2024 Best College Prep Public High Schools in New Jersey

• Bergen County Vocational Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  555 reviews

Junior: I am a junior at Bergen County Academies and I have had a good experience so far. The teachers at Bergen County Academies are for the most part very knowledgeable in their fields. They are willing to go above and beyond. I also appreciate the fact that the school tries to ensure college readiness through guidance seminar and an overall competitive environment. One thing that I would like to see change at Bergen County Academies is the availability of resources for students. While the school does have a lot of resources available, I feel like there could be more support for students who are struggling academically or who need extra help. Another issue students may encounter is the fact that they are locked into their chosen academy. Overall, my experience at Bergen County Academies has been positive. It is a great school with a strong focus on academics and extracurricular activities, but getting involved in those activities might be difficult due to the already extended school day.... Read 555 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1480

• Average ACT 34

• Monmouth County Vocational School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  105 reviews

Senior: Choosing this high school was one of the best decisions of my life! From amazing teachers to peers that support and get along with each other, High Technology High School provided me with the best possible high school experience I could have asked for. The academics are rigorous but manageable, and the clubs provide great opportunities to meet and become friends with others who share your interests. The hour long lunch in the middle of every day is a perfect time to get some extra studying done as well as generally hanging out with friends. I have met so many great people by going to this school, and I believe that I changed for the better having gone here over my home high school. There are people from every walk of life and by going to this school I was able to learn so much, not just from academics but also from my fellow students.... Read 105 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1530

• Average ACT 33

• Morris County Vocational School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  40 reviews

Alum: The Academy is an all around highly-recommended high school experience. Starting with academics, Academy students are challenged everyday through a difficult and relevant courseload, fully preparing them for college and life beyond. Students have a great relationship with their teachers and with each other. The social environment of the academy is an extremely tight web of inseparable, caring, and competitive students. Although its place as a satellite academy causes administrative headache, this school is the center of the greatest academic and social livelihoods a student can hope for.... Read 40 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1530

• Average ACT 35

• Union County Vocational-Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  145 reviews

Senior: Magnet is a school that is very near and dear to me. Throughout my time here, I have made many friends that I will stay in touch with for the rest of my life. I relish the opportunity to interact with so many intelligent people and feel that the culture is one that stimulates growth and improvement. The teachers are above average and it feels like they truly care about their students. I would highly recommend any students in the Union County area to apply to Magnet. It will absolutely be worth it.... Read 145 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1420

• Average ACT 33

• Jersey City School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  302 reviews

Alum: I graduated class of 2023, and I can say hands down that McNair has been one of the most formative experiences I have had in my life. I have learned so much thanks to the teachers and friends that have supported me. There is truly a very collaborative environment here, and everyone is supported every step along the way. There are plenty of opportunities regarding AP courses and extracurriculars. I was part of the Epsilon Math Team, Mock Trial, and various honor societies, and I founded Mathemagicians Tutoring which connects McNair students to Cordero middle schoolers and offers free math tutoring. I highly recommend this school, it will change your life.... Read 302 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1350

• Average ACT 31

• Bergen County Vocational Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  255 reviews

Freshman: BT is overall a great school. Going in, I thought it would be completely different from my middle school, but the transition was not as abrupt as I thought it would be. I went in knowing no one, but I easily made friends as most of the students are generally friendly. The academics are very rigorous, which was a huge transition from my public middle school. It's a bit of a struggle at the beginning, but once you find your rhythm, you're set. Teachers are generally knowledgeable and willing to help students, but there are a couple of teachers that are just strange. Clubs only happen Tues/Thurs, and buses are a hassle, but there are tons of opportunities given at BT that many public schools can't offer. My friend group now has a much higher overall IQ than my middle school friend group did, and although there are still plenty of class clowns, those clowns are still smart. Honestly, you just have to be able to adapt and keep up with the workload, and you'll be set for a bright future.... Read 255 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1390

• Average ACT 32

• Monmouth County Vocational School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  121 reviews

