For the 2025 school year, there are 94 public middle schools serving 69,604 students in Essex County, NJ.
The top ranked public middle schools in Essex County, NJ are Millburn Middle School, Heritage Middle School and The Gray Charter School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Essex County, NJ public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 24% (versus the New Jersey public middle school average of 32%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 48% statewide average). Middle schools in Essex County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of New Jersey public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the New Jersey public middle school average of 68% (majority Hispanic).
Best Public Middle Schools in Essex County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Millburn Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
25 Old Short Hills Rd
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 379-2600
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 379-2600
Grades: 6-8
| 1,119 students
Rank: #22.
Heritage Middle School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
20 Foxcroft Dr
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Grades: 7-8
| 1,004 students
Rank: #33.
The Gray Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
55 Liberty Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 824-6661
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 824-6661
Grades: K-8
| 339 students
Rank: #44.
Science Park High School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
260 Norfolk Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 733-8689
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 733-8689
Grades: 7-12
| 970 students
Rank: #55.
Glen Ridge High School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
200 Ridgewood Ave
Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
(973) 429-8303
Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
(973) 429-8303
Grades: 7-12
| 811 students
Rank: #66.
West Essex Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
65 West Greenbrook Rd
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 228-1200
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 228-1200
Grades: 7-8
| 622 students
Rank: #77.
South Orange Middle School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
70 North Ridgewood Road
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 378-2772
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 378-2772
Grades: 6-8
| 769 students
Rank: #88.
Buzz Aldrin Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
173 Bellevue Ave
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4220
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4220
Grades: 6-8
| 607 students
Rank: #99.
Robert Treat Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
443 Clifton Avenue
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 482-8811
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 482-8811
Grades: K-8
| 701 students
Rank: #1010.
Grover Cleveland Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
36 Academy Rd
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 228-9115
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 228-9115
Grades: 6-8
| 579 students
Rank: #1111.
Renaissance Middle School At The Rand Building
(Math: 39% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
176 North Fullerton Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-5741
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-5741
Grades: 6-8
| 201 students
Rank: #1212.
North Star Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
10 Washington Place
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 642-0101
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 642-0101
Grades: K-12
| 6,476 students
Rank: #1313.
John H. Walker Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
325 Franklin Ave
Nutley, NJ 07110
(973) 661-8869
Nutley, NJ 07110
(973) 661-8869
Grades: 7-8
| 625 students
Rank: #1414.
Memorial Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
500 Ridge Road
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
(973) 239-2646
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
(973) 239-2646
Grades: 5-8
| 422 students
Rank: #1515.
Maplewood Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
7 Burnett St
Maplewood, NJ 07040
(973) 378-7660
Maplewood, NJ 07040
(973) 378-7660
Grades: 6-8
| 733 students
Rank: #1616.
East Orange Stem Academy High School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
129 Renshaw Avenue
East Orange, NJ 07017
(973) 266-5900
East Orange, NJ 07017
(973) 266-5900
Grades: 6-12
| 609 students
Rank: #1717.
Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
600 Bloomfield Ave
Verona, NJ 07044
(973) 571-6751
Verona, NJ 07044
(973) 571-6751
Grades: 5-8
| 668 students
Rank: #1818.
Liberty Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1 Kelly Drive
West Orange, NJ 07052
(973) 243-8650
West Orange, NJ 07052
(973) 243-8650
Grades: 7-8
| 542 students
Rank: #1919.
Glenfield Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
25 Maple Ave
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4172
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4172
Grades: 6-8
| 521 students
Rank: #2020.
Roosevelt Middle School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
36 Gilbert Pl
West Orange, NJ 07052
(973) 669-5373
West Orange, NJ 07052
(973) 669-5373
Grades: 7-8
| 430 students
Rank: #2121.
Discovery Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
240 Halsey St, 2nd Fl.
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 623-0222
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 623-0222
Grades: 4-8
| 106 students
Rank: #2222.
Ann Street School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
30 Ann St
Newark, NJ 07105
(973) 465-4890
Newark, NJ 07105
(973) 465-4890
Grades: K-8
| 1,236 students
Rank: #2323.
Maria Varisco Rogers Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
233 Woodside Ave
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 481-9001
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 481-9001
Grades: K-8
| 580 students
Rank: #2424.
Forest Street Community Elementary School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
651 Forest St
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 677-4120
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 677-4120
Grades: PK-7
| 385 students
Rank: #2525.
Philip's Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
342 Central Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 624-0644
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 624-0644
Grades: PK-8
| 673 students
Rank: #2626.
First Avenue School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
214 First Ave
Newark, NJ 07107
(973) 268-5240
Newark, NJ 07107
(973) 268-5240
Grades: PK-8
| 1,057 students
Rank: #2727.
Bloomfield Middle School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
60 Huck Road
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 680-8620
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 680-8620
Grades: 7-8
| 929 students
Rank: #2828.
Oliver Street School
(Math: 25% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
86 Oliver St
Newark, NJ 07105
(973) 465-4870
Newark, NJ 07105
(973) 465-4870
Grades: PK-8
| 1,042 students
Rank: #2929.
Heywood Avenue Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
421 Heywood Ave
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 677-4105
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 677-4105
Grades: PK-7
| 374 students
Rank: #3030.
Pride Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
117 Elmwood Ave
East Orange, NJ 07018
(973) 672-3200
East Orange, NJ 07018
(973) 672-3200
Grades: 5-8
| 297 students
Rank: #3131.
Park Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
120 Manchester Place
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5210
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5210
Grades: PK-8
| 780 students
Rank: #3232.
