Top 10 Best Essex County Public High Schools (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 53 public high schools serving 57,805 students in Essex County, NJ.
The top ranked public high schools in Essex County, NJ are Stem Innovation Academy Of The Oranges, Millburn High School and Technology High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Essex County, NJ public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 26% (versus the New Jersey public high school average of 28%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 47% statewide average). High schools in Essex County have an average ranking of 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of New Jersey public high schools.
Essex County, NJ public high school have a Graduation Rate of 85%, which is equal to the New Jersey average of 85%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Livingston High School, with 98% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in New Jersey or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 85% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the New Jersey public high school average of 63% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public High Schools in Essex County (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Stem Innovation Academy Of The Oranges
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
445 Scotland Road
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 677-4190
Grades: 9-12
| 168 students
Rank: #22.
Millburn High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
462 Millburn Ave
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 564-7130
Grades: 9-12
| 1,393 students
Rank: #33.
Technology High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
223 Broadway
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 481-5962
Grades: 9-12
| 654 students
Rank: #44.
Science Park High School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
260 Norfolk Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 733-8689
Grades: 7-12
| 970 students
Rank: #55.
Glen Ridge High School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
200 Ridgewood Ave
Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
(973) 429-8303
Grades: 7-12
| 811 students
Rank: #66.
Livingston High School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
30 Robert Harp Drive
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Grades: 9-12
| 2,081 students
Rank: #77.
West Essex High School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
65 West Greenbrook Rd
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 228-1200
Grades: 9-12
| 1,055 students
Rank: #88.
Bard Early College High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
321 Bergen Street
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-8363
Grades: 9-12
| 382 students
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
North Star Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
10 Washington Place
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 642-0101
Grades: K-12
| 6,476 students
Rank: #9 - 109. - 10.
Verona High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
151 Fairview Ave
Verona, NJ 07044
(973) 571-6750
Grades: 9-12
| 628 students
Rank: #1111.
Nutley High School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
300 Franklin Ave
Nutley, NJ 07110
(973) 661-8824
Grades: 9-12
| 1,190 students
Rank: #1212.
Essex County Donald M. Payne Sr. School Of Technology
Vocational School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
498-544 West Market St
Newark, NJ 07107
(973) 412-2203
Grades: 9-12
| 1,148 students
Rank: #1313.
Columbia High School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
17 Parker Ave
Maplewood, NJ 07040
(973) 762-5600
Grades: 9-12
| 1,933 students
Rank: #1414.
James Caldwell High School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
265 Westville Ave
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 228-6981
Grades: 9-12
| 772 students
Rank: #1515.
East Orange Stem Academy High School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
129 Renshaw Avenue
East Orange, NJ 07017
(973) 266-5900
Grades: 6-12
| 609 students
Rank: #1616.
Cedar Grove High School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
90 Rugby Road
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
(973) 239-6400
Grades: 9-12
| 460 students
Rank: #1717.
Essex County Newark Technical
Vocational School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
91 West Market St
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 412-2204
Grades: 9-12
| 548 students
Rank: #1818.
Essex County West Caldwell Technical
Vocational School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
620 Passaic Ave
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 412-2205
Grades: 9-12
| 349 students
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Essex Campus Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
369 Passaic Avenue
Fairfield, NJ 07004
(973) 575-0469
Grades: 9-12
| 50 students
Rank: #19 - 2019. - 20.
Essex High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
369 Passaic Avenue
Fairfield, NJ 07004
(973) 815-1389
Grades: 9-12
| 8 students
Rank: #2121.
Montclair High School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
100 Chestnut St
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4100
Grades: 9-12
| 1,961 students
Rank: #2222.
West Orange High School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
51 Conforti Ave
West Orange, NJ 07052
(973) 669-5301
Grades: 9-12
| 2,208 students
Rank: #2323.
Bloomfield High School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
160 Broad Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 680-8500
Grades: 9-12
| 2,037 students
Rank: #2424.
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
909 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(862) 256-0909
Grades: PK-12
| 2,124 students
Rank: #2525.
Arts High School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
550 M L King Blvd
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 733-7391
Grades: 9-12
| 598 students
Rank: #2626.
Cicely L. Tyson Community Middle/high School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
35 Winans Street
East Orange, NJ 07017
(973) 414-8600
Grades: 6-12
| 695 students
Rank: #2727.
University High School
(Math: 6-9% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
55 Clinton Pl
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 374-3190
Grades: 8-12
| 447 students
Rank: #2828.
