Best Schools in Passaic, New Jersey
28 schools · 15 Elementary · 3 Middle · 6 High · 4 Other
Choosing a school in Passaic?
Use this page to compare every school in Passaic 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.
Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering
High · Passaic City School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Thomas Jefferson School No. 1
Elementary · Passaic City School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20
Middle · Passaic City 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 Passaic for 2026 are Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering (9.4/10), Thomas Jefferson School No. 1 (8.0/10), and Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20 (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 23 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
28
20 public · 8 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$406,500
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
28
20 public · 8 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$406,500
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 9.4/10 despite 100% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.1 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 Passaic schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Passaic
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (23 of 28). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering | 9.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson School No. 1 | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20 | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Theodore Roosevelt School No. 10 | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Muhammad Ali School Number 23 | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Bais Yaakov Machon Ora | 6.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Collegiate School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Mario Drago School No. 3 | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Noble Leadership Academy | 6.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Passaic Preparatory Academy | 6.4 / 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
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $56,780
- Median home value
- $406,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 17%
- Avg commute
- 26 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 24%
19% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Passaic compares
New Jersey rank
#255 of 344
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below New Jersey avg (6.4)
Median household income
$57k
48% of New Jersey median
Schools in this city
26
About Schools in Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic, New Jersey has 19 ranked public schools spanning elementary through high school. The city's average school score is 6.6 out of 10, which understates the opportunity at the top: 9 of 19 schools (47%) score 7 or higher, giving parents a genuine spread of strong options across grade levels.
The highest-rated school in Passaic is the Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20, a middle school scoring 9.0 out of 10. Two high schools follow close behind — Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering at 8.9 and Passaic Preparatory Academy at 8.1 — making Passaic's upper-school tier its strongest segment. The elementary level has standouts too: Sonia Sotomayor School #21 scores 7.5, and Casimir Pulaski School No. 8 earns a 7.4, both well above the city average.
That average of 6.6 reflects real variation within the district. Three schools score 8.0 or above; others fall below the city mean. The concentration of high scores in schools with specialized names — gifted and talented, science and engineering, preparatory — suggests families will want to understand enrollment eligibility before assuming their child has automatic access to the highest-performing campuses. Assignment zone and program criteria matter here.
The practical takeaway: Passaic has a stronger public school landscape than a 6.6 average implies, with nearly half its schools clearing 7 out of 10. The top tier is anchored by specialized programs, so research into eligibility requirements is an early priority. For families in the general-enrollment path, Sonia Sotomayor School #21 is the strongest elementary option, and both top high schools give older students access to rigorous academic environments. Start the search at the school level, not just the district level.
Elementary Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 433 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 374 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 151 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 7.0 |
| 4 | 282 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 6.9 |
| 5 | 711 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.5 |
| 6 | 867 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.1 |
| 7 | 638 students · 1st–8th | 5.9 |
| 8 | 539 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.4 |
| 9 | 720 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.8 |
| 10 | 667 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 4.7 |
Show all 15 elementary schools in Passaic
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 | 710 students · 2nd–8th | 7.9 |
| 2 | 430 students · 7th–8th | 6.9 |
| 3 | 465 students · 4th–6th | 5.1 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 694 students · 6th–12th | 9.4 | ||
| 2 | 727 students · 6th–12th | 6.4 | ||
| 3 | 75 students · 6th–12th | 4.8 | ||
| 4 | 2,580 students · 9th–12th | 3.2 | ||
| 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 | Bais Yaakov Machon Ora
Private
162 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | Mesivta of North Jersey
Private
19 students · 10th–12th | — | ||
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 77 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.6 | ||
| 2 | 298 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
| 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 | Collegiate School
Private
38 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.8 | ||
| 2 | Noble Leadership Academy
Private
268 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.5 | ||
Schools in Passaic
Passaic, New Jersey · 28 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$56,780
Median Home Value
$406,500
Median Rent
$1,392/mo
Population
69,651
College Educated
17%
Homeownership
24%
Avg Commute
26 min
Poverty Rate
23.0%
Community Profile
Passaic has a median household income of $56,780. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $406,500, with a median rent of $1,392/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.0%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Jersey
- Elementary
- 15
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 6
- Other
- 4
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 Passaic, New Jersey
How many schools are in Passaic, New Jersey?
Passaic has 28 schools, including 20 public and 8 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Passaic, New Jersey?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Passaic is 5.9 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 Passaic, New Jersey?
The top-ranked school in Passaic on MySchoolScout is Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering with a composite score of 9.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Passaic, New Jersey?
The top-ranked elementary school in Passaic on MySchoolScout is Thomas Jefferson School No. 1 with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best middle school in Passaic, New Jersey?
The top-ranked middle school in Passaic on MySchoolScout is Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20 with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Passaic, New Jersey?
The top-ranked high school in Passaic on MySchoolScout is Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering with a composite score of 9.4/10.
How many school districts serve Passaic, New Jersey?
Passaic is served by 2 school districts: Passaic City School District, Northern Region Educational Services Commission.
What is the education level in Passaic, New Jersey?
According to Census data, 17% of adults in Passaic have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Passaic, New Jersey?
The median household income in Passaic is approximately $56,780 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Passaic, New Jersey?
Yes, Passaic has 8 private schools alongside 20 public schools. The top-rated private school is Bais Yaakov Machon Ora with a score of 6.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Passaic, New Jersey?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Passaic is 11.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Passaic, 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.