2019 Best Schools for the Arts in New JerseyAbout this List

Academy for Performing Arts

• Public School
• Scotch Plains, NJ
• 9-12
• 61

Senior: This school really helped me grow as a performer, student, and as a person. Upon entering Freshman year, I was really shy and kind of closed off, but after 4 years of nurturing from my teachers and incredible support from faculty I find my self saying “Hi” and talking to everyone in the halls. It’s to the point that almost every Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior knows me by name! Of course the school isn’t perfect, and I’d love to see them be able to build an additional theatre to the Black Box, but one of the many awesome things about APA is that every year it’s growing and adapting to the new batch of students walking through its doors and learning from those who are graduating.
Read 61 Reviews

• A+

• 190 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Middlesex County Vocational & Technical School (MCVTS) - East Brunswick

• Public School
• East Brunswick, NJ
• 9-12
• 58

Senior: Everything is pretty good about East Brunswick VoTech. The students are very nice and so are the teachers and staff. There are a variety of career majors and it is a great place to learn. This school prepares you for college with its experience in different career majors, and you always have a change to switch yours if you aren't liking what you're currently in.
Read 58 Reviews

• B-

• 410 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

The Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy

• Camden City Public Schools, NJ
• 6-12
• 11

Alum: Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy is a place I can call home. Not only did they push their students in their academics but also in their Majors. The Staff there stay involved in the students lives making sure every student has what they need physically and Mentally. The school provided many festivities as well as activities for students to participate in. They gave their students amazing opportunities, such as preforming around the world, going on trips, starring in plays, and even going to every college fair that they possibly could. Being an Alum of Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy is something that I am proud of.
Read 11 Reviews

• C+

• 350 Students
• 10:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

The Wilberforce School

• Private School
• Princeton Junction, NJ
• PK, K-12
• 37

Parent: My son is in the nucleus of an amazing culture, with many opportunities to develop multiple skills through clubs, serving in student-led teams and encircled by excellent teachers. I treasure the teachers, staff and Board for their commitment to excellence, kindness and focus on individualized character development as well as academic achievements for our children. I am very grateful to God for this school and very accomplished teachers! We have connected with many awesome families and are blessed to be a part of this supportive and endearing community. I have to give special thanks and recognition to Christina for graciously and affably guiding us through the admissions process!
Read 37 Reviews

• A+

• 208 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Arts High School

• The Newark Public Schools, NJ
• 7-12
• 153

Senior: Arts High School is the first visual and performing arts highschool in the US. Honestly, I love attendings Arts High School. I felt like the workload was very doable and teachers are always trying to connect with their students. Teachers would connect our art form to our academics and real-life situations, which made the class more intriguing. The absolute best part of the school was all the opportunities that came with our major. As a dance major, I was able to train, perform, and make more outside connections with other dance companies. Being noticed allowed me to expand my art form. I will be continuing my art form in college. Because of my amazing teachers at Arts High School, I was recognized by several colleges and was recruited. Overall, these past for years has prepared me for what college has in store and I am extremely grateful to have gone to this school.
Read 153 Reviews

• B-

• 702 Students
• 12:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

ChARTer TECH High School for the Performing Arts

• Public School
• Somers Point, NJ
• 9-12
• 41

Parent: I think that Charter Tech was an excellent choice of a high school for me. It is abnormal and makes weird and talented people feel special and accepted. The teachers have helped me become more understanding and mature. They treat us like professionals and expect very highly of us. There have been points where I've considered transferring, but I realized that I fit in at this school and there would be no better place for me. I've learned a lot here, and have become one of the smartest people in my school, being in the top 10% of the senior class, and becoming one of the three CEOs of the vocal department.
Read 41 Reviews

• C+

• 339 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Rosa L. Parks School of Fine & Performing Arts

• Paterson Public Schools, NJ
• 9-12
• 50

Senior: Initially, when I applied to Rosa L. Parks School of Fine & Performing Arts as a Communications student, I had every bit of intention to make the switch over to the Drama department. We have six majors to choose from: vocal, drama, instrumental, communications, fine/commercial art, and dance. Here I was, a timorous incoming Freshman measuring at 4'8. I knew there was no way I'd go in and "ace" the drama audition. Four years later, with a profound love for journalism, I am heading into a life that works to seek truth and justice. RPHS equipped me with the confidence needed to thrive in the real world. In addition to a very encouraging environment, our students and faculty work tirelessly to engineer quality performance shows.

