Best Schools in Essex County, NJ
Essex County, NJ has 335 public schools (50 high, 39 middle, 205 elementary) serving 174,797 students. On average they score 41% on state proficiency tests against a projected 32%, so schools in Essex County meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Essex County, NJ
The top high schools in Essex County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Infinity Institute
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Jersey City Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 326 Students
2. Science Park High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Newark Public School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 938 Students
3. Millburn High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Millburn Township School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1378 Students
4. Stem Innovation Academy Of The Oranges
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Orange Board Of Education School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 162 Students
5. Livingston High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Livingston Board Of Education School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 2066 Students
6. Glen Ridge High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Glen Ridge Public School District • Public • Grades 7 - 12 • 822 Students
7. Summit High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Summit Public School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1161 Students
8. Technology High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Newark Public School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 665 Students
9. Montville Township High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Montville Township School District • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1112 Students
10. Chatham High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
School District Of The Chathams • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1231 Students
Best Middle Schools in Essex County, NJ
The top middle schools in Essex County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Washington School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Millburn Township School District • Public • Grades 5 • 388 Students
2. Mount Pleasant Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Livingston Board Of Education School District • Public • Grades 6 • 474 Students
3. Gould/mountain Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
North Caldwell School District • Public • Grades 4 - 6 • 296 Students
4. Millburn Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Millburn Township School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1133 Students
5. Heritage Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Livingston Board Of Education School District • Public • Grades 7 - 8 • 1009 Students
6. Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Summit Public School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 942 Students
7. East Hanover Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
East Hanover Township School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 297 Students
8. Robert R Lazar Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Montville Township School District • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 724 Students
9. Chatham Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
School District Of The Chathams • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 877 Students
10. Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Verona Public School District • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 668 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Essex County, NJ
The top elementary schools in Essex County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Glenwood School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Millburn Township School District • Public • Grades KG - 4 • 378 Students
2. Milton Avenue School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
School District Of The Chathams • Public • Grades Pre K - 3 • 282 Students
3. Hartshorn School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Millburn Township School District • Public • Grades KG - 4 • 437 Students
4. South Mountain School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Millburn Township School District • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 284 Students
5. Deerfield School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Millburn Township School District • Public • Grades KG - 4 • 402 Students
6. Wyoming School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Millburn Township School District • Public • Grades KG - 4 • 352 Students
7. Brookdale Avenue School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Verona Public School District • Public • Grades KG - 4 • 123 Students
8. Harrison Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Livingston Board Of Education School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 489 Students
9. Lincoln-hubbard Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Summit Public School District • Public • Grades 1 - 5 • 328 Students
10. Hillside Elementary School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Livingston Board Of Education School District • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 438 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Essex County, NJ
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Essex County, NJ has a total population of 863,728 with 27% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 87%, and 38% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Essex County, NJ
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Essex County, NJ.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
18.43 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.02 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
15.41 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Essex County, NJ.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Essex County, NJ.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Essex County, NJ Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Essex County, NJ
How many schools are in Essex County, NJ?
Essex County, NJ has 335 public schools: 50 high schools, 39 middle schools and 205 elementary schools, serving 174,797 students in total.
How do schools in Essex County perform on state tests?
On average, 335 schools in Essex County score 41% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 32%, so on average schools in Essex County meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Essex County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Essex County, NJ
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 37%
- Projected: 33%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 35%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 36%
- Projected: 30%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 55%
- Projected: 48%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 48%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 41%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 53%
- Projected: 47%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 55%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 47%
- Projected: 36%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 48%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Essex County
23 places in Essex County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (23)
- Newark (73)
- East Orange (21)
- Irvington (12)
- Belleville (10)
- Bloomfield (10)
- Orange (10)
- Livingston (9)
- Montclair (7)
- Nutley (7)
- Maplewood (6)
- Verona (6)
- Cedar Grove (5)
- Glen Ridge (5)
- Millburn (5)
- Fairfield (4)
- West Orange (4)
- Short Hills (3)
- Upper Montclair (3)
- Caldwell (2)
- North Caldwell (2)
- Essex Fells (1)
- Roseland (1)
- South Orange (1)
School districts (18)
- Newark Public School District (62 schools)
- East Orange School District (20 schools)
- Irvington Public School District (12 schools)
- ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION School District (12 schools)
- West Orange Public Schools (12 schools)
- Bloomfield Township School District (11 schools)
- Montclair Public School District (11 schools)
- Belleville Public School District (10 schools)
- South Orange-Maplewood School District (10 schools)
- Livingston Board of Education School District (9 schools)
- Millburn Township School District (8 schools)
- Caldwell-West School District (7 schools)
- Nutley Public School District (7 schools)
- Verona Public School District (6 schools)
- Glen Ridge Public School District (5 schools)
- Cedar Grove Township School District (4 schools)
- Essex County Schools of Technology (3 schools)
- Essex Regional Educational Services Commission (3 schools)