State district guide

New Jersey public school districts

Compare district systems across New Jersey by enrollment scale, school count, county context, generated guide coverage, and the parent checks that matter before choosing where to live.

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Direct answer for parents

What this district ranking can and cannot tell you

If you are searching for the best school districts in New Jersey, start with the largest and most data-rich district systems below, then verify the specific school assigned to each address. SchoolsByCounty orders districts by reported enrollment and school count because those fields are consistent in NCES. It does not convert district size into a quality rating.

Start with scale

Newark Public School District

37,662 reported students

Check county context

Hunterdon County

95/100 county score

Verify locally

Address fit

Attendance boundaries and transfers are not in NCES

District table

Largest public school districts in New Jersey

The first 60 rows show the largest district systems by reported enrollment. Open district guides where available, or use the county profile when a detailed district page is not generated yet.

679 districts in state file

New Jersey public school districts ranked by reported enrollment.
Rank	District	County context	Students	Schools	Parent lens
1	Newark Public School District LEA ID 3411340 Essex County63 schools	Essex County 68/100 county score	37,662	63	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
2	Elizabeth Public Schools LEA ID 3404590 Union County37 schools	Union County 69/100 county score	27,378	37	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
3	Jersey City Public Schools LEA ID 3407830 Hudson County39 schools	Hudson County 60/100 county score	25,395	39	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
4	Paterson Public School District LEA ID 3412690 Passaic County43 schools	Passaic County 60/100 county score	22,875	43	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
5	Edison Township School District LEA ID 3404500 Middlesex County19 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	16,596	19	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
6	Toms River Regional School District LEA ID 3416230 Ocean County18 schools	Ocean County 85/100 county score	14,501	18	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
7	Woodbridge Township School District LEA ID 3418120 Middlesex County25 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	13,683	25	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
8	Trenton Public School District LEA ID 3416290 Mercer County25 schools	Mercer County 66/100 county score	12,483	25	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
9	Passaic City School District LEA ID 3412540 Passaic County20 schools	Passaic County 60/100 county score	12,195	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
10	Hamilton Township Public School District LEA ID 3406540 Mercer County23 schools	Mercer County 66/100 county score	11,973	23	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
11	Union City School District LEA ID 3416380 Hudson County14 schools	Hudson County 60/100 county score	11,590	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
12	Clifton Public School District LEA ID 3403300 Passaic County19 schools	Passaic County 60/100 county score	10,734	19	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
13	Cherry Hill School District LEA ID 3403000 Camden County19 schools	Camden County 68/100 county score	10,706	19	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
14	Freehold Regional High School District LEA ID 3405610 Monmouth County6 schools	Monmouth County 91/100 county score	10,316	6	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
15	Perth Amboy Public School District LEA ID 3412930 Middlesex County12 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	10,307	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
16	Bayonne School District LEA ID 3401260 Hudson County13 schools	Hudson County 60/100 county score	10,064	13	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
17	Vineland Public School District LEA ID 3416800 Cumberland County14 schools	Cumberland County 62/100 county score	9,511	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
18	West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District LEA ID 3417700 Mercer County10 schools	Mercer County 66/100 county score	8,959	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
19	Middletown Township Public School District LEA ID 3410110 Monmouth County16 schools	Monmouth County 91/100 county score	8,955	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
20	New Brunswick School District LEA ID 3411220 Middlesex County12 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	8,887	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
21	East Orange School District LEA ID 3404230 Essex County20 schools	Essex County 68/100 county score	8,653	20	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
22	Plainfield Public School District LEA ID 3413140 Union County14 schools	Union County 69/100 county score	8,331	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
23	Brick Township Public School District LEA ID 3402220 Ocean County12 schools	Ocean County 85/100 county score	8,273	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
24	East Brunswick Township School District LEA ID 3404110 Middlesex County11 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	8,114	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
25	Old Bridge Township School District LEA ID 3409270 Middlesex County14 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	8,047	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
26	Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District LEA ID 3402280 Somerset County11 schools	Somerset County 90/100 county score	7,981	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
