Can I use Mercer County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Mercer County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Mercer County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Mercer County?

Start with the 109 listed public schools and 20 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Mercer County Schools & Education

Name: Mercer County, New Jersey Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Mercer County, New Jersey

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

School Score

66/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

87.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$12,247

National avg $13,239

State avg $13,088

School Score

66/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 80/100

State Score Position

#18

of 21 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Mercer County

Measured School Summary

Mercer County performs at an average level with a school score of 66/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.5%.

Funding Context

With $12,247 per pupil, Mercer County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 18% below the New Jersey average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Mercer 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

109 public schools and 20 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

66/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #18 of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data.

Completion

87.5%

3.9 pts below the state average

Funding context

$12,247

$841 below the state average

School coverage

109

20 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

Mercer County has 109 public schools across 20 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Mercer 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

Mercer 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

#18

of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data. The county score is 14 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 97% 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.

Trenton Public School District

Elementary to high school visible

12,483 students

Elementary 13Middle 9High 2Other 1

25 listed schools in this county slice.

Hamilton Township Public School District

Elementary to high school visible

11,973 students

Elementary 17Middle 3High 3Other 0

23 listed schools in this county slice.

East Windsor Regional School District

Elementary to high school visible

5,079 students

Elementary 4Middle 1High 1Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District

Elementary to high school visible

4,897 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Trenton Public School District is the largest listed district slice, with 25 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 Mercer County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Mercer 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 Mercer 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.

Education at the State Capital

Mercer County features 109 public schools across 20 districts, providing education to 56,529 students. The landscape is well-balanced with 59 elementary schools, 23 middle schools, and 21 high schools.

Large Districts and Charter Diversity

The Trenton Public School District is the largest with 12,483 students, followed closely by Hamilton Township with 11,973. Eight charter schools operate in the county, providing alternative options for about 7% of the total school population.

Diverse Suburban and City Locales

Most students attend one of the 68 suburban schools, though 40 schools are located in city settings like Trenton. The average school size is 538 students, ranging from smaller primary schools to large campuses like Trenton Central High with 2,255 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

109

in Mercer County

Reported Enrollment

56,529

106 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

7% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary59

Middle23

High21

Other6

20 School Districts in Mercer County

Trenton Public School District

Hamilton Township Public School District

West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District

East Windsor Regional School District

Princeton Public School District

Lawrence Township Public School District

Ewing Township School District

Hopewell Valley Regional School District

Robbinsville Public School District

3 schools

3,054 students

Foundation Academy Charter School

1 school

1,044 students

109 Public Schools in Mercer County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 18 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 109 matching schools

Public schools in Mercer County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Trenton Central High School - Main Campus	Profile	Trenton Public School District	TRENTON, 08611City: Small	10–12	High	2,255
Hightstown High School	Profile	East Windsor Regional School District	HIGHTSTOWN, 08520Suburb: Small	9–12	High	1,644
West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South	Profile	West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District	West Windsor, 08550Suburb: Small	9–12	High	1,630
Princeton High School	Profile	Princeton Public School District	PRINCETON, 08540City: Small	9–12	High	1,532
Hamilton East - Steinert	Profile	Hamilton Township Public School District	HAMILTON, 08690Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,427
Hamilton West-Watson	Profile	Hamilton Township Public School District	HAMILTON, 08610Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,348
Lawrence High School	Profile	Lawrence Township Public School District	LAWRENCEVILLE, 08648Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,207
Thomas R Grover Middle School	Profile	West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District	West Windsor, 08550Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	1,197
Melvin H. Kreps Middle School	Profile	East Windsor Regional School District	EAST WINDSOR, 08520Suburb: Small	6–8	Middle	1,176
Ewing High School	Profile	Ewing Township School District	EWING, 08618Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,109
Hopewell Valley Central High School	Profile	Hopewell Valley Regional School District	PENNINGTON, 08534Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,079
Robbinsville High School	Profile	Robbinsville Public School District	ROBBINSVILLE, 08691Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,057
Foundation Academy Charter School	Profile	Foundation Academy Charter School	Trenton, 08608City: Small	KG–12	Charter	1,044
Hamilton North - Nottingham	Profile	Hamilton Township Public School District	HAMILTON, 08619Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,005
Sharon School	Profile	Robbinsville Public School District	ROBBINSVILLE, 08691Rural: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	1,005
Pond Road Middle School	Profile	Robbinsville Public School District	ROBBINSVILLE, 08691Suburb: Large	5–8	Middle	992
Albert E Grice Middle School	Profile	Hamilton Township Public School District	HAMILTON, 08610Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	967
Emily C. Reynolds Middle School	Profile	Hamilton Township Public School District	HAMILTON, 08690Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	939
Richard C Crockett Middle School	Record	Hamilton Township Public School District	HAMILTON, 08691Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	863
Princeton Middle School	Record	Princeton Public School District	PRINCETON, 08540City: Small	6–8	Middle	816

