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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Essex County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 102 public preschools serving 50,322 students in Essex County, NJ.
The top-ranked public preschools in Essex County, NJ are Essex Fells Elementary School, South Mountain School and Burnet Hill Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Essex County, NJ public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 22% (versus the New Jersey public pre school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 33% (versus the 44% statewide average). Pre schools in Essex County have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of New Jersey public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the New Jersey public preschool average of 65% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Preschools in Essex County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
Washington School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
155 Washington Ave
Nutley, NJ 07110
(973) 661-8887
Gr: PK-6 | 534 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #88.
Yantacaw School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
20 Yantacaw Place
Nutley, NJ 07110
(973) 661-8891
Gr: PK-6 | 512 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #99.
Spring Garden School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
59 S Spring Garden Ave
Nutley, NJ 07110
(973) 661-8896
Gr: PK-6 | 606 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1010.
Belleville Ps10
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
527 Belleville Ave
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 969-4334
Gr: PK-6 | 164 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #1111.
South End Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
116 Harper Terrace
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
(973) 239-2116
Gr: PK-4 | 349 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1212.
Bradford Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
87 Mt Hebron Rd
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4155
Gr: PK-5 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1313.
Adlai E. Stevenson School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
15 Knoll Road
Fairfield, NJ 07004
(973) 227-2120
Gr: PK-2 | 312 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #1414.
Laning Avenue School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
18 Lanning Rd
Verona, NJ 07044
(973) 571-6755
Gr: PK-4 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #1515.
Branch Brook School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
228 Ridge St
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5220
Gr: PK-4 | 60 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1616.
Belleville Ps5
(Math: 32% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
149 Adelaide St
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 969-4399
Gr: PK-6 | 362 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #1717.
Washington Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
289 Main St
West Orange, NJ 07052
(973) 669-5385
Gr: PK-5 | 414 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1818.
Fairview Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
376 Berkeley Avenue
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 680-8550
Gr: PK-6 | 499 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1919.
Forest Street Community Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
651 Forest St
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 677-4120
Gr: PK-7 | 384 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
Rank: #2020.
First Avenue School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
214 First Ave
Newark, NJ 07107
(973) 268-5240
Gr: PK-8 | 1,084 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2121.
Oliver Street School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
86 Oliver St
Newark, NJ 07105
(973) 465-4870
Gr: PK-8 | 1,034 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #2222.
Philip's Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
342 Central Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 624-0644
Gr: PK-8 | 730 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1
Rank: #2323.
Heywood Avenue Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
421 Heywood Ave
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 677-4105
Gr: PK-7 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2424.
J. Garfield Jackson Sr. Academy
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
106 Prospect Street
East Orange, NJ 07017
(973) 266-5895
Gr: PK-5 | 247 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2525.
Park Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
120 Manchester Place
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5210
Gr: PK-8 | 747 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2626.
Dionne Warwick Institute
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
120 Central Ave
East Orange, NJ 07018
(973) 266-5930
Gr: PK-5 | 379 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2727.
Newark Educators Community Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
12 Fulton St
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 289-6117
Gr: PK-4 | 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
Rank: #2828.
Langston Hughes Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
160 Rhode Island Avenue
East Orange, NJ 07018
(973) 266-5870
Gr: PK-5 | 554 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2929.
Belleville Ps7
(Math: 22% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
20 Passaic Ave
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 969-4338
Gr: PK-6 | 425 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #3030.
Ridge Street School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
735 Ridge St
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5210
Gr: PK-8 | 593 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3131.
Lafayette Street School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
205 Lafayette St
Newark, NJ 07105
(973) 465-4860
Gr: PK-8 | 1,213 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #3232.
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
909 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(862) 256-0909
Gr: PK-12 | 2,169 students Student-teacher ratio: 34:1
Rank: #3333.
Mt Vernon Place School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
142 Mount Vernon Pl
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 374-2090
Gr: PK-8 | 905 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #3434.
Benjamin Banneker Academy
(Math: 13% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
500 South Clinton Street
East Orange, NJ 07018
(973) 266-4320
Gr: PK-8
Rank: #3535.
Belleville Ps4
(Math: 16% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
30 Magnolia Street
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 969-4340
Gr: PK-6 | 438 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Show 67 more public schools in Essex County, NJ (out of 102 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Essex County, NJ?
The top-ranked public preschools in Essex County, NJ include Essex Fells Elementary School, South Mountain School and Burnet Hill Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Essex County?
107 public preschools are located in Essex County.
What is the racial composition of students in Essex County?
Essex County public preschools minority enrollment is 88% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the New Jersey public preschools average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Essex County are often viewed compared to one another?

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