Best Schools in Montclair, New Jersey

Montclair's public school system gives parents a notably consistent set of options. The township runs 8 ranked public schools, and the average score across all of them lands at 8.0 out of 10. That's a meaningful number: 7 of those 8 schools — 88% — score 7 or higher, which tells parents the floor here is high. Weak outliers are rare.

The elementary tier leads the city. Edgemont Elementary School tops the rankings with a 9.0, the highest score in Montclair's public system. Hillside Elementary follows at 8.8, and Charles H. Bullock School rounds out the top three at 8.6. Three elementary schools clearing 8.5 in the same district is uncommon. Parents with young children get strong options regardless of which attendance zone they land in.

The middle school picture holds up. Renaissance Middle School at the Rand Building scores 8.1, and Glenfield Middle School comes in at 7.9. Both clear the 7-point threshold that distinguishes Montclair's performance ceiling from the broader landscape. The transition from elementary to middle school often produces a dip in scores — that dip is smaller here than in most comparable suburban districts.

For parents comparing townships in the Essex County area, Montclair's numbers make a clear case. An 8.0 system average with near-universal 7+ performance means a family can move to most corners of this city and expect a school that's well above average by state standards. The practical question is less "which school is acceptable" and more "which attendance zone gets you into the top-tier elementaries." Families who can target the Edgemont or Hillside zones will find school quality as strong as anywhere in New Jersey's competitive suburban market. Families elsewhere in the township still have access to schools that outperform the majority of the state. Montclair's public system rewards almost any address.