Best Schools in Jersey City, New Jersey
75 schools · 52 Elementary · 6 Middle · 14 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Jersey City?
Use this page to compare every school in Jersey City 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.
County Prep High School
High · Hudson County Schools of Technology School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Explore Middle School
Middle · Hudson County Schools of Technology School District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Charles E. Trefurt School
Elementary · Jersey City Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Jersey City for 2026 are County Prep High School (9.2/10), Explore Middle School (9.0/10), and Charles E. Trefurt School (8.8/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 51 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
75
52 public · 23 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$567,580
home value · ACS
Districts
12
serving the city
Schools
75
52 public · 23 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$567,580
home value · ACS
Districts
12
serving the city
Rates 9.2/10 despite 53% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 Jersey City schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Jersey City
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 51 rated schools; 75 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | County Prep High School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Explore Middle School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Charles E. Trefurt School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 4 | Dr. Michael Conti School | 8.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Frank R Conwell School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Jotham W. Wakeman School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Julia A. Barnes School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Dr. Paul Rafalides School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 9 | Soaring Heights Charter School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Academy I | 8.0 / 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
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $93,804
- Median home value
- $567,580
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 50%
- Avg commute
- 37 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 30%
37% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Jersey City compares
New Jersey rank
#188 of 344
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.0
below New Jersey avg (6.4)
Median household income
$94k
79% of New Jersey median
Schools in this city
71
Education Snapshot
Jersey City, New JerseyJersey City's 75 schools across 12 districts serve approximately 36,176 students, with the level mix weighted heavily toward elementary: 48 of the 70 scored schools are elementary, alongside 15 high schools and 7 middle schools. The city's average MySchoolScout composite rating of 6.4/10 matches New Jersey's state average exactly, placing Jersey City at the state midpoint rather than above or below it — which means individual school selection matters more here than city-level averages suggest. Ten charter schools expand options beyond the traditional district structure. The city's median household income of $103,457 sits 12% below the statewide median of $118,015, yet 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — a credential attainment rate that signals a well-educated resident base relative to the income gap. Parents should treat the 6.4 city average as a starting point and compare individual school ratings across the 12 districts directly.
Jersey City Public Schools runs 75% of Jersey City's public schools
Jersey City touches 12 districts, but Jersey City Public Schools is the one most addresses actually attend.
Jersey City Public Schools accounts for 39 of 52 public schools (75%). The other 11 districts hold the remaining 13.
Among 51 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.0 to 9.2 — the spread is inside Jersey City, not a citywide average.
10 of the 52 public schools are charters (19%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Jersey City Public Schools39 public · 75%
- Hudson County Schools of Technology School District3 public · 6%
- Beloved Community Charter1 public · 2%
- Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School1 public · 2%
- Empowerment Academy Charter School1 public · 2%
About Schools in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City's public school system spans 52 ranked schools, with performance ranging from exceptional to well below average. Across all 52, the average score is 5.7 out of 10. That midpoint tells only part of the story: 14 schools — 27% of the ranked total — score 7 or higher, forming a distinct upper tier that sets the city's ceiling well above its mean.
The top schools are genuinely competitive. Liberty High School leads the city at 9.7 out of 10, the highest score in the ranked pool. Explore Middle School follows at 9.4 — a strong result at any level, and a rare one for a middle school. Infinity Institute (9.2) and Dr. Ronald McNair High School (8.7) anchor the next cluster, and County Prep High School (7.9) rounds out a top five that skews heavily toward secondary education.
That secondary concentration matters for families making long-term plans. Four of the top five schools serve middle or high school students. The performance gap is steep: the city's highest-rated school scores nearly 4 full points above the 52-school average. Families who identify and access the top-tier schools will have a substantially different experience than those assigned to schools near that citywide mean. Understanding the path to those schools — whether through address zoning, open enrollment, or application-based programs — becomes the central planning question for anyone relocating here.
The practical takeaway is straightforward: Jersey City has real academic strength, but it is concentrated and unevenly distributed. The 27% of schools above the 7-point threshold are not representative of the broader system. Parents should identify which specific schools serve a prospective address before committing to it, then check whether any of the high-performing programs are accessible through enrollment processes independent of home location. The spread between the city's best and its average is wide enough that a single block can determine which side of that gap a child lands on.
