Essex County Schools & Education
Essex County, New Jersey
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
68/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
88.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
88.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,098
National avg $13,239
State avg $13,088
School Score
68/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 80/100
State Score Position
#17
of 21 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Essex County
Measured School Summary
Essex County performs at an average level with a school score of 68/100 and a solid graduation rate of 88.2%.
Funding Context
With $12,098 per pupil, Essex County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 16% below the New Jersey average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Essex County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
246 public schools and 43 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
68/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #17 of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data.
Completion
88.2%
3.2 pts below the state average
Funding context
$12,098
$990 below the state average
School coverage
246
43 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Essex County has 246 public schools across 43 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Essex County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
Essex County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#17
of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data. The county score is 12 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Newark Public School District
Elementary and high visible
37,662 students
63 listed schools in this county slice.
East Orange School District
Elementary to high school visible
8,653 students
20 listed schools in this county slice.
Irvington Public School District
Elementary to high school visible
6,980 students
12 listed schools in this county slice.
West Orange Public Schools
Elementary to high school visible
6,660 students
13 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Newark Public School District is the largest listed district slice, with 63 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Essex County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Essex County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Which schools are missing enrollment or ratio fields, and does the district publish a newer local profile than the NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data?
Education Overview
About Schools in Essex County, New Jersey
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Massive and Complex School System
Essex County manages one of New Jersey's largest student bodies, with 139,500 pupils attending 246 public schools. This system is divided into 43 districts and includes 155 elementary schools and 41 high schools.
Performance and Resource Management
The county graduation rate is 88.2%, outstripping the national 87.0% average despite the challenges of a large urban population. Schools operate on an average per-pupil expenditure of $12,098, which is lower than the New Jersey state average of $13,088.
Urban Leaders and Charter Giants
Newark Public School District is the largest in the state, serving 37,662 students across 63 schools. Essex is also a hub for charter education, with 19 charter schools including North Star Academy, which alone serves over 6,300 students.
Urban Hubs Meet Suburban Campuses
The county features a sharp split between 85 city schools and 161 suburban schools, offering vastly different educational environments. While the average school size is 579, flagship campuses like East Side High and West Orange High enroll over 2,100 students each.
School Overview
Total Schools
246
in Essex County
Reported Enrollment
139,500
245 schools reporting
School Districts
43
districts
Charter Schools
19
8% of total
School Level Breakdown
43 School Districts in Essex County
Newark Public School District
GuideEast Orange School District
GuideIrvington Public School District
GuideWest Orange Public Schools
GuideSouth Orange-Maplewood School District
GuideNorth Star Academy Charter School
GuideLivingston Board of Education School District
GuideBloomfield Township School District
GuideMontclair Public School District
GuideTEAM Academy Charter School
Guide246 Public Schools in Essex County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 28 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 246 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Star Academy Charter School | Profile | North Star Academy Charter School | NEWARK, 07102City: Large | KG–12 | Charter | 6,352 |
| TEAM Academy Charter School | Profile | TEAM Academy Charter School | NEWARK, 07102City: Large | KG–12 | Charter | 6,096 |
| East Side High School | Profile | Newark Public School District | NEWARK, 07105City: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,255 |
| West Orange High School | Profile | West Orange Public Schools | WEST ORANGE, 07052Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,151 |
| Livingston High School | Profile | Livingston Board of Education School District | LIVINGSTON, 07039Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,066 |
| Bloomfield High School | Profile | Bloomfield Township School District | Bloomfield, 07003Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,029 |
| Great Oaks Legacy Charter School | Profile | Great Oaks Legacy Charter School | Newark, 07102City: Large | PK–12 | Charter | 2,012 |
