📊 Data: NCES CCD 2024–2025·🔄 Updated: May 2026·Editorial standards
🏆 Rankings · State Test Data (EDFacts 2017–18)

Best School Districts
in New Jersey

New Jersey has 318 rated public school districts. Rankings reflect state reading & math assessment proficiency, percentile-ranked within each state. Use the zip code search to find and compare districts near your address.

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📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts New Jersey Sorted by rating — highest first
#DistrictCityRatingState Percentile
#1Alpine Borough School DistrictAlpine Borough10/10  Excellent99th
#2Englewood Cliffs Borough School DistrictEnglewood Cliffs Borough10/10  Excellent99th
#3Mendham Township School DistrictMendham Township10/10  Excellent99th
#4Rumson Borough School DistrictRumson Borough10/10  Excellent99th
#5Sea Girt Borough School DistrictSea Girt Borough10/10  Excellent99th
#6Harding Township School DistrictHarding Township10/10  Excellent98th
#7Ho-Ho-Kus Borough School DistrictHo-Ho-Kus Borough10/10  Excellent98th
#8Millburn Township School DistrictMillburn Township10/10  Excellent98th
#9Millburn Township SchoolsShort Hills10/10  Excellent98th
#10Tenafly Borough School DistrictTenafly Borough10/10  Excellent98th
#11Cranbury Township School DistrictCranbury Township10/10  Excellent97th
#12Margate City School DistrictMargate10/10  Excellent97th
#13Mountain Lakes Borough School DistrictMountain Lakes Borough10/10  Excellent97th
#14Summit Public SchoolsSummit10/10  Excellent97th
#15Livingston Public SchoolsLivingston10/10  Excellent96th
#16New Providence Borough School DistrictNew Providence Borough10/10  Excellent96th
#17Northern Valley Regional School DistrictNorthern Valley10/10  Excellent96th
#18Pascack Valley Regional School DistrictPascack Valley10/10  Excellent96th
#19Roosevelt Borough School DistrictRoosevelt Borough10/10  Excellent96th
#20Spring Lake Borough School DistrictSpring Lake Borough10/10  Excellent96th
#21Bernards Township School DistrictBasking Ridge10/10  Excellent94th
#22Glen Ridge Borough School DistrictGlen Ridge Borough10/10  Excellent94th
#23Ridgewood Village School DistrictRidgewood10/10  Excellent94th
#24The Chathams School DistrictThe Chathams10/10  Excellent94th
#25Brielle Borough School DistrictBrielle Borough10/10  Excellent93th

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.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in New Jersey?
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), the top-rated district is Alpine Borough School District in Alpine Borough, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated?
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2017–18), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores?
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.