While we do have a variety of clubs and “minors” to choose from, we do lack a much needed sports team. Overall, RPHS is an emboldening experience.
Read 50 Reviews

• C

• 282 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy

• Elizabeth Public Schools, NJ
• 9-12
• 97

Senior: As a senior at Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy, I've spent a lot of time in the school. What I like about TJAA , is the safe environment! I enjoy the medal detectors as we enter school and the security guards on each floor. What I also enjoy about TJAA is the divesity. A few of the things that I'd change would the school hours. I feel as if the students were able to leave school at 2:19 or enter school at about 8 am, we'd find that they have received more sleep , have completed more homework and have become more involved in their school environment. Another thing that I'd change would be the options provided by school lunch. Although I understand that it's the law for students when receiving their school lunch to reach a certain calorie count , if more options were made available to the students to fit the diverse population we have a TJAA , more students would feel satifaifed when returning to class.
Read 97 Reviews

• C

• 1,008 Students
• 11:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark

• The Newark Public Schools, NJ
• 6-12
• 6

Senior: Eagle Academy is a school based on brotherhood that brings a great deal of confidence in each and every student. This school doesn't purely focus on developing young men to do well academically, but it focuses on the character development of each and every student. Many students like myself have changed a lot since the first day of attending Eagle Academy in the sixth grade. This school is also partnered with Streetsquash Newark which is an urban squash program. This program brought a unique sport into both my life and Eagle Academy. Eagle Academy has helped me grow in confidence to speak out in public and even develop a strong passion for the sport I love, squash.
Read 6 Reviews

• C+

• 167 Students
• 9:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Voyagers' Community School

• Private School
• Eatontown, NJ
• PK, K-12
• 1

• NG

• 72 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

OCVTS - Brick Center

• Public School
• Brick, NJ
• 9-12
• 1

Senior: I loved OCVTS! It is a great way to prepare for college or going straight into the workforce. The teachers give a lot of one on one attention and care about you. The principals are super friendly and will always greet you with a smile in the halls. The food is okay, but that's because the culinary students are cooking and practicing. Overall, there is a lot of school pride and enthusiasm at the school you do not see anywhere else.
Read 1 Review

• NG

• 14 Students
• 1:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Yeshiva Gedolah of Bayonne

• Private School
• Bayonne, NJ
• 9-12

• NG

• 43 Students
• 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

JDT Christian Academy

• Private School
• Pennsauken, NJ
• 3-12
• 12

Niche User: It was a great school that developed both talent and character! It taught morals like honesty, love, forgiveness, compassion, while teaching skills like discipline, self control, responsibility, etc. It's an exemplery school
Read 12 Reviews

• NG

• 15 Students
• 2:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

New Testament Church School

• Private School
• Newark, NJ
• K-12

• NG

• 36 Students
• 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Warren County Special Services School

• Warren County Special Services School District, NJ
• PK, K-12

• NG

• 11 Students
• 3:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Jose Marti Freshman Academy

• Union City School District, NJ
• 9

• NG

• 692 Students
• 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

Alpha & Omega Christian School

• Private School
• Newark, NJ
• PK, K-11
• 3

Parent: My children have been attending this school for some time. They love it!!! I love the way the teachers are engaged and make themselves available to us. They are very empathetic to the reality that many parents work, and limit the amount of homework they send home. My prayer is that my children will be able to attend this school until they graduate.
Read 3 Reviews

• NG

• 83 Students
• 7:1 Student-Teacher Ratio

The Lewis Clinic & School

• Private School
• Princeton, NJ
• PK, K-12

• NG

• 176 Students
• 4:1 Student-Teacher Ratio