Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
132 Gould Ave
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 712-4400
Gr: 4-6 | 279 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1616.
Science Park High School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
260 Norfolk Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 733-8689
Gr: 7-12 | 964 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #1717.
Ridgewood Avenue School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
235 Ridgewood Ave
Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
(973) 429-8306
Gr: 3-6 | 540 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1818.
The Gray Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
55 Liberty Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 824-6661
Gr: K-8 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1919.
Collins Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
67 Martin Rd
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Gr: K-5 | 440 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2020.
Heritage Middle School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
20 Foxcroft Dr
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Gr: 7-8 | 994 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2121.
Oak View Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
150 Garrabrant Avenue
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 680-8590
Gr: K-6 | 399 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2222.
North End Elementary School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
122 Stevens Avenue
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
(973) 256-1454
Gr: PK-4 | 309 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #2323.
Mount Pleasant Middle School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
11 Broadlawn Dr
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Gr: 6 | 530 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2424.
Brookdale Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1230 Broad Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 680-8520
Gr: K-6 | 342 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #2525.
Riker Hill Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
31 Blackstone Dr
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Gr: K-5 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #2626.
Lester C Noecker
(Math: 69% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
100 Passaic Ave
Roseland, NJ 07068
(973) 226-7644
Gr: PK-6 | 451 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #2727.
Delia Bolden Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
518 Ridgewood Rd
Maplewood, NJ 07040
(973) 378-7696
Gr: K-5 | 518 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #2828.
Livingston High School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
30 Robert Harp Drive
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Gr: 9-12 | 2,081 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #2929.
Glen Ridge High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
200 Ridgewood Ave
Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
(973) 429-8303
Gr: 7-12 | 799 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #3030.
Tuscan Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
25 Harvard Ave
Maplewood, NJ 07040
(973) 378-5221
Gr: K-5 | 531 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #3131.
Gregory Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
301 Gregory Ave
West Orange, NJ 07052
(973) 669-5397
Gr: K-5 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #3232.
Northeast Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
603 Grove St
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4242
Gr: K-5 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #3333.
Hillside Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
54 Orange Rd
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4200
Gr: 3-5 | 684 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #3434.
Watchung Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
14 Garden St
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4259
Gr: K-5 | 406 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #3535.
Stem Innovation Academy Of The Oranges
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
445 Scotland Road
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 677-4190
Gr: 9-12 | 180 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1
Show 100 more public schools in Essex County, NJ (out of 244 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Essex County, NJ?
The top-ranked public schools in Essex County, NJ include Wyoming School, Essex Fells Elementary School and Harrison Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Essex County?
248 public schools are located in Essex County.
What percentage of students in Essex County go to public school?
90% of all K-12 students in Essex County are educated in public schools (compared to the NJ state average of 87%).
What is the racial composition of students in Essex County?
Essex County public schools minority enrollment is 81% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the New Jersey public schools average of 63% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Essex County are often viewed compared to one another?

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