Freshman: I like the education and the people in the school, but the environment can be very stressful especially during important tests because everyone crams a lot of information. This also leads to a lot of people being depressed and overly stressed out about college. That is because it is an IB school and all of the classes are more rigorous and demanding. The school has some great teachers too on the bright side, especially in the science section. If you like science and you liked to pushed to the best of your abilities, I would recommend this school.... Read 121 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1490

• Average ACT 34

• Union County Vocational-Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  124 reviews

Senior: The Academy for Information Technology is a great school to attend if you are pursuing a business/information technology path as a career. You have focused vocational classes teaching business to programming languages like Java. However, the school does not provide the greatest of technological resources. Students only have Chromebooks and Desktops at the school often have their issues which makes it hard to use. Funding dedication in this area isn't the greatest. The counselors help you every step along the way in assisting your application up to college. The food here is average, not the greatest but there are secondary choices always such as hamburgers aside from the main lunch.... Read 124 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1390

• Average ACT 32

• Princeton Public Schools, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.87 out of 5  342 reviews

Senior: My experience at Princeton was tough but motivating. The heavy worklord that came with AP, IB, and Honors classes made some parts of the year very challenging to get through. However, with those classes came encouraging teachers and classmates that helped motivate me to not only do better in the classroom, but also improve outside the classroom in some of the many extracurricular activites that Princeton offers.... Read 342 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1360

• Average ACT 31

• Union County Vocational-Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  135 reviews

Freshman: I love this school! I love having the opportunity to take a class specifically involving health sciences and learning more about my future career before college. This school has great a great environment and has a great curriculum. The learning experience is amazing and I feel like I learn a lot more than any of the other schools I have been. The teachers are great and even now in a virtual environment, they are trying their best to teach and be supportive of the students. I also love how this school has many amazing clubs and student life experiences. They give students a chance to try out different activities and hobbies with clubs as well as get to know more about each other. This school has many diverse students because they accept students from all over the county. It's great if you want to get to know about other cultures and interact with different people. Overall this school is amazing and I'm completely enjoying my experience, even as an online student.... Read 135 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1380

• Average ACT 32

• Tenafly Public School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  136 reviews

Alum: Tenafly High School was an awesome place to attend high school. Yes, we can be kinda cliquey and yes, some of us did drive fancier cars than some of the teachers and staff, but the education I received out of this place and all the friends I had here really have been outstanding. I had a few average teachers and one below average, but most of the teachers here are outstanding at what they do and you really gain a lot out of your education here whether you are a CPB (college prep equivalent), CPA (honors equivalent), Honors (high honors equivalent), or AP student. I may not have finished my college degree, but the skillset I acquired both on my own as well as here has still led me down a path of success in my adult life. Thank you Tenafly!... Read 136 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1390

• Average ACT 31

• West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  333 reviews

Senior: The school overall has a good support system and help is around any corner if you reach out in forms of students and faculty. The courses offered prepare students for outside endeavors and higher studies. Although school spirit has taken a step down since the pandemic there is still events for students to feel like one unit such as during the Homecoming Game/Dance, games and frequent meeting of clubs and other social groups. Students also walk to nearby Windsor plaza which has 7-Eleven, Papa Johns, Pancake House, Woori-Mart and Princeton Junction Railway Station for students to travel away from the district. However the school's information is scattered in websites, social media accounts and emails. It's quite hard to keep track of all the information which is why again it's important that you network with a lot of people around the school. If there was anything I would like to see change it would be that all information regarding opportunities, clubs/sports should be in 1-3 hubs.... Read 333 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1390

• Average ACT 32

• Millburn Township School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  204 reviews

Junior: Overall, I would say Millburn High is a pretty good place if you're into technology, with facilities such as the mill allowing you to engage in technology related extracurriculars. Along with that their support system is pretty strong. Academically however is where Millburn can be seen as both competitive for AP enrollment and demanding due to many at the school being qualified for APs yet with limited seating, leaving you to scramble and grind as many points as possible. Everything else about the school I feel is similar to other schools, a good social life is achievable despite the academic hurdles and a strong school spirit.... Read 204 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1400

• Average ACT 31

• Ocean County Vocational Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  175 reviews

