2023 Best Schools for the Arts in New Jersey

• Hudson County Schools of Technology School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  359 reviews

Junior: I love High Tech High School! I am a musical theater major, and although this school is amazing with the arts, now I feel as if we are getting less and less funding. We make the best with what we can though, and are going to put on a great spring show! For the school in general, I think everyone would appreciate more AP's junior year instead of only 2 options and then all AP's senior year, but at least we have the chance to get them in then with many options.... Read 359 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,074

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Monmouth County Vocational School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.22 out of 5  146 reviews

Junior: Coming from a smaller, public K-12 elementary/middle school, I really wanted to maintain that smaller school atmosphere while also finding a school more catered to the way I learn. I found that when I applied to Communications. The smaller class sizes, the honors level courses, the committed students, and the dedicated teachers & faculty made me feel at home during my 3 years (thus far) at Communications. It's truly unlike any other public high school, which just goes to show how amazing the Monmouth County Vocational School District is. With that being said, Communications is definitely more suited for kids interested in creative writing, design, journalism, etc. rather than math and science (although the math and science are equally as challenging and vigorous as any other high school). Sports aren't something focused on as much, but events like Color Wars really bring out our school spirit. I have never encountered anyone who has had a poor experience at Communications!... Read 146 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 306

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Union County Vocational-Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  86 reviews

Senior: Such a fun school with lots of activities. It is a close knitted community and everyone feels like a family. The teachers and counselors are absolutely amazing and want to make sure each student is the best that they can be. As students, we get real world and professional experience with the performing arts, guest speakers, performers, dancers, writers, come into our school all the time to talk to us about their experiences. All students take honors classes and are academically challenged in a good way. Attending this school makes me stand out because of my experiences and I am so grateful to be apart of the APA family.... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 226

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Middlesex County Vocational & Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  76 reviews

Junior: The East Brunswick Campus is an amazing campus with opportunities for everyone no matter what a student’s interest may lie in. From academics to career oriented classes, this high school offers it all. Not only does the school help the student during their time there, they prepare you for the future with setting you up for jobs in the workforce related to your certain career choice. The school also offers a variety of clubs which will take days if I start to list them!... Read 76 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 460

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Somers Point, NJ•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  53 reviews

Senior: I've had a good time so far in Chartertech. Though the school is quite small, the education it offers and the staff's dedication to the student body is wonderful. Majors have a full hands-on experience, and have professional events to test what students have learned so far. The school also helps students prepare for their career of choice by teaching them how to build a string portfolio are resume. Overall, I would recommend this school to anyone looking for education on visual or performing arts.... Read 53 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 381

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Newark Public School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  192 reviews

Senior: Arts High is the best performing Arts High School. You can attend for your personal talent such as Visual Art, Graphic Design, Dance, Drama, Vocal, Instrumental, and Video Production, There are so many opportunities at Arts High school and I’m sure everyone will love it there. You’ll meet a lot of people and it has a lot of diversity. The school is very compassionate about their majors and they are committed to making the school a fun experience.... Read 192 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 614

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Camden City Public Schools, NJ•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  21 reviews

Senior: My time at Creative Arts was fantastic. Not only was there GREAT teachers helping me academically, but I spent 2 periods of my day with my Instrumental teacher. Due to this, I was essentially getting an hour every day of my class time to work on something I loved. Over time I became better at playing trombone/piano and I felt like I could get this opportunity nowhere else in Camden. We do group productions involving all the majors and have clubs, after-school programs like band and choir, extra curricular like Teen pep, and etc. Overall, I enjoyed my time at Creative Arts.... Read 21 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 290

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Paterson Public School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  57 reviews

Senior: RPHS is completely underrated as a cultural center for the city. No where else, in my opinion, will you find kids so passionate about what their talents. The vibe curated by the school is completely welcoming, even though it's affected by the typical ups and downs of a high school. The students have a genuine love for their major, and it shows. The amount of care and dedication put into peformances, artwork, writings, etc. is amazing, and something to be proud of. There's definitely some problems with the availiabilty of resources as well as the organization and management. But these are problems with the district as a whole that trickle down, and really go against the students' progress. The kids here have potential, but never get a chance to use it, and that's what always hurt me regarding the structural problems. I always remember my time here fondly (even if no one ever appreaciated my major). But, bottom line: if you love the arts, this is the school for you.... Read 57 reviews

• grade C

• Students 238

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• J•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  33 reviews

