schoolsbycounty

New Jersey Schools & Education

Public school metrics and education data for all 21 counties.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Avg Graduation Rate

91.4%

Avg Per-Pupil Spending

$13,088

Avg School Score

80/100

Total Schools

2,562

679 districts

State Overview

About Schools in New Jersey

This summary is generated from the NCES metrics shown on this page and reviewed against the source data by the Data Editor. It is not school advice.

New Jersey Outpaces National Education Standards

New Jersey leads with a 91.4% graduation rate, significantly exceeding the national average of 87.0%. The state invests $13,088 per pupil, slightly above the national benchmark of $13,000. With an average school score of 67.4, New Jersey ranks well above the national median of 50.0.

A High Floor Across All 21 Counties

While all 21 counties report data, school scores vary from a high of 74.8 in Hunterdon to a low of 61.5 in Cumberland. Graduation rates fluctuate across the state, ranging from 84.9% in Hudson County to 95.8% in top-performing areas. Even with this variation, the state's lowest school score remains 11 points higher than the national median.

Spending Drives Success in Garden State Classrooms

New Jersey sees a strong return on investment, where higher per-pupil spending directly correlates with academic achievement. Hunterdon County spends $15,445 per student to reach the state’s highest scores, while Cumberland County’s lower $11,584 investment results in the state’s lowest school score. This $3,861 spending gap highlights the clear link between local funding and student outcomes.

The Gold Standard: NJ's Top Three Counties

Hunterdon, Sussex, and Monmouth counties lead the state, with all three maintaining school scores above 71.0. Hunterdon is the standout performer, combining a state-high 95.8% graduation rate with the highest per-pupil investment of $15,445. Sussex and Monmouth follow closely, both leveraging high spending to keep graduation rates well above 93%.

State Score Context

How New Jersey Counties Are Distributed

21 of 21 counties have enough NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data to receive a county school score. Use this distribution to understand whether the state has a concentrated cluster of high, midrange, or lower measured signals.

Scored county coverage

Counties with complete enough data for the composite score

100%

Higher measured signal

Score range 70-100

14

Midrange measured signal

Score range 40-69

7

Lower measured signal

Score range 0-39

0

Scores are comparative signals from available federal data, not ratings of individual schools.

All New Jersey Counties

County-level school score, graduation rate, and per-pupil spending for New Jersey.
CountySchool Score
Hunterdon County
Graduation
95.8%
Per pupil
$15,445
95/100
Morris County
Graduation
95.1%
Per pupil
$13,720
94/100
Bergen County
Graduation
95.1%
Per pupil
$13,504
93/100
Burlington County
Graduation
95.1%
Per pupil
$12,710
93/100
Salem County
Graduation
95.3%
Per pupil
$12,160
92/100
Monmouth County
Graduation
94.7%
Per pupil
$14,010
91/100
Somerset County
Graduation
94.1%
Per pupil
$13,333
90/100
Sussex County
Graduation
93.5%
Per pupil
$14,659
89/100
Ocean County
Graduation
92.7%
Per pupil
$13,447
85/100
Warren County
Graduation
92.3%
Per pupil
$13,552
84/100
Gloucester County
Graduation
92.7%
Per pupil
$11,860
84/100
Middlesex County
Graduation
92.3%
Per pupil
$12,224
83/100
Cape May County
Graduation
91.1%
Per pupil
$14,220
79/100
Atlantic County
Graduation
90.0%
Per pupil
$13,823
75/100
Union County
Graduation
88.6%
Per pupil
$12,330
69/100
Camden County
Graduation
88.1%
Per pupil
$12,416
68/100
Essex County
Graduation
88.2%
Per pupil
$12,098
68/100
Mercer County
Graduation
87.5%
Per pupil
$12,247
66/100
Cumberland County
Graduation
86.4%
Per pupil
$11,584
62/100
Passaic County
Graduation
85.0%
Per pupil
$12,921
60/100
Hudson County
Graduation
84.9%
Per pupil
$12,582
60/100

— = data not available for this county.

Compare county school profiles in New Jersey

Use the comparison tool to review school scores, graduation rates, and spending side by side.

Compare Counties

Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Schools

Which New Jersey counties have the highest graduation rates?
Hunterdon County (95.8%), Salem County (95.3%), and Bergen County (95.1%) currently lead New Jersey among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in New Jersey?
Across New Jersey counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $13,088. The highest current county values are Hunterdon County ($15,445), Sussex County ($14,659), and Cape May County ($14,220). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
Which New Jersey county has the strongest measured school score?
Hunterdon County has the highest school score in New Jersey with a score of 95/100, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data.
What is the average graduation rate in New Jersey?
The average high school graduation rate across New Jersey counties is 91.4%, based on NCES data.
Which county in New Jersey has the lowest school score?
Hudson County has the lowest school score in New Jersey with a score of 60/100. School scores reflect available graduation-rate and per-pupil spending signals.

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

Back to All States

Explore more data for New Jersey

Property TaxCost of LivingCrimeIncomeHealthDisaster RiskWater QualityWeatherCounty Score