Elementary Schools
52 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 710 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 678 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.7 |
| 3 | 508 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 4 | 579 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 |
| 5 | 309 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 6 | 347 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.2 |
| 7 | 273 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.0 |
| 8 | 926 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.8 |
| 9 | 770 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.7 |
| 10 | 433 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.5 |
Show all 52 elementary schools in Jersey City
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 151 students · 6th–8th | 9.0 | ||
| 2 | 450 students · 6th–8th | 8.0 | ||
| 3 | 751 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 | ||
| 4 | 882 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 | ||
| 5 | 218 students · 6th–8th | 4.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Tet Christian AcademyPrivate 4 students · 1st–5th | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 917 students · 9th–12th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 698 students · 9th–12th | 8.0 |
| 3 | 288 students · 6th–12th | 7.8 |
| 4 | 188 students · 9th–12th | 7.0 |
| 5 | 203 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 286 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 |
| 7 | 433 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 |
| 8 | 747 students · 9th–12th | 4.0 |
| 9 | 1,856 students · 9th–12th | 4.0 |
| 10 | 877 students · 9th–12th | 3.4 |
Show all 14 high schools in Jersey City
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.4 |
| 2 | 1,181 students · Kindergarten–9th | 6.6 |
| 3 | 1,556 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.8 |
Schools in Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey · 75 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 5 ZIP codes
Median Income
$93,804
Median Home Value
$567,580
Median Rent
$1,894/mo
Population
273,160
College Educated
50%
Homeownership
30%
Avg Commute
37 min
Poverty Rate
15.7%
Community Profile
Jersey City has a median household income of $93,804. It is a well-educated community where 50% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $567,580, with a median rent of $1,894/month. The area has a poverty rate of 15.7%. The average commute in the area is 37 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Jersey
- Elementary
- 52
- Middle
- 6
- High
- 14
- Other
- 3
Resources
School Districts (12)
Jersey City Community Charter School
1 school · 571 students
Jersey City Golden Door Charter School
1 school · 687 students
The Learning Community Charter School
1 school · 630 students
Soaring Heights Charter School
1 school · 273 students
University Academy Charter High School
1 school · 433 students
The Ethical Community Charter School School Distirct
1 school · 350 students
Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School
1 school · 370 students
BelovED Community Charter
1 school · 1,555 students
Jersey City Global Charter School
1 school · 433 students
Empowerment Academy Charter School
1 school · 1,181 students
Hudson County Schools of Technology School District
6 schools · 2,323 students
Jersey City Public Schools
39 schools · 26,293 students
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 Jersey City, New Jersey
How many schools are in Jersey City, New Jersey?
Jersey City has 75 schools, including 52 public and 23 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Jersey City, New Jersey?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Jersey City is 6.4 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 Jersey City, New Jersey?
The top-ranked school in Jersey City on MySchoolScout is County Prep High School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Jersey City, New Jersey?
The top-ranked elementary school in Jersey City on MySchoolScout is Charles E. Trefurt School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Jersey City, New Jersey?
The top-ranked middle school in Jersey City on MySchoolScout is Explore Middle School with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What is the best high school in Jersey City, New Jersey?
The top-ranked high school in Jersey City on MySchoolScout is County Prep High School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
How many school districts serve Jersey City, New Jersey?
Jersey City is served by 12 school districts: Jersey City Community Charter School, Jersey City Golden Door Charter School, The Learning Community Charter School, Soaring Heights Charter School, University Academy Charter High School, The Ethical Community Charter School School Distirct, Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School, Beloved Community Charter, Jersey City Global Charter School, Empowerment Academy Charter School, Hudson County Schools of Technology School District, Jersey City Public Schools.
What is the education level in Jersey City, New Jersey?
According to Census data, 50% of adults in Jersey City have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Jersey City, New Jersey?
The median household income in Jersey City is approximately $93,804 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Jersey City, New Jersey?
Yes, Jersey City has 23 private schools alongside 52 public schools. The top-rated private school is Hudson Montessori with a score of 8.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Jersey City, New Jersey?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Jersey City is 12.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Jersey City, 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.