Team Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 17% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
60 Park Place, Suite 802
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 622-0905
Grades: K-12
| 6,319 students
Rank: #2929.
Newark School Of Global Studies
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
24 Crane Street
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5112
Grades: 9-12
| 378 students
Rank: #3030.
Newark Sch Of Data Science And Information Technology
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
746 Sanford Avenue
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 695-3748
Grades: 9-11
| 301 students
Rank: #3131.
American History High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
74 Montgomery St
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-7333
Grades: 9-12
| 361 students
Rank: #3232.
Belleville High School
(Math: 11% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
100 Passaic Ave
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 969-4343
Grades: 9-12
| 1,591 students
Rank: #3333.
Newark School Of Fashion & Design
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
239 Woodside Avenue
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 327-4466
Grades: 9-11
| 214 students
Rank: #3434.
Orange High School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
400 Lincoln Ave
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 677-4050
Grades: 9-12
| 1,370 students
Rank: #3535.
Marion P. Thomas Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 7% | Reading: 24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
125 Sussex Ave
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 621-0060
Grades: PK-12
| 1,393 students
Show 18 more public schools in Essex County, NJ (out of 53 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Essex County, NJ

Essex County Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
75 Morton St
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 317-8361
Grades: 6-8
| 255 students
74 Montgomery St
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-6911
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
534 Clinton Avenue
Newark, NJ 07108
(862) 240-4887
Grades: K-8
| 450 students
15 James St
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 297-1275
Grades: K-8
| 331 students
43 Alexander St
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 374-2390
Grades: 1-8
| 385 students
100 Linden Avenue
Irvington, NJ 07111
(973) 399-6847
Grades: K-5
| 310 students
90 Parker Street
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5125
Grades: 9-12
| 1,263 students
209 Franklin Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 412-2206
Grades: 9-12
| 509 students
15 Boylan St
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 374-2490
Grades: PK-K
| 57 students
103 Bragaw Ave
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 705-3970
Grades: K-8
| 250 students
228 Ridge St
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5220
Grades: PK-4
| n/a students
180 Oraton St
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5340
Grades: PK-4
| 290 students
28 Burnet St
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 733-7138
Grades: PK-8
| 213 students
321 Bergen St
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-3870
Grades: 5-8
| 287 students
123 Cleveland Street
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 673-0746
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
255 Chancellor Ave
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 705-3860
Grades: K-2
| 141 students
36 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Irvington, NJ 07111
Grades: K-5
| 233 students
534 Clinton Ave
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 733-6970
Grades: PK
| 67 students
33 Maple Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 733-6234
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
26 Speedway Avenue
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 733-6234
Grades: PK
| 57 students
229 18th Ave
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 733-6824
Grades: PK-8
| 218 students
557 Fifteenth Ave
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-6924
Grades: PK-8
| 224 students
279 Chancellor Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 508-4334
Grades: 6-12
| 116 students
72 Central Avenue
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 242-3543
Grades: 5-8
| 212 students
15 Smalley Place
Irvington, NJ 07111
(973) 372-5601
Grades: 9-12
| 16 students
1064 Clinton Avenue
Irvington, NJ 07111
Grades: PK
| 75 students
746 Sanford Avenue
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 623-9005
Grades: K-8
| 460 students
663 Broadway
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5330
Grades: 5-8
| 552 students
211 Sherman Ave
Newark, NJ 07102
(201) 526-8500
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
823 S 16th St
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 374-2890
Grades: PK-5
| 405 students
33 Maple Ave
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 705-3850
Grades: K-8
| 365 students
108 South 9th St
Newark, NJ 07107
(973) 733-7368
Grades: K-8
| 375 students
236 Hoover Avenue
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 259-1870
Grades: 7-12
| 112 students
909 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 642-4400
Grades: 5-10
| 494 students
70 Spring Street
Millburn, NJ 07041
(201) 343-6000
Grades: PK-12
| 3 students
Show 29 more closed public schools in Essex County, NJ (out of 64 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public high schools in Essex County, NJ?
The top ranked public high schools in Essex County, NJ include Stem Innovation Academy Of The Oranges, Millburn High School and Technology High School.
How many public high schools are located in Essex County?
53 public high schools are located in Essex County.
What is the racial composition of students in Essex County?
Essex County public high schools minority enrollment is 85% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the New Jersey public high schools average of 63% (majority Hispanic).
Which public high schools in Essex County are often viewed compared to one another?

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