Parent: The Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science offers a rigorous and comprehensive education with the application of using marine science programming. The research experience at this level is invaluable as future students of STEM, and the teachers are extremely knowledgeable and their delivery of the curriculum is superior especially in preparation for higher education while also being extremely relatable to the class cohorts. The school community is close -knit, inclusive, familial and one of teamwork. Although, there are no varsity athletic clubs, there are many after school activities encompassing a wide span of interests and experiences, not to mention if a student wants to start a club, they can easily make happen too! MATES is an amazing and non-intimidating environment for learning, expanding a wealth of knowledge through exploration and advancements in an ever changing world! We are so grateful to be part of this institution!... Read 175 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1430

• Average ACT 33

• Middlesex County Vocational & Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.48 out of 5  48 reviews

Junior: The academics at the school are amazing, and so are the teachers. They are very understanding and open to your opinions. However, I would like to see more diversity and more opportunities in sports and the arts. High school sports are something that you see throughout almost all high schools throughout America, but in the Academy, there's only one sport (soccer). We are studying almost all the time (and therefore, sitting), so it'd be great to get some more physical activity and get more sports into the Academy (football, volleyball, etc.).... Read 48 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1520

• Average ACT 35

• West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  288 reviews

Senior: West Windsor Plainsboro High School North (HSN) has provided me with many great experiences. I believe that there are three main components of the HSN experience: education, fun, and culture. The education that HSN provides is of a fairly high quality, with the district as a whole being quite competitive. The teachers tend to be fair, understanding, and sociable, and the curriculum is useful and interesting. The only negative aspect of HSN education is that some teachers don't teach, leaving students to learn the content. For certain content-heavy courses, this can make it extremely hard for students to learn and prepare for exams. The fun aspect of HSN is great! HSN offers a variety of fun events throughout the year and a moderate amount of freedom to its students. However, that freedom has decreased with new rules such as: "No eating or drinking in study hall." Lastly, HSN's culture is amazing, with students being friendly and a positive yet competitive spirit in the school.... Read 288 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1390

• Average ACT 32

• Montgomery Township School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  429 reviews

Alum: The best aspects of being a Montgomery High School student include having a competitive environment, access to a variety of classes, extremely passionate and competent teachers, and safe surroundings. I would say that the downside of attending this high school was the overly competitive mindset of the students as a lot of the conversations revolved around academics, colleges, or extracurriculars. Also the high expectations that the teachers had on the students were predetermined even before classes began. This made many lessons unnecessarily complicated. It would be ideal if they got to know their class before they make assumptions. I hope that going forward, the school encourages an academic-personal life balance. Guidance counselors should tell students individually that while it's alright to prioritize classes and extracurriculars, they should also find time to relax and do things that they enjoy. The end goal should be for all students to graduate with as few regrets as possible.... Read 429 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1390

• Average ACT 32

• Monmouth County Vocational School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  116 reviews

Junior: I really like this school because of the opportunity it gives me to study health care from every angle. I have learned about the history of medicine, standard protocols used in health care, the anatomy and physiology of the body, the impact of nutrition on the body, etc. I also enjoy attending my school because of the people at the school! My teachers make learning fascinating and support their students in any way they can, academically or otherwise. In addition, I enjoy spending time with my peers, as they encourage me to do my best academic work, serve as people who I can relate to, and make me feel like I belong at the school. One action I would take to change my school would be to enlarge its campus. The size of the campus makes the hallways feel very crowded and limits the space for students to play games and sports outside. Overall, however, the good features of the Academy of Allied Health and Science outweigh the bad ones and distinguish it from any other high school.... Read 116 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Average SAT 1420

• Average ACT 32

• Somerset, NJ•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.18 out of 5  94 reviews

Parent: CJCP is a pretty good school. There are things that need to be worked on, but for the most part I would recommend it to others. My daughter attended CJCP for the 2022-23 Kindergarten year. Her teacher was always responsive to emails and any concerns I had for my daughter. The class room had 22 children and 1 teach with 2 aides. She had homework every night except for Fridays, month projects, and monthly reading assignments. The Kindergarten children are graded on a 0-100 scale. They will lose points if something is not done exactly as directed. Late projects are NOT accepted, in Kindergarten if something is late it's clearly the parent's fault and not the child's. I was late on one project and she received a zero, which caused one of her course grades to fall below passing. THIS IS KINDERGARTEN! Anyway, outside of that she did very well and loves her school.... Read 94 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Average SAT 1270

