Passaic County Schools & Education
Passaic County, New Jersey
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
60/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
85.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
85.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.4%
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,921
National avg $13,239
State avg $13,088
School Score
60/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 80/100
State Score Position
#20
of 21 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Passaic County
Measured School Summary
Passaic County performs at an average level with a school score of 60/100 and a solid graduation rate of 85.0%.
Funding Context
With $12,921 per pupil, Passaic County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 25% below the New Jersey average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 6.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Passaic 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
152 public schools and 29 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
60/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #20 of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data.
Completion
85.0%
6.4 pts below the state average
Funding context
$12,921
$167 below the state average
School coverage
152
29 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
Passaic County has 152 public schools across 29 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 Passaic 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
Passaic 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
#20
of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data. The county score is 20 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 98% 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.
Paterson Public School District
Elementary to high school visible
22,875 students
43 listed schools in this county slice.
Passaic City School District
Elementary to high school visible
12,195 students
20 listed schools in this county slice.
Clifton Public School District
Elementary to high school visible
10,734 students
19 listed schools in this county slice.
Wayne Township Public School District
Elementary to high school visible
7,623 students
15 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Paterson Public School District is the largest listed district slice, with 43 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 Passaic County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Passaic 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 Passaic 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 Across Diverse Districts
Passaic County operates 152 public schools across 29 districts, serving a total of 82,223 students. The county has a high concentration of primary education facilities, including 95 elementary schools.
Investing to Close the Gap
Passaic's 85.0% graduation rate is currently below the New Jersey average of 91.4% and the national average of 87.0%. The county maintains a per-pupil expenditure of $12,921, very close to the national spending average of $13,000.
Paterson and Passaic City Schools
Paterson Public School District is the largest in the county, managing 43 schools and 22,875 students. Charter schools are a prominent option here, with 8 schools accounting for about 5% of the total educational landscape.
Large Schools in Suburban Settings
While 143 schools are classified as suburban, the county features massive institutions like the Passaic County Technical Institute with 3,359 students. The average school size is 559 students, reflecting a mix of large vocational schools and smaller local elementary buildings.
School Overview
Total Schools
152
in Passaic County
Reported Enrollment
82,223
149 schools reporting
School Districts
29
districts
Charter Schools
8
5% of total
School Level Breakdown
29 School Districts in Passaic County
Paterson Public School District
GuidePassaic City School District
GuideClifton Public School District
GuideWayne Township Public School District
GuidePassaic County Technical-Vocational School District
GuideWest Milford Township Public School District
Hawthorne Public School District
Passaic Arts and Science Charter School
Pompton Lakes School District
College Achieve Paterson Charter School
152 Public Schools in Passaic County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 17 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 152 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passaic County Technical Institute | Profile | Passaic County Technical-Vocational School District | WAYNE, 07470Suburb: Large | 9–12 | Vocational | 3,359 |
| Clifton High School | Profile | Clifton Public School District | CLIFTON, 07013Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 3,059 |
| Passaic High School No. 12 | Profile | Passaic City School District | Passaic, 07055Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,596 |
| Eastside High School | Profile | Paterson Public School District | PATERSON, 07501Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,323 |
| John F. Kennedy High School | Profile | Paterson Public School District | PATERSON, 07502Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,053 |
| Passaic Arts and Science Charter School | Profile | Passaic Arts and Science Charter School | Fair Lawn, 07407Suburb: Large | KG–12 | Charter | 1,946 |
| College Achieve Paterson Charter School | Profile | College Achieve Paterson Charter School | Tinton Falls, 07724Suburb: Large | KG–11 | Charter | 1,305 |
