Best Schools in Elizabeth, New Jersey
40 schools · 25 Elementary · 2 Middle · 10 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Elizabeth?
Use this page to compare every school in Elizabeth by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Dr. Orlando Edreira Academy School No. 26
Elementary · Elizabeth Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Dr. Albert Einstein Academy School No. 29
Elementary · Elizabeth Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy
High · Elizabeth Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Elizabeth for 2026 are Dr. Orlando Edreira Academy School No. 26 (8.7/10), Dr. Albert Einstein Academy School No. 29 (8.4/10), and Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 36 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
40
38 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$383,950
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
40
38 public · 2 private
Avg Score
6.2
out of 10
Median Home
$383,950
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 81% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Elizabeth schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Elizabeth
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (36 of 40). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Orlando Edreira Academy School No. 26 | 8.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Dr. Albert Einstein Academy School No. 29 | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | William F. Halloran School No.22 | 8.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy | 7.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Terence C. Reilly School No 7 | 7.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Iprep Academy School No 8 | 7.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Sonia Sotomayor School No 25 | 7.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Victor Mravlag School No. 21 | 7.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Bruriah High School for Girls | 7.0 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $63,241
- Median home value
- $383,950
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 14%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 25%
26% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Elizabeth compares
New Jersey rank
#216 of 344
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below New Jersey avg (6.4)
Median household income
$63k
54% of New Jersey median
Schools in this city
39
About Schools in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth's public school system spans 37 ranked schools, covering grades from early childhood through high school within a single large urban district. The city average score is 6.0 out of 10. That number is a starting point, not the full picture — the spread across 37 campuses means individual schools vary considerably above and below that baseline, and where a family lands within the district matters.
Performance concentrates at the top in a narrow band. Seven schools — 19% of all ranked campuses — score 7.0 or higher. For a city with 37 ranked schools, that ratio reflects a district where standout options exist but are not distributed evenly across the map. Targeted research by campus is essential. Proximity to a high-scoring school is not a given based on neighborhood alone.
Elizabeth High School — Frank J. Cicarell Academy leads the city with a score of 8.1, the highest mark in the ranked pool and the clearest differentiator for high school families. Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy offers a second above-average high school option at 7.3. At the elementary level, Robert Morris School No. 18 scores 7.5 and Victor Mravlag School No. 21 scores 7.3 — both well above the district average of 6.0 and worth prioritizing for families with younger children. Frances C. Smith Early Childhood Center No. 50 rounds out the top five at 7.0, covering the earliest grade band as well.
For parents comparing options across Elizabeth, the top schools are real standouts relative to the district average. The practical challenge is scope: the 7.0-plus group covers only 7 of 37 campuses. Most schools in Elizabeth sit at or below the 6.0 average. Families with children spanning multiple grade levels should evaluate each campus individually, verify enrollment eligibility before assuming access, and not treat the district's top performers as representative of what's available citywide.
Elementary Schools
25 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 723 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.7 |
| 2 | 798 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.4 |
| 3 | 401 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.5 |
| 4 | 595 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.3 |
| 5 | 665 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.1 |
| 6 | 780 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.9 |
| 7 | 772 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.8 |
| 8 | 802 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.7 |
| 9 | 620 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.7 |
| 10 | 693 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.6 |
Show all 25 elementary schools in Elizabeth
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,145 students · 2nd–8th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 1,147 students · 2nd–8th | 7.7 |
High Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,291 students · 9th–12th | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | 1,022 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 | ||
| 3 | 418 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 | ||
| 4 | 816 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 | ||
| 5 | 1,291 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 | ||
| 6 | 1,156 students · 9th–12th | 4.6 | ||
| 7 | 1,404 students · 9th–12th | 4.0 | ||
| 8 | 601 students · 9th–12th | 3.4 | ||
| 9 | 12 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Bruriah High School for Girls
Private
240 students · 6th–12th | 7.0 | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 308 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.5 |
| 2 | 292 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.5 |
| 3 | 304 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.4 |
Schools in Elizabeth
Elizabeth, New Jersey · 40 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$63,241
Median Home Value
$383,950
Median Rent
$1,473/mo
Population
135,887
College Educated
14%
Homeownership
25%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
15.7%
Community Profile
Elizabeth has a median household income of $63,241. It is a community where 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $383,950, with a median rent of $1,473/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.7%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Jersey
- Elementary
- 25
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 10
- Other
- 3
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in New Jersey
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Elizabeth, New Jersey
How many schools are in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
Elizabeth has 40 schools, including 38 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Elizabeth is 6.2 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
The top-ranked school in Elizabeth on MySchoolScout is Dr. Orlando Edreira Academy School No. 26 with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
The top-ranked elementary school in Elizabeth on MySchoolScout is Dr. Orlando Edreira Academy School No. 26 with a composite score of 8.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
The top-ranked middle school in Elizabeth on MySchoolScout is William F. Halloran School No.22 with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best high school in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
The top-ranked high school in Elizabeth on MySchoolScout is Elizabeth High School - Frank J Cicarell Academy with a composite score of 8.2/10.
How many school districts serve Elizabeth, New Jersey?
Elizabeth is served by 2 school districts: Elizabeth Public Schools, Union County Vocational-technical School District.
What is the education level in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
According to Census data, 14% of adults in Elizabeth have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
The median household income in Elizabeth is approximately $63,241 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
Yes, Elizabeth has 2 private schools alongside 38 public schools. The top-rated private school is Bruriah High School for Girls with a score of 7.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Elizabeth is 13.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Elizabeth, New Jersey?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, New Jersey Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.