schoolsbycounty

Sussex County Schools & Education

Sussex County, New Jersey

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

School Score

89/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

93.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

93.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.4%

Per-Pupil Spending

$14,659

National avg $13,239

State avg $13,088

School Score

89/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 80/100

State Score Position

#8

of 21 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Sussex County

Measured School Summary

Sussex County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 89/100 and a graduation rate of 93.5%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

With $14,659 per pupil, Sussex County has adequate funding that generally covers core educational needs and some supplemental services.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 11% above the New Jersey average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 12% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Sussex 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

46 public schools and 27 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

89/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #8 of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data.

Completion

93.5%

2.1 pts above the state average

Funding context

$14,659

$1,571 above the state average

School coverage

46

27 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Sussex County has 46 public schools across 27 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.

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Parent decision brief

What Sussex 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.

Higher-signal county

Sussex County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.

State position

#8

of 21 New Jersey counties with school score data. The county score is 9 points above 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.

Sparta Township Public School District

Elementary to high school visible

3,267 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Vernon Township School District

Elementary to high school visible

2,935 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 1Other 1

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Newton Public School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,495 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Hopatcong Borough School District

Elementary to high school visible

1,396 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Vernon Township School District is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 Sussex County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Sussex 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?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Sussex 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.

Localized Learning in Sussex County

Sussex County maintains 46 public schools serving 19,402 students across 27 different school districts. This structure results in highly localized governance, with a mix of 26 elementary schools and 9 high schools. The county provides specialized support through its own special education facilities and one charter school location.

Small Districts with Big Impact

Sparta Township is the county's largest district, educating 3,267 students across five schools. Vernon Township follows closely with 2,935 students, while many other districts remain much smaller, reflecting the county's decentralized approach. Only 2.2% of schools here are charters, highlighting the community's reliance on traditional district-led education.

Rural Roots and Mid-Sized Classrooms

The Sussex school experience is defined by its 25 rural and 11 town-based campuses, offering a quieter academic setting. With an average school size of 422 students, the environment is personal yet well-resourced. Sparta High School is the county's largest institution with 1,071 students, while Alpine Elementary serves 759 young learners.

School Overview

Total Schools

46

in Sussex County

Reported Enrollment

19,402

46 schools reporting

School Districts

27

districts

Charter Schools

1

2% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary26
Middle9
High9
Other2

27 School Districts in Sussex County

Sparta Township Public School District

5 schools
3,267 students

Vernon Township School District

6 schools
2,935 students

Newton Public School District

3 schools
1,495 students

Hopatcong Borough School District

4 schools
1,396 students

Sussex-Wantage Regional School District

3 schools
1,038 students

Byram Township School District

2 schools
833 students

High Point Regional High School District

1 school
817 students

Kittatinny Regional School District

1 school
781 students

Sussex County Technical School District

1 school
679 students

Lenape Valley Regional High School District

1 school
667 students

46 Public Schools in Sussex County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

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

Level

Showing 20 of 46 matching schools

Sparta High School

Sparta Township Public School District

SPARTA, 07871 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,071 students

Vernon Township High School

Vernon Township School District

VERNON, 07462 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High929 students

High Point Regional High School District

High Point Regional High School District

SUSSEX, 07461 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High817 students

Kittatinny Regional High School

Kittatinny Regional School District

NEWTON, 07860 / Rural: Fringe

Record7–12High781 students

Alpine Elementary School

Sparta Township Public School District

SPARTA, 07871 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–2Primary759 students

Sparta Middle School

Sparta Township Public School District

SPARTA, 07871 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle746 students

Newton High School

Newton Public School District

NEWTON, 07860 / Town: Fringe

Record9–12High719 students

Sussex County Technical School

Sussex County Technical School District

Sparta, 07871 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12Vocational679 students

Lenape Valley Regional High School

Lenape Valley Regional High School District

STANHOPE, 07874 / Suburb: Large

Record9–12High667 students

Glen Meadow Middle School

Vernon Township School District

VERNON, 07462 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle645 students

WALLKILL VALLEY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Wallkill Valley Regional High School

HARDYSTON TOWNSHIP, 07419 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High615 students

Hopatcong High School

Hopatcong Borough School District

Hopatcong, 07843 / Suburb: Large

Record8–12High520 students

Frankford Township School

Frankford Township Consolidated School District

BRANCHVILLE, 07826 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–8Primary504 students

Franklin Borough School

Franklin Borough School District

FRANKLIN, 07416 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–8Primary474 students

Helen Morgan School

Sparta Township Public School District

SPARTA, 07871 / Suburb: Large

Record4–5Primary471 students

Merriam Avenue School

Newton Public School District

NEWTON, 07860 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary458 students

Byram Lakes Elementary School

Byram Township School District

STANHOPE, 07874 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary453 students

Cedar Mountain Primary School

Vernon Township School District

VERNON, 07462 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–1Primary434 students

Hopatcong Middle School

Hopatcong Borough School District

Hopatcong, 07843 / Suburb: Large

Record4–7Middle428 students

Rolling Hills Primary School

Vernon Township School District

VERNON, 07462 / Town: Fringe

Record2–3Primary410 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$14,659

State avg $13,088

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Sussex 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.

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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 Sussex County?
Sussex County has a school score of 89/100, which is a higher 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 Sussex County?
The high school graduation rate in Sussex County is 93.5%, 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 Sussex County spend per student?
Sussex County spends $14,659 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 Sussex County, New Jersey — FAQ

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

Sussex County maintains 46 public schools serving 19,402 students across 27 different school districts. This structure results in highly localized governance, with a mix of 26 elementary schools and 9 high schools. The county provides specialized support through its own special education facilities and one charter school location.

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

Sparta Township is the county's largest district, educating 3,267 students across five schools. Vernon Township follows closely with 2,935 students, while many other districts remain much smaller, reflecting the county's decentralized approach. Only 2.2% of schools here are charters, highlighting the community's reliance on traditional district-led education.

What is the school experience like in Sussex County?

The Sussex school experience is defined by its 25 rural and 11 town-based campuses, offering a quieter academic setting. With an average school size of 422 students, the environment is personal yet well-resourced. Sparta High School is the county's largest institution with 1,071 students, while Alpine Elementary serves 759 young learners.

Counties with Similar School Profile

Somerset County

New Jersey

+1 pts

90/100

School score

Monmouth County

New Jersey

+3 pts

91/100

School score

Ocean County

New Jersey

-3 pts

85/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed 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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