New Jersey has courted controversy in the five years since the implementation of a new computerized statewide assessment test that is more difficult than the preceding test and has resulted in lower scores across the board. Despite the PARCC exam issue, many districts in the state have continued to flourish through high academic performance and vigorous athletic programs. Let’s take a look at the five best school districts in the Garden State. 

The best school district in New Jersey is Ridgewood Public Schools, made up of ten schools in the affluent village of Ridgewood. Students in the district graduate at a rate of 97% and RCS produced 10 National Merit Semifinalists in 2019.  

Livingston Public Schools is the 2nd best public school system in the state of New Jersey. The district consists of nine schools in the township of Livingston. LPS students demonstrate a high level of proficiency in math and RLA, and the district has produced its share of National Merit Semifinalists.

Earning the 3rd spot is Millburn Township Public Schools, a nationally-renowned district of eight schools serving around 5,000 students. A remarkable 99% of graduating Millburn High School seniors enroll in four-year colleges. 

Westfield Public Schools is the 4th best school district in the state of New Jersey. The district consists of 10 schools serving an enrollment of 6,214. Students of the district not only excel in academics but are highly active outside of the classroom: 80% of Westfield High School students participate in co-curricular activities. 

New Jersey’s 5th best school system is Bernards Township School District, which encompasses four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.  Over half of the district’s graduating seniors go on to attend “highly competitive” colleges.

Top School Districts in New Jersey, 2020

Methodology

The following variables contributed to the ranking: number of students (K-12), graduation rate, school funding per student, student to teacher ratio, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Math test, percent of students scoring above proficient in standardized state Reading and Language test. Data from a total of 10,247 public school districts were used to compute a score for each school district. The following states were omitted due to lack of sufficient data: Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Utah, and Virginia. Note that high schools in some states have their own independent districts. And as always, if you find yourself not in one of these districts, you can always resort to online learning.