| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alpine Borough School District | Alpine Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Englewood Cliffs Borough School District | Englewood Cliffs Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Mendham Township School District | Mendham Township | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #4 | Rumson Borough School District | Rumson Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #5 | Sea Girt Borough School District | Sea Girt Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #6 | Harding Township School District | Harding Township | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #7 | Ho-Ho-Kus Borough School District | Ho-Ho-Kus Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #8 | Millburn Township School District | Millburn Township | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #9 | Millburn Township Schools | Short Hills | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #10 | Tenafly Borough School District | Tenafly Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #11 | Cranbury Township School District | Cranbury Township | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #12 | Margate City School District | Margate | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #13 | Mountain Lakes Borough School District | Mountain Lakes Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #14 | Summit Public Schools | Summit | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #15 | Livingston Public Schools | Livingston | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #16 | New Providence Borough School District | New Providence Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #17 | Northern Valley Regional School District | Northern Valley | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #18 | Pascack Valley Regional School District | Pascack Valley | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #19 | Roosevelt Borough School District | Roosevelt Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #20 | Spring Lake Borough School District | Spring Lake Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #21 | Bernards Township School District | Basking Ridge | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #22 | Glen Ridge Borough School District | Glen Ridge Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #23 | Ridgewood Village School District | Ridgewood | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #24 | The Chathams School District | The Chathams | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #25 | Brielle Borough School District | Brielle Borough | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
Best School Districts in New Jersey (2026)
This ranking covers 318 rated public school districts in New Jersey, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.