27	South Brunswick School District LEA ID 3415210 Middlesex County10 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	7,898	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
28	Wayne Township Public School District LEA ID 3417280 Passaic County15 schools	Passaic County 60/100 county score	7,623	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
29	Township of Union School District LEA ID 3416500 Union County10 schools	Union County 69/100 county score	7,600	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
30	Jackson Township School District LEA ID 3407740 Ocean County10 schools	Ocean County 85/100 county score	7,563	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
31	Egg Harbor Township School District LEA ID 3404560 Atlantic County7 schools	Atlantic County 75/100 county score	7,473	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
32	West New York School District LEA ID 3417580 Hudson County9 schools	Hudson County 60/100 county score	7,406	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
33	Piscataway Township School District LEA ID 3413050 Middlesex County11 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	7,318	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
34	Hillsborough Township Public School District LEA ID 3407230 Somerset County9 schools	Somerset County 90/100 county score	7,215	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
35	North Bergen School District LEA ID 3411460 Hudson County8 schools	Hudson County 60/100 county score	7,206	8	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
36	Franklin Township Public School District LEA ID 3405490 Somerset County10 schools	Somerset County 90/100 county score	7,123	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
37	Washington Township School District LEA ID 3417070 Gloucester County11 schools	Gloucester County 84/100 county score	7,121	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
38	Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District LEA ID 3412480 Morris County14 schools	Morris County 94/100 county score	7,008	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
39	Irvington Public School District LEA ID 3407680 Essex County12 schools	Essex County 68/100 county score	6,980	12	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
40	Monroe Township School District LEA ID 3410500 Middlesex County8 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	6,900	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
41	West Orange Public Schools LEA ID 3417610 Essex County13 schools	Essex County 68/100 county score	6,660	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
42	South Orange-Maplewood School District LEA ID 3415330 Essex County11 schools	Essex County 68/100 county score	6,562	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
43	Lenape Regional High School District LEA ID 3408490 Burlington County4 schools	Burlington County 93/100 county score	6,554	4	high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
44	Gloucester Township Public Schools LEA ID 3406030 Camden County11 schools	Camden County 68/100 county score	6,548	11	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
45	North Star Academy Charter School LEA ID 3400024 Essex County1 school	Essex County 68/100 county score	6,352	1	Limited grade-level records 1 charter Open district guide
46	Atlantic City School District LEA ID 3400960 Atlantic County11 schools	Atlantic County 75/100 county score	6,346	11	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
47	Livingston Board of Education School District LEA ID 3408820 Essex County9 schools	Essex County 68/100 county score	6,320	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
48	Bloomfield Township School District LEA ID 3401830 Essex County11 schools	Essex County 68/100 county score	6,264	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
49	Sayreville School District LEA ID 3414640 Middlesex County9 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	6,148	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
50	Bridgeton City School District LEA ID 3402250 Cumberland County8 schools	Cumberland County 62/100 county score	6,137	8	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
51	Montclair Public School District LEA ID 3410560 Essex County11 schools	Essex County 68/100 county score	6,122	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
52	TEAM Academy Charter School LEA ID 3400070 Essex County1 school	Essex County 68/100 county score	6,096	1	Limited grade-level records 1 charter Open district guide
53	Linden Public School District LEA ID 3408610 Union County11 schools	Union County 69/100 county score	6,032	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
54	Westfield Public School District LEA ID 3417760 Union County10 schools	Union County 69/100 county score	5,891	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
55	Camden City School District LEA ID 3402640 Camden County16 schools	Camden County 68/100 county score	5,858	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
56	Monroe Township Public School District LEA ID 3410470 Gloucester County6 schools	Gloucester County 84/100 county score	5,723	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
57	North Brunswick Township School District LEA ID 3411490 Middlesex County8 schools	Middlesex County 83/100 county score	5,712	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
58	Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District LEA ID 3414670 Union County8 schools	Union County 69/100 county score	5,562	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
59	Ridgewood Public School District LEA ID 3413830 Bergen County10 schools	Bergen County 93/100 county score	5,514	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
60	Howell Township Public School District LEA ID 3407560 Monmouth County12 schools	Monmouth County 91/100 county score	5,484	12	elementary, middle school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide