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
909 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(862) 256-0909
Newark, NJ 07102
(862) 256-0909
Grades: PK-12
| 2,124 students
Rank: #3333.
Benjamin Banneker Academy
(Math: 17% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
500 South Clinton Street
East Orange, NJ 07018
(973) 266-4320
East Orange, NJ 07018
(973) 266-4320
Grades: PK-8
| 487 students
Rank: #3434.
Wilson Avenue School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
19 Wilson Ave
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 465-4910
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 465-4910
Grades: K-8
| 1,033 students
Rank: #3535.
Cicely L. Tyson Community Middle/high School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
35 Winans Street
East Orange, NJ 07017
(973) 414-8600
East Orange, NJ 07017
(973) 414-8600
Grades: 6-12
| 695 students
Show 59 more public schools in Essex County, NJ (out of 94 total schools)
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Essex County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
100 Legacy Academy Charter School (Closed 2014)
Charter School
75 Morton St
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 317-8361
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 317-8361
Grades: 6-8
| 255 students
74 Montgomery St
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-6911
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-6911
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
Achieve Community Charter School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
534 Clinton Avenue
Newark, NJ 07108
(862) 240-4887
Newark, NJ 07108
(862) 240-4887
Grades: K-8
| 450 students
Adelaide L. Sanford Charter School (Closed 2014)
Charter School
15 James St
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 297-1275
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 297-1275
Grades: K-8
| 331 students
43 Alexander St
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 374-2390
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 374-2390
Grades: 1-8
| 385 students
100 Linden Avenue
Irvington, NJ 07111
(973) 399-6847
Irvington, NJ 07111
(973) 399-6847
Grades: K-5
| 310 students
90 Parker Street
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5125
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5125
Grades: 9-12
| 1,263 students
Bloomfield Technical Elementary School (Closed 2023)
Vocational School
209 Franklin Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 412-2206
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 412-2206
Grades: 9-12
| 509 students
15 Boylan St
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 374-2490
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 374-2490
Grades: PK-K
| 57 students
103 Bragaw Ave
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 705-3970
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 705-3970
Grades: K-8
| 250 students
228 Ridge St
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5220
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5220
Grades: PK-4
| n/a students
180 Oraton St
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5340
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5340
Grades: PK-4
| 290 students
28 Burnet St
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 733-7138
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 733-7138
Grades: PK-8
| 213 students
321 Bergen St
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-3870
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-3870
Grades: 5-8
| 287 students
Career And Innovation Academy Of Orange (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
123 Cleveland Street
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 673-0746
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 673-0746
Grades: 9-12
| n/a students
255 Chancellor Ave
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 705-3860
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 705-3860
Grades: K-2
| 141 students
36 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Irvington, NJ 07111
Irvington, NJ 07111
Grades: K-5
| 233 students
534 Clinton Ave
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 733-6970
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 733-6970
Grades: PK
| 67 students
33 Maple Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 733-6234
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 733-6234
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
26 Speedway Avenue
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 733-6234
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 733-6234
Grades: PK
| 57 students
229 18th Ave
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 733-6824
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 733-6824
Grades: PK-8
| 218 students
557 Fifteenth Ave
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-6924
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 733-6924
Grades: PK-8
| 224 students
279 Chancellor Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 508-4334
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 508-4334
Grades: 6-12
| 116 students
Greater Newark Charter School (Closed 2015)
Charter School
72 Central Avenue
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 242-3543
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 242-3543
Grades: 5-8
| 212 students
Independence High School (Closed 2014)
Alternative School
15 Smalley Place
Irvington, NJ 07111
(973) 372-5601
Irvington, NJ 07111
(973) 372-5601
Grades: 9-12
| 16 students
1064 Clinton Avenue
Irvington, NJ 07111
Irvington, NJ 07111
Grades: PK
| 75 students
Lady Liberty Academy Charter School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
746 Sanford Avenue
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 623-9005
Newark, NJ 07106
(973) 623-9005
Grades: K-8
| 460 students
663 Broadway
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5330
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5330
Grades: 5-8
| 552 students
M.e.t.s. Charter School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
211 Sherman Ave
Newark, NJ 07102
(201) 526-8500
Newark, NJ 07102
(201) 526-8500
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
823 S 16th St
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 374-2890
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 374-2890
Grades: PK-5
| 405 students
33 Maple Ave
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 705-3850
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 705-3850
Grades: K-8
| 365 students
108 South 9th St
Newark, NJ 07107
(973) 733-7368
Newark, NJ 07107
(973) 733-7368
Grades: K-8
| 375 students
Memorial Hall High School (Closed 2009)
Special Education School
236 Hoover Avenue
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 259-1870
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 259-1870
Grades: 7-12
| 112 students
Merit Preparatory Charter School Of Newark (Closed 2018)
Charter School
909 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 642-4400
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 642-4400
Grades: 5-10
| 494 students
Millburn Regional Day School (Closed 2023)
Special Education School
70 Spring Street
Millburn, NJ 07041
(201) 343-6000
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 middle schools in Essex County, NJ?
The top ranked public middle schools in Essex County, NJ include Millburn Middle School, Heritage Middle School and The Gray Charter School.
How many public middle schools are located in Essex County?
94 public middle schools are located in Essex County.
What is the racial composition of students in Essex County?
Essex County public middle schools minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the New Jersey public middle schools average of 68% (majority Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Essex County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Essex County include: Roosevelt Middle School vs. Liberty Middle School, Kipp Cooper Norcross A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation vs. North Star Academy Charter School, Liberty Middle School vs. Roosevelt Middle School
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