2024 Best School Districts in Essex County

• Millburn, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.91 out of 5  34 reviews

Freshman: great school! I love go to this school, all my brothers and sisters go to this school. I love the teachers and sports. great school! I love go to this school, all my brothers and sisters go to this school. I love the teachers and sports. great school! I love go to this school, all my brothers and sisters go to this school. I love the teachers and sports.... Read 34 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 8

• Students 4,796

• Livingston, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.93 out of 5  68 reviews

Junior: Livingston High School gives many wonderful opportunities to their students. They hold college fairs, have various clubs, many sports, and other activities to get students involved. The academics are stellar as well. Livingston High School offers a plethora of class options with various levels of difficulty. The school makes sure that each student is able to stimulate their own interests while also completing their graduation requirements. The environment that the teachers and administration build is very friendly and welcoming. Students feel safe at school because they know that they always have someone to talk to. Livingston High School uses all of its resources to make sure that their students get a great education while also feeling comfortable in their surroundings.... Read 68 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 9

• Students 6,176

• North Caldwell, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  34 reviews

Parent: Our child has been in the district now for 4 years. 3 years in the "sending schools", 1 year at WEMS, and starting 8th grade now. Last year during the pandemic the staff/ teachers all made it possible for our child to grow while sitting behind a computer. I know this is not easy on anyone, nor does wearing a mask 100% of the day exactly the best case scenario, but between outdoor "tailgates," clubs, committees, etc. they make it a great environment for these children. I thought we would have more complaints about the early morning start, but not here always happy to get to school. Not to mention all the great things to say about the teachers and how supportive they are. We are very fortunate, thanks, WEMS!... Read 34 reviews

• grade A+

• Total schools 2

• Students 1,625

• Montclair, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.98 out of 5  47 reviews

Senior: The Montclair Public School system has consistently made great efforts towards making my high school experience a safe and effective learning environment, but I cannot say the same for some of my peers. I have been in all honors and Advanced Placement classes ever since that was even an option but throughout my entire middle school and high school experience my classes have been majority white. Montclair HighSchool as itself is a very diverse institution but whether conscious or not, classes have been segregated for years. I believe this to be the product of the major wealth gap in the city due to redlining, the town is clearcut right down the middle and majority of Montclair's Black population loves on the poorer, redlined side. Its further away from the schools and many children of color cannot afford the same tools and tutors as their white counterparts so they don't feel confident enough to join honors and AP classes. The school needs to take greater measures to correct this.... Read 47 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 11

• Students 6,143

• Glen Ridge, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 4 out of 5  6 reviews

Parent: Schools are very impressive. There is a real work ethic among both teachers and students. Taxes are high but you feel a direct connection with the education your child receives. And being a small town, school runs are easy, and the place is so safe; this is one of those towns where you will see kids cycling around by themselves. Also, I've noticed in the last few years that the place is finally becoming more diverse - guess it's due to natural generational shifts and young folks moving in.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A

• Total schools 5

• Students 1,840

• West Caldwell, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Junior: I would describe the Caldwell-West Caldwell School District is a very suburban area with tons of opportunity for growth and social connections.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 7

• Students 2,628

• West Orange, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  96 reviews

Alum: While attending my last 14 years at West Orange Public Schools I can say that it is the best district ever. While my time at West Orange High School I was exposed to many generous teachers, extra curricularactivities, resources and especially well prepped to enter college with the help of my teachers and guidance counselors. I was lucky enough to see the diversity among people,cultures and beliefs. You cannot say this about many districts. I genuinely miss my time being enrolled at the West Orange Public School District.... Read 96 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 12

• Students 6,677

• Maplewood, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.85 out of 5  33 reviews

Senior: My overall experience with this school was positive. I love the diversity here and I think the school has improve its efforts for racial equity, however the achievement gap and disciplinary action still remains an issue. School safety needs to be leveled up. There are still many other things the school needs to change, but now that I am graduating, I do think that the school is headed in the right direction.... Read 33 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 11

• Students 6,819

• Verona, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 4 out of 5  26 reviews

Senior: From the moment I first entered the school my freshman year it was easy to get adjusted and make new friends. Everyone was very welcoming and kind especially the teachers who were very lenient and helpful with our new adjustments. Throughout my years I became apart of the small community and gained a strong group of friends, eventually going on to join clubs and sports teams which made the whole experience even better. If I had to say one negative thing about the experience, it would be the diversity within the school. Being in a small isolated town, there was not a lot of diversity and the school was mostly filled with white kids so I was never really exposed to other races and different cultures in the school. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Verona High School. The experiences and knowledge that I gained over the 4 years molded me into who I am today. I'm happy to be apart of such a accepting community with connections that will last a lifetime.... Read 26 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 6