Senior: NJUCA is a very good school to go to. The teachers care about you and will spend extra time with you, the staff as a whole is kind, the education is great, and the campus is safe. The downfalls are that the school is poorly funded, causing restrictions on what the school can afford to do or have. The school is VERY small, so finding friends can be difficult. Overall, if educations what you care about, NJUCA is the place to be.... Read 33 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 68

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Ocean County Vocational Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  116 reviews

Junior: Grunin's PAA is where I get the most out of high school. The students are motivated and are supported by the teachers. Even if performing arts isn't what you want for the future, this school will prepare you for college and eventually the real world. You should know that the courses that you will be taking will be tough, and teachers will expect the most from you. You will be coached to be as much as professional as you can be. PAA recently got a new building on the OCC campus that is visually beautiful and is complete with two dance studios, a black box theater, and an audio recording room. If you want to challenge yourself, take the associates program! These classes will give you a taste of college-level courses and will supply you with useful college courses at a lower price. My only critique is the administration, who may not be there for you if you need help, or feel unsafe. Overall, PAA is a school filled with dedication.... Read 116 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 278

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Lakewood, NJ•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.92 out of 5  52 reviews

Parent: Calvary academy is an excellent school. I had 3 children attend and they have had experiences and academic achievements that have followed them through to higher education. They were loved and prayed for daily. Each of my children had exceptional spiritual experiences whether in class, sports or in the arts. Their teachers and coaches truly love and care for the students. I highly recommend sending your children to Calvary academy. The investment that you make will be worth it for years to come!... Read 52 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 230

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Elizabeth Public Schools, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  136 reviews

Senior: My experience at Jefferson is positive. I’ve had great teachers who’ve taught me life skills offered support, and aided me in preparing for college; Such as providing me with information on schools, scholarships, and essays. This has eased my anxieties about going to college and motivated me to continue excelling in my academics. While focusing on academics I also participated in several clubs and activities; I learned how to properly manage my time. The school also has great resources for support such as the YES program and a social worker, each being available for students. The YES program offers counseling, group counseling, and opportunities for community service. Our social worker made himself available every week offering a group coloring session in which students could use that time to relax and gain support.... Read 136 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 1,101

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Plainfield Public Schools, NJ•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  63 reviews

Niche User: My times at PAAAS had enrich my life. I was expose to an atmosphere of encouragement and challenges that help me out of my comfort void and got me thinking outside of the box more. While I entered PAAAS for academics, the different culture of art, music, dance, and theater performed there help further my mind, making me mixed creativity and more of myself into my work. PAAAS help prepare it students for the future with advisory, AP classes, and special programs. The teachers there were passionate about their work and students and they would always make fun assignments for their classes so that their lessons will stay within their students' mind. There were always monthly events where students got to show off their talents inside and outside of school. I felt what a community was like within PAAAS and it's an experience that I'll never forget.... Read 63 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 414

• Student-teacher ratio 10:1

• Burlington County Institute of Technology, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  185 reviews

Sophomore: My experience with Burlington County Institute of Technology has been amazing. They provided me with a rich education in many subjects. With this school one is able to choose a career major that they will take for four years. I chose Sports Medicine as my career major. During this I was able to learn anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, orthopedics, rehab, nutrition, and prescriptive fitness. The school guidance counselors have also been amazing. They have provided me with important information regarding scholarships, colleges/university choices, extracurriculars, and more. Another amazing thing about BCIT is their size. The school doesn’t have too many students. Each class is no more than 30 students. You are able to build close relationships with classmates and professors. The school is also diverse. Overall BCIT has a vide array of opportunities to learn and prosper. I absolutely love my time here and know many of my peers feel the same way!... Read 185 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 896

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Middlesex County Vocational & Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Junior: I like that I have met a wonderful group of friends. A lot of my friends and I do shows together and make so many amazing memories and at school I study Stagecraft and my teacher is absolutely wonderful. If it werent for my school I would have never found Stagecraft or pursued it as a career.... Read 3 reviews

• grade C+

• Students 290

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Millville School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Freshman: The school is really nice! It’s very easy to learn where your classes at and the food is really amazing. I never thought I was say this but this is one of the best school I’ve been to so far and this is the second school I been too because I’m a freshman 🙂... Read 2 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 787

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• East Orange School District, NJ•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  199 reviews

Senior: This school and the faculty members take great care of it’s students’ mental health and safety. There are many opportunities to get involved in the Community as well! There was never a dull moment, especially with the various performances, productions, and events this school held!... Read 199 reviews

• grade B minus

• Students 742

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1