| Montclair High School | Profile | Montclair Public School District | MONTCLAIR, 07042Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,968 |
| Columbia High School | Profile | South Orange-Maplewood School District | MAPLEWOOD, 07040Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,930 |
| East Orange Campus High School | Profile | East Orange School District | EAST ORANGE, 07017Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,748 |
| Barringer High School | Profile | Newark Public School District | NEWARK, 07104City: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,734 |
| Irvington High School | Profile | Irvington Public School District | IRVINGTON, 07111Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,684 |
| Belleville High School | Profile | Belleville Public School District | BELLEVILLE, 07109Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,499 |
| Marion P. Thomas Charter School | Profile | Marion P. Thomas Charter School | NEWARK, 07103City: Large | PK–12 | Charter | 1,425 |
| Millburn High School | Profile | Millburn Township School District | MILLBURN, 07041Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,378 |
| Orange High School | Profile | ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION School District | ORANGE, 07050Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,265 |
| Ann Street School | Profile | Newark Public School District | NEWARK, 07105City: Large | KG–8 | Primary | 1,200 |
| Lafayette Street School | Profile | Newark Public School District | NEWARK, 07105City: Large | PK–8 | Primary | 1,180 |
| Essex County Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology | Profile | Essex County Schools of Technology | NEWARK, 07107City: Large | 9–12 | Vocational | 1,154 |
| Millburn Middle School | Profile | Millburn Township School District | MILLBURN, 07041Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,133 |
North Star Academy Charter School
North Star Academy Charter School
NEWARK, 07102 / City: Large
TEAM Academy Charter School
TEAM Academy Charter School
NEWARK, 07102 / City: Large
East Side High School
Newark Public School District
NEWARK, 07105 / City: Large
West Orange High School
West Orange Public Schools
WEST ORANGE, 07052 / Suburb: Large
Livingston High School
Livingston Board of Education School District
LIVINGSTON, 07039 / Suburb: Large
Bloomfield High School
Bloomfield Township School District
Bloomfield, 07003 / Suburb: Large
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
Newark, 07102 / City: Large
Montclair High School
Montclair Public School District
MONTCLAIR, 07042 / Suburb: Large
Columbia High School
South Orange-Maplewood School District
MAPLEWOOD, 07040 / Suburb: Large
East Orange Campus High School
East Orange School District
EAST ORANGE, 07017 / Suburb: Large
Barringer High School
Newark Public School District
NEWARK, 07104 / City: Large
Irvington High School
Irvington Public School District
IRVINGTON, 07111 / Suburb: Large
Belleville High School
Belleville Public School District
BELLEVILLE, 07109 / Suburb: Large
Marion P. Thomas Charter School
Marion P. Thomas Charter School
NEWARK, 07103 / City: Large
Millburn High School
Millburn Township School District
MILLBURN, 07041 / Suburb: Large
Orange High School
ORANGE BOARD OF EDUCATION School District
ORANGE, 07050 / Suburb: Large
Ann Street School
Newark Public School District
NEWARK, 07105 / City: Large
Lafayette Street School
Newark Public School District
NEWARK, 07105 / City: Large
Essex County Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology
Essex County Schools of Technology
NEWARK, 07107 / City: Large
Millburn Middle School
Millburn Township School District
MILLBURN, 07041 / Suburb: Large
Additional School Profiles
Dedicated profile pages are generated for a subset of public schools with broad enrollment coverage. All other schools remain listed in the county table.
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$12,098
State avg $13,088
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Essex County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which New Jersey counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in New Jersey?
How should I read the school score in Essex County?
What is the graduation rate in Essex County?
How much does Essex County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Essex County, New Jersey — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Essex County, New Jersey?
Essex County manages one of New Jersey's largest student bodies, with 139,500 pupils attending 246 public schools. This system is divided into 43 districts and includes 155 elementary schools and 41 high schools.
How do schools in Essex County perform academically?
The county graduation rate is 88.2%, outstripping the national 87.0% average despite the challenges of a large urban population. Schools operate on an average per-pupil expenditure of $12,098, which is lower than the New Jersey state average of $13,088.
What are the major school districts in Essex County, New Jersey?
Newark Public School District is the largest in the state, serving 37,662 students across 63 schools. Essex is also a hub for charter education, with 19 charter schools including North Star Academy, which alone serves over 6,300 students.
What is the school experience like in Essex County?
The county features a sharp split between 85 city schools and 161 suburban schools, offering vastly different educational environments. While the average school size is 579, flagship campuses like East Side High and West Orange High enroll over 2,100 students each.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.