| Wayne Valley High School | Profile | Wayne Township Public School District | WAYNE, 07470Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,241 |
| Woodrow Wilson Middle School | Profile | Clifton Public School District | CLIFTON, 07013Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,189 |
| Wayne Hills High School | Profile | Wayne Township Public School District | WAYNE, 07470Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,182 |
| Paterson Arts and Science Charter School | Profile | Paterson Arts and Science Charter School | Fair Lawn, 07410Suburb: Large | KG–12 | Charter | 1,160 |
| Christopher Columbus Middle School | Profile | Clifton Public School District | CLIFTON, 07011Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,158 |
| Passaic Valley Regional High School | Profile | Passaic Valley Regional High School District | LITTLE FALLS, 07424Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,039 |
| Diana C. Lobosco STEM Academy | Profile | Passaic County Technical-Vocational School District | Wayne, 07470Suburb: Large | 9–12 | Vocational | 1,034 |
| Haledon Public School | Profile | Haledon Public School District | HALEDON, 07508Suburb: Large | PK–8 | Primary | 1,028 |
| Joseph A. Taub School | Profile | Paterson Public School District | PATERSON, 07502Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 978 |
| West Milford High School | Profile | West Milford Township Public School District | WEST MILFORD, 07480Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 935 |
| William B. Cruise Memorial School No. 11 | Record | Passaic City School District | Passaic, 07055Suburb: Large | KG–8 | Primary | 908 |
| Community Charter School of Paterson | Record | Community Charter School of Paterson | PATERSON, 07501Suburb: Large | KG–8 | Charter | 874 |
| Lakeland Regional High School | Record | Lakeland Regional High School District | WANAQUE, 07465Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 867 |
Passaic County Technical Institute
Passaic County Technical-Vocational School District
WAYNE, 07470 / Suburb: Large
Clifton High School
Clifton Public School District
CLIFTON, 07013 / Suburb: Large
Passaic High School No. 12
Passaic City School District
Passaic, 07055 / Suburb: Large
Eastside High School
Paterson Public School District
PATERSON, 07501 / Suburb: Large
John F. Kennedy High School
Paterson Public School District
PATERSON, 07502 / Suburb: Large
Passaic Arts and Science Charter School
Passaic Arts and Science Charter School
Fair Lawn, 07407 / Suburb: Large
College Achieve Paterson Charter School
College Achieve Paterson Charter School
Tinton Falls, 07724 / Suburb: Large
Wayne Valley High School
Wayne Township Public School District
WAYNE, 07470 / Suburb: Large
Woodrow Wilson Middle School
Clifton Public School District
CLIFTON, 07013 / Suburb: Large
Wayne Hills High School
Wayne Township Public School District
WAYNE, 07470 / Suburb: Large
Paterson Arts and Science Charter School
Paterson Arts and Science Charter School
Fair Lawn, 07410 / Suburb: Large
Christopher Columbus Middle School
Clifton Public School District
CLIFTON, 07011 / Suburb: Large
Passaic Valley Regional High School
Passaic Valley Regional High School District
LITTLE FALLS, 07424 / Suburb: Large
Diana C. Lobosco STEM Academy
Passaic County Technical-Vocational School District
Wayne, 07470 / Suburb: Large
Haledon Public School
Haledon Public School District
HALEDON, 07508 / Suburb: Large
Joseph A. Taub School
Paterson Public School District
PATERSON, 07502 / Suburb: Large
West Milford High School
West Milford Township Public School District
WEST MILFORD, 07480 / Rural: Fringe
William B. Cruise Memorial School No. 11
Passaic City School District
Passaic, 07055 / Suburb: Large
Community Charter School of Paterson
Community Charter School of Paterson
PATERSON, 07501 / Suburb: Large
Lakeland Regional High School
Lakeland Regional High School District
WANAQUE, 07465 / Suburb: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$12,921
State avg $13,088
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Passaic County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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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 Passaic County?
What is the graduation rate in Passaic County?
How much does Passaic County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Passaic County, New Jersey — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Passaic County, New Jersey?
Passaic County operates 152 public schools across 29 districts, serving a total of 82,223 students. The county has a high concentration of primary education facilities, including 95 elementary schools.
How do schools in Passaic County perform academically?
Passaic's 85.0% graduation rate is currently below the New Jersey average of 91.4% and the national average of 87.0%. The county maintains a per-pupil expenditure of $12,921, very close to the national spending average of $13,000.
What are the major school districts in Passaic County, New Jersey?
Paterson Public School District is the largest in the county, managing 43 schools and 22,875 students. Charter schools are a prominent option here, with 8 schools accounting for about 5% of the total educational landscape.
What is the school experience like in Passaic County?
While 143 schools are classified as suburban, the county features massive institutions like the Passaic County Technical Institute with 3,359 students. The average school size is 559 students, reflecting a mix of large vocational schools and smaller local elementary buildings.
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.