• Students 2,170

• Nutley, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.5 out of 5  14 reviews

Junior: At Nutley High School what stands out is the very strict anti Bullying rules that they enforce. The teachers and Counselors are always very helpful. Theirs always a quick response to questions asked and a readiness to guide you in the right direction. I've found a joy in taking part in the sports and the clubs that the Nutley High school offers. My teachers are great and are always encouraging me to do my best. Pushing me to explore my full potential. I came to this high school as a new student in my freshman year, from a foreign country and was like a fish out if water. Everything was new to me and I struggled a bit in the beginning. But I managed to get on track and I credit this to the wonderful teachers we have at Nutley High school. All in all my experience has been amazing and I'm happy I chose Nutley High school.... Read 14 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 7

• Students 4,034

• Bloomfield, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.94 out of 5  70 reviews

Senior: My experience was very nice! All of my teachers throughout elementary, middle, and high school were very kind. They were always open to helping me when I struggled. The one thing that I did not like was that they swept bullying under the rug. In elementary school my sister and I were bullied and after going to the principle or counselor multiple times, nothing was done about it. It was very upsetting.... Read 70 reviews

• grade B+

• Total schools 11

• Students 6,191

• Cedar Grove, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  24 reviews

Senior: I like how this district puts an emphasis on academics and sports. The music and arts programs are also very adequate and the schools are extremely safe for students of all ages. Cedar Grove High School, although not super racially diverse, provides several ethnic clubs that celebrate cultural and racial diversity.... Read 24 reviews

• grade B

• Total schools 4

• Students 1,610

• Belleville, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.7 out of 5  27 reviews

Senior: I transitioned from a private school that I attended all my life up until 11th grade to a public school to finish my highschool career. It was a major transition. Everything from the people to the school work was different for me. I adapted to it eventually and made some friends and got the jist of how things rolled. I never really thought change would be difficult for me until I transferred to Belleville High. The students and faculty were very friendly and helped me out so much through my time in highschool. The teachers of Belleville High changed my life. Each of the teachers I had classes impacted me greatly with the advice and guidance they gave to me. Truly speaking, I see no flaws in with Belleville Public Schools. Though I only attended public school for only two years of my life, I can proudly say I’d have no greater joy than to soon graduate from Belleville High. The energy that the school had made learning and my time there fun.... Read 27 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 10

• Students 4,754

• Newark, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.64 out of 5  101 reviews

Alum: I went to many schools throughout the district, it was nice, I never got to know my classmates very well. The teachers were very caring and I did always enjoy my classes. However the school conditions weren't always great, warm water in the fountains, not so good lunch meals, and constantly malfunctioning machinery.... Read 101 reviews

• grade C+

• Total schools 65

• Students 40,876

• Orange, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.85 out of 5  26 reviews

Senior: I've always had a good experience with orange county although i do believe the rules can be a little weird. Some schools choose to follow them while others don't.Safety can be improved by locking doors from outside or adding fencing.... Read 26 reviews

• grade C

• Total schools 12

• Students 5,787

• East Orange, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.29 out of 5  52 reviews

Senior: It's a very good high school and there are a lot of things to do. I didn't expect to like the school as much as I do now, but it's a very good school were kids can learn more than they need to if they are interested. The teachers are simply fantastic. Each one of them have a way to teach student differently no matter what subject it is and they take their time to help the students understand what it is they don't understand. I've been in the school since freshmen year and the graduation rate is very very very high. I wouldn't change anything about the school because it's good the way it is. Any changes could lead to something new.... Read 52 reviews

• grade C minus

• Total schools 20

• Students 9,179

• Irvington, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 3.44 out of 5  32 reviews

Alum: When I attended school in the Irvington public school district I can honestly say i am glad I graduated. The schools are not bad, but they are not the best either. The best parts about my experience was the friends i made and the teachers who helped me along the way. The worst part of my experience was the food, the lack of college readiness and the area wasn't always the safest.... Read 32 reviews

• grade D

• Total schools 12

• Students 7,574

• North Caldwell, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: I cant say enough about Grandview school. Teachers are the best. The administration is on top of everything. The facility is beautiful and clean and they have an excellent curriculum.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Total schools 2

• Students 703

• Newark, NJ•

• School District

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  Rating 4.41 out of 5  22 reviews

Senior: Payne Tech is a great school and they offer a lot of great opportunities for students who know what they want to achieve! They are very good for students who still are finding their interests and allows them to explore different routes that may be beneficial to the career they will choose!... Read 22 reviews

• grade A minus

• Total schools 3

• Students 2,119

• Fairfield, NJ•

• School District

• grade B minus

• Total schools 2

• Students 698