• Average ACT 28

• Ridgewood Public School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.86 out of 5  243 reviews

Niche User: I was a former student at RHS before moving out of state. The school itself has a great campus look and the system there works great. Students are able to have a lot of freedom like you would in college. If you struggle with mental health there are great counselors that will help ever step of the way. The only downside is that the school is extremely competitive and not for the faint of heart. There's a lot of academic pressure on top of the fact everyone there is very extraordinary. The culture there is very suffocating sometimes but there are many advantages as well.... Read 243 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1360

• Average ACT 30

• East Brunswick Public Schools, NJ•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  607 reviews

Senior: I rate East Brunswick High School 5 stars. During my junior year especially, I appreciate how well organized my school was during the pandemic. They heavily modified their system and made virtual learning accessible to everyone. The school apps used were easy to navigate through, and especially during such a difficult time, I exceeded in my classes. The teachers are amazing, and integrated compassion through each of their lessons. With their challenging but interesting curriculum, emphasized the importance of leadership, and pushed me to think outside of the box. My teachers truly invested in my education and worked to see their students' achievements. The classes taught are engaging and open new broad opportunities and ideas for its students. There are different sports events, ranging from football to soccer and wrestling, bring the school spirit to an even higher level than before. So far, my senior year has only been enjoyable, and I only have great things to say about EBHS.... Read 607 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Average SAT 1320

• Average ACT 30

• Bernards Township School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  257 reviews

Senior: ACADEMICS: People in the reviews are complaining too much about how hard the academics are... there's nothing wrong with our academics. Y'all just need to apply yourself! And we have plenty of options for every level of difficulty, from regular to Honors to AP. FACULTY/ADMINISTRATION: Generally excellent teachers who help you get through. Few bad apples here/there but that's inevitable. School board makes some bad decisions now and then though. CLUBS/ACTIVITIES: Lots of options. Whether you're an artsy kid, a sporty kid, a band kid, or a STEM kid, there's something for you, and you'll enjoy it. I've heard school spirit's apparently lacking compared to other schools, but how would I know? DIVERSITY: We have people of all races, heritages, and LGBT categories here. We're pretty tolerant I guess. SAFETY: We're in, like, one of the safest towns in America. Besides, we have a pretty strict visitor policy, and even implemented an ID system starting this year. FOOD: Average I guess.... Read 257 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1350

• Average ACT 30

• Livingston Board of Education School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.89 out of 5  369 reviews

Alum: Livingston High School provides its students with a quality and truly valuable education as the opportunities at the school are endless and the teachers there are probably some of the best in the area; they are intelligent leaders who genuinely care about the educational success of each and every student. I can't complain about anything regarding the education at the high school, however, the social environment of Livingston is something that the school itself can't change, but many alumni will note Livingston for being very "cliquey" with notes of racism and bullying from the more wealthy or athletic students. It would be nice to know that future students of all backgrounds feel more comfortable at our school now.... Read 369 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1350

• Average ACT 30

• Northern Valley Regional High School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  196 reviews

Junior: Most teachers are very supportive and eager to teach. There are many support and resources, such as the Wellness Center, counselors open to discussing anything, math centers in-school and virtually after-school, and writing centers. Everyone is pretty friendly, and it's easy to find a club or group for something you enjoy. If not, you can make a club!... Read 196 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1360

• Average ACT 30

• Union County Vocational-Technical School District, NJ•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  255 reviews

Junior: I'm a junior here and I've really enjoyed my time here. I go to UCTECH, specfically, and I feel like everyone here is very welcoming and nice. Of course, there are occasional things here or there that aren't great, but as a general school culture, it's really accepting. They really prepare you for college and give you a lot of resources. I would also say, that the cafeteria food isn't food, but that you should come here if you're considering it!... Read 255 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Average SAT 1290

• Average ACT 29