— = enrollment not reported in the district record. District rows are informational and must be paired with local assignment tools before a housing decision.

Methodology

How to use district rankings without overreading them

District-level data is useful because it shows the operating system around a public school search: how many schools exist, which county record anchors the district, how much enrollment is reported, and whether a detailed district guide is available. It is not enough to decide where a student should enroll.

Ranking basis

Rows are ordered by reported enrollment, then school count. The method favors broad, data-rich systems because those are the districts parents most often need to research before relocation.

County context

Each district is attached to a primary county record when available. County school scores are context signals, not district ratings, and nearby counties can still matter for commute and housing decisions.

Grade pathway

Elementary, middle, and high school counts help parents spot whether a district looks like a full K-12 pathway or a narrower operating unit. Feeder patterns still require local verification.

Address verification

The final decision happens at the address level. Confirm attendance zones, open-enrollment rules, magnet admissions, charter lotteries, and transfer windows with official district sources.

County context

Districts anchored in higher-scoring county contexts

These rows pair district records with the county-level SchoolsByCounty score. Treat this as a shortlist for deeper research, not a district quality ranking.

Flemington-Raritan Regional School District

Hunterdon County

Students: 3,137
Schools: 6

Hunterdon Central Regional High School District

Hunterdon County

Students: 2,486
Schools: 1

North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District

Hunterdon County

Students: 1,909
Schools: 2

Readington Township School District

Hunterdon County

Students: 1,423
Schools: 4

Clinton Township School District

Hunterdon County

Students: 1,166
Schools: 3

South Hunterdon Regional School District

Hunterdon County

Students: 808
Schools: 3

Parent checklist before relying on a district ranking

Use this page to narrow the field, then answer these local questions before treating any district as a fit for a specific home.

Which school does this address actually feed into?

Use the district address lookup and confirm edge cases near attendance-zone borders.

What happens at transition grades?

A strong elementary fit can split into several middle or high school paths.

Are choice programs realistic for this student?

Magnet, charter, virtual, and transfer options can involve lotteries, applications, or deadlines.

Is the county context aligned with housing tradeoffs?

Pair school research with taxes, commute, home prices, and safety before choosing where to live.

Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey School Districts

What are the best school districts in New Jersey?

Newark Public School District, Elizabeth Public Schools, Jersey City Public Schools are the largest New Jersey district systems by reported enrollment in the NCES file. SchoolsByCounty does not call them the best districts; use this page to find data-rich district systems, then verify assigned schools, program rules, and local fit.

How are New Jersey districts ranked here?

Districts are ordered by reported student enrollment, then school count, using NCES public school district records. This is a research-priority ranking, not a quality rating.

Why do only 116 New Jersey districts have district guide links?

SchoolsByCounty statically generates detailed district guides for the largest district systems nationally so the pages stay fast and substantive. Districts without guide links remain represented through county and state context pages.

Do these district pages show attendance boundaries?

No. Attendance zones, transfer rules, magnet eligibility, charter admission, transportation, and program availability must be verified with official district or local assignment tools before choosing a home.

Does a large district mean better schools?

No. Larger districts usually have more school options and more public data, but enrollment size is not a school-quality measure. Compare school-level records and official local sources before treating a district as a fit.

How many districts are included for New Jersey?

This page includes 679 New Jersey public school districts from the current NCES district file, alongside county context and generated district-guide availability where available.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jun 9, 2026

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.

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