These Are New Jersey’s Best K-8 Schools, U.S. News Says

NEW JERSEY — Several elementary and middle schools have been ranked among the best in New Jersey, according to a brand-new ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

For the inaugural list, U.S. News published rankings and data on more than 80,000 public elementary and middle schools across the United States - including 715 New Jersey schools.

Schools are ranked at the state and district levels. The best charter schools and best magnet schools ranked as stand-alone categories.

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U.S. News ranked Paterson’s School 28 as the highest ranking elementary and middle school in the state among schools in New Jersey, according to the new list.

Here’s a look at how elementary schools in New Jersey ranked compared with others in the state:

1. School 28, Paterson Public School District
2. Sara M. Gilmore Academy, Union School District
3. Thomas Edison Energysmart Charter School
4. Mendham Township Elementary School, Mendham Township School District
5. Cornelia F. Bradford School, Jersey City Public Schools
6. William F. Halloran School No. 22, Elizabeth Public Schools
7. Washington School, Millburn Township School District
8. Brookside School, Allendale Public School District
9. Lincoln-Hubbard Elementary School, Summit Public School District
10. Monmouth Junction Elementary School, South Brunswick School District

Here’s a look at how middle schools in New Jersey ranked compared with others in the state:

1. School 28, Paterson Public School District
2. Infinity Institute, Jersey City Public Schools
3. Mendham Township Middle School, Mendham Township School District
4. Markham Place School, Little Silver Boro School District
5. Thomas Edison Energysmart Charter School
6. Princeton Charter School
7. Forrestdale School, Rumson Borough School District
8. Knollwood School, Fair Haven School District
9. Brookside School, Allendale Public School District
10. Science Park High School, Newark Public School District

To determine the rankings, U.S. News used data from the U.S. Department of Education to analyze two areas at each school:

• Math and reading proficiency — or how well students perform on state assessments.
• Math and reading performance — or how well they perform compared with expectations.

The state assessment data used in the rankings is from the 2018-19 school year and, therefore, predates any effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on test-taking.

Nationally, California has 5,534 ranked elementary schools — the most of any state — followed by Texas at 4,446; New York at 2,211; Florida at 2,128; and Illinois at 2,038 schools.

California also has the most ranked middle schools with 2,319, followed by Texas at 1,942; Illinois at 1,243; New York at 1,219; and Florida at 997.

Schools were also ranked by district. See the complete list of 2021’s Best K-8 Schools.