Trenton Central High School - Main Campus

Trenton Public School District

TRENTON, 08611 / City: Small

Profile10–12High2,255 students

Hightstown High School

East Windsor Regional School District

HIGHTSTOWN, 08520 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High1,644 students

West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South

West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District

West Windsor, 08550 / Suburb: Small

Profile9–12High1,630 students

Princeton High School

Princeton Public School District

PRINCETON, 08540 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,532 students

Hamilton East - Steinert

Hamilton Township Public School District

HAMILTON, 08690 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,427 students

Hamilton West-Watson

Hamilton Township Public School District

HAMILTON, 08610 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,348 students

Lawrence High School

Lawrence Township Public School District

LAWRENCEVILLE, 08648 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,207 students

Thomas R Grover Middle School

West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District

West Windsor, 08550 / Suburb: Small

Profile6–8Middle1,197 students

Melvin H. Kreps Middle School

East Windsor Regional School District

EAST WINDSOR, 08520 / Suburb: Small

Profile6–8Middle1,176 students

Ewing High School

Ewing Township School District

EWING, 08618 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,109 students

Hopewell Valley Central High School

Hopewell Valley Regional School District

PENNINGTON, 08534 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,079 students

Robbinsville High School

Robbinsville Public School District

ROBBINSVILLE, 08691 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,057 students

Foundation Academy Charter School

Trenton, 08608 / City: Small

ProfileKG–12Charter1,044 students

Hamilton North - Nottingham

Hamilton Township Public School District

HAMILTON, 08619 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,005 students

Sharon School

Robbinsville Public School District

ROBBINSVILLE, 08691 / Rural: Fringe

ProfilePK–4Primary1,005 students

Pond Road Middle School

Robbinsville Public School District

ROBBINSVILLE, 08691 / Suburb: Large

Profile5–8Middle992 students

Albert E Grice Middle School

Hamilton Township Public School District

HAMILTON, 08610 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle967 students

Emily C. Reynolds Middle School

Hamilton Township Public School District

HAMILTON, 08690 / Suburb: Large

Profile6–8Middle939 students

Richard C Crockett Middle School

Hamilton Township Public School District

HAMILTON, 08691 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle863 students

Princeton Middle School

Princeton Public School District

PRINCETON, 08540 / City: Small

Record6–8Middle816 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$12,247

State avg $13,088

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Mercer County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

How should I read the school score in Mercer County?

Mercer County has a school score of 66/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Mercer County?

The high school graduation rate in Mercer County is 87.5%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Mercer County spend per student?

Mercer County spends $12,247 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Mercer County, New Jersey — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Mercer County, New Jersey?

What are the major school districts in Mercer County, New Jersey?

What is the school experience like in Mercer County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Essex County

New Jersey

+2 pts

68/100

School score

Camden County

New Jersey

+2 pts

68/100

School score

Union County

New Jersey

+3 pts

69/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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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