These Are The Best School Districts In NJ, New Ranking Says

Here's a look at the New Jersey school district that made Niche's 2027 top-ranked list nationwide.

By Ainsley Martinez, Patch Staff

Sep 30, 2026 10:19 AM EDT

Here’s a look at the New Jersey school district that stood out in Niche’s 2027 rankings. (Caren Lissner/Patch)

NEW JERSEY— Parents choosing where to live in New Jersey often look first at the quality of the local school district.

The best school district in New Jersey is Northern Valley Regional High School District, according to the 2027 Best School Districts in America list recently released by the education ranking service Niche.

"I really appreciate the welcoming and supportive culture, which made it easy to get involved and feel like part of the community," one review read.

Northern Valley Regional High School District earned an A+ overall grade from Niche, with A+ marks in academics, teachers, college preparation, administration, sports and food.

The district posted 78 percent reading and 75 percent math proficiency, along with a 98 percent graduation rate.

Students reported an average SAT score of 1,360 and ACT score of 30, while the student-teacher ratio stands at 12 to 1.

Niche lists spending at $44,081 per student, with 50 percent of education expenses going toward instruction and 29 percent toward support services.

Diversity received a B+, while clubs and activities earned an A.

Other school districts in the New Jersey area that got an "A-" or better grade are, in the order ranked, are:

West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District
Tenafly Public School District
Mountain Lakes School District
Ridgewood Public School District
Summit Public School District
Princeton Public Schools
Haddonfield Public Schools
The School District of the Chathams
Moorestown Township Public School District

Niche also released its best public schools and best private schools rankings.

Niche's rankings combine federal and state data, school statistics, and over 3 million reviews from students, parents, and teachers to evaluate schools beyond test scores.

This year, Niche updated its methodology and created separate public and private rankings for categories including arts, diversity, college prep and teachers. It also introduced school-type-specific methodologies for boarding schools and private online high schools.

"Families deserve a complete view of their options, whether they're evaluating schools in their area or exploring what's available elsewhere," Niche founder and CEO Luke Skurman said in a news release.