Best Schools in Freehold, New Jersey
18 schools · 11 Elementary · 3 Middle · 3 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Freehold?
Use this page to compare every school in Freehold 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.
Biotechnology High School
High · Monmouth County Vocational School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Laura Donovan School
Elementary · Freehold Township School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
West Freehold School
Elementary · Freehold Township School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Freehold for 2026 are Biotechnology High School (8.9/10), Laura Donovan School (8.8/10), and West Freehold School (8.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 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
18
16 public · 2 private
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$490,000
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
18
16 public · 2 private
Avg Score
7.0
out of 10
Median Home
$490,000
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 8.7/10 despite 30% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.6 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 Freehold schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Freehold
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (15 of 18). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biotechnology High School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Laura Donovan School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 3 | West Freehold School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Memorial Elementary School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | C. Richard Applegate School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Clifton T. Barkalow School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Freehold Intermediate School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 8 | The Goddard School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Dwight D. Eisenhower School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Marshall W. Errickson School | 6.6 / 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
- 7.0/10
- Median household income
- $107,042
- Median home value
- $490,000
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 46%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 77%
38% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Freehold compares
New Jersey rank
#95 of 344
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.6
above New Jersey avg (6.4)
Median household income
$107k
91% of New Jersey median
Schools in this city
16
About Schools in Freehold, New Jersey
Freehold, New Jersey has 15 ranked public schools, and the overall picture skews strong: 11 of those 15 — 73% — score 7 or higher out of 10. The citywide average sits at 7.2, a figure that holds up across grade levels rather than being propped up by a single outlier at the top. Parents searching across all grades will find solid options at each stage.
The headline school is Biotechnology High School, which scores 9.3 out of 10 — the highest-rated school in the city. It operates as a specialized program, so admission is selective. On the elementary side, Joseph J. Catena School scores 8.9, making it the top-ranked elementary option in Freehold. Laura Donovan School and the Early Childhood Learning Center both come in at 7.7, giving families with younger children multiple competitive choices without having to rely on a single flagship school.
The middle school level holds up well too. Dwight D. Eisenhower School scores 7.8 out of 10, which means students transitioning out of a strong elementary program don't face a significant performance drop. That grade-level consistency matters for families planning a full K–12 path within the public system — it signals a district that invests across the board, not just at one end.
For parents comparing Freehold against other New Jersey cities, the 73% rate of schools scoring 7 or above is the most useful benchmark. It indicates broad district-wide quality rather than a handful of high performers masking weaker schools underneath. Most students in Freehold will land in a school well above the baseline regardless of where they live in the city. The practical move: confirm which school your home address feeds into, check whether any specialty programs like Biotechnology High require a separate application, and use the individual school pages on MySchoolScout to compare test score trends and demographic breakdowns before making a final call.
Elementary Schools
11 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 454 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 | ||
| 2 | 456 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 | ||
| 3 | 283 students · 3rd–5th | 8.7 | ||
| 4 | 377 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.1 | ||
| 5 | 453 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 6 | 470 students · 3rd–5th | 6.2 | ||
| 7 | 426 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 | ||
| 8 | 391 students · Pre-K–2nd | 5.7 | ||
| 9 | 566 students · Pre-K–3rd | 4.8 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Goddard School
Private
40 students · Pre-K–4th | 6.8 | ||
Show all 11 elementary schools in Freehold
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 605 students · 6th–8th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 519 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 3 | 578 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 320 students · 9th–12th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 1,407 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 |
| 3 | 6 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 104 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 6.1 |
Schools in Freehold
Freehold, New Jersey · 18 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$107,042
Median Home Value
$490,000
Median Rent
$1,941/mo
Population
56,623
College Educated
46%
Homeownership
77%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
7.5%
Community Profile
Freehold has a median household income of $107,042. It is a well-educated community where 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $490,000, with a median rent of $1,941/month. The local poverty rate of 7.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Jersey
- Elementary
- 11
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 3
- Other
- 1
Resources
School Districts (5)
Freehold Borough School District
3 schools · 1,608 students
Freehold Regional High School District
6 schools · 10,250 students
Freehold Township School District
8 schools · 3,461 students
Howell Township Public School District
12 schools · 5,716 students
Monmouth County Vocational School District
8 schools · 1,564 students
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 Freehold, New Jersey
How many schools are in Freehold, New Jersey?
Freehold has 18 schools, including 16 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Freehold, New Jersey?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Freehold is 7.0 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 Freehold, New Jersey?
The top-ranked school in Freehold on MySchoolScout is Biotechnology High School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Freehold, New Jersey?
The top-ranked elementary school in Freehold on MySchoolScout is Laura Donovan School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Freehold, New Jersey?
The top-ranked middle school in Freehold on MySchoolScout is Clifton T. Barkalow School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Freehold, New Jersey?
The top-ranked high school in Freehold on MySchoolScout is Biotechnology High School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
How many school districts serve Freehold, New Jersey?
Freehold is served by 5 school districts: Freehold Borough School District, Freehold Regional High School District, Freehold Township School District, Howell Township Public School District, Monmouth County Vocational School District.
What is the education level in Freehold, New Jersey?
According to Census data, 46% of adults in Freehold have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Freehold, New Jersey?
The median household income in Freehold is approximately $107,042 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Freehold, New Jersey?
Yes, Freehold has 2 private schools alongside 16 public schools. The top-rated private school is The Goddard School with a score of 6.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Freehold, New Jersey?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Freehold is 9.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Freehold, 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.