Best Schools in Princeton, New Jersey
22 schools · 12 Elementary · 1 Middle · 3 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Princeton?
Use this page to compare every school in Princeton 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.
Princeton Middle School
Middle · Princeton Public School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Princeton Friends School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Princeton for 2026 are Princeton Middle School (8.4/10), Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart (8.4/10), and Princeton Friends School (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 20 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
22
7 public · 15 private
Avg Score
7.2
out of 10
Median Home
$745,700
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
22
7 public · 15 private
Avg Score
7.2
out of 10
Median Home
$745,700
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Princeton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (20 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton Middle School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart | 8.4 / 10 |
| 3 | Princeton Friends School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Chapin School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 5 | French American School of Princeton | 8.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart | 7.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Community Park School | 7.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Princeton International Schl of Math and Science | 7.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Princeton Charter School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Eden School | 7.6 / 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
- 7.2/10
- Median household income
- $160,417
- Median home value
- $745,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 79%
- Avg commute
- 38 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
60% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Princeton compares
New Jersey rank
#67 of 344
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.8
above New Jersey avg (6.4)
Median household income
$160k
136% of New Jersey median
Schools in this city
20
About Schools in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey runs a compact public school system — 7 ranked schools serving students from kindergarten through high school. The district's average score sits at 8.7 out of 10, putting it well above typical suburban benchmarks. What makes that number more striking: every single one of those 7 schools clears the 7-out-of-10 threshold. That 100% rate is rare in a state with districts ranging from exceptional to struggling, and it signals a system with genuine depth — not just a few flagship schools masking weaker performers.
The elementary tier is where Princeton's strength is most visible. Riverside School leads the city with a 9.6 out of 10, the highest score among all ranked schools here. Community Park School (9.2) and Littlebrook School (9.1) follow closely, and Johnson Park School rounds out the top elementary group at 8.9. Parents who land in any Princeton elementary attendance zone are working with strong material from day one.
The middle school transition holds up just as well. Princeton Middle School scores an 8.9 out of 10, matching the city's best elementary schools almost point for point. That continuity matters: students moving through the Princeton system don't trade a standout elementary experience for a mediocre middle school. Consistent performance across grade bands is one of the harder things to find in public education, and Princeton delivers it.
For parents comparing Princeton against neighboring New Jersey districts, the practical takeaway is about the floor, not the ceiling. The absence of a weak school in the system means families can make enrollment decisions based on proximity, program fit, and extracurriculars — not on which zones to avoid. With a 7-for-7 record above the 7-point threshold and a city average of 8.7, Princeton's public schools present a consistent, low-risk option for families at any point in the K–8 pipeline.
Elementary Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 295 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 424 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.6 | ||
| 3 | 383 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 | ||
| 4 | 313 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.7 | ||
| 5 | 388 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 | ||
| Private Schools 7 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Princeton Friends School
Private
95 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | Chapin School
Private
186 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.0 | ||
| 3 | 108 students · Pre-K–8th | 8.0 | ||
| 4 | 179 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.9 | ||
| 5 | Waldorf School of Princeton
Private
83 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.5 | ||
Show all 12 elementary schools in Princeton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 780 students · 6th–8th | 8.4 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,532 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 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 | 117 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | Fusion Academy Princeton
Private
42 students · 7th–12th | 7.2 | ||
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 332 students · Pre-K–12th | 8.4 |
| 2 | Eden School
Private
76 students · UG–UG | 7.6 |
| 3 | The Lewis School of Princeton
Private
75 students · UG–UG | 7.1 |
| 4 | 31 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.5 |
| 5 | Princeton Day School
Private
941 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated |
| 6 | Moorish Science University
Private
2 students · UG–UG | — |
Schools in Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey · 22 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$160,417
Median Home Value
$745,700
Median Rent
$2,392/mo
Population
72,790
College Educated
79%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
38 min
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Community Profile
Princeton has a median household income of $160,417. It is a well-educated community where 79% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $745,700, with a median rent of $2,392/month. The local poverty rate of 4.8% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 38 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Jersey
- Elementary
- 12
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 3
- Other
- 6
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 Princeton, New Jersey
How many schools are in Princeton, New Jersey?
Princeton has 22 schools, including 7 public and 15 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Princeton, New Jersey?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Princeton is 7.2 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 Princeton, New Jersey?
The top-ranked school in Princeton on MySchoolScout is Princeton Middle School with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Princeton, New Jersey?
The top-ranked elementary school in Princeton on MySchoolScout is Princeton Friends School with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Princeton, New Jersey?
The top-ranked middle school in Princeton on MySchoolScout is Princeton Middle School with a composite score of 8.4/10.
What is the best high school in Princeton, New Jersey?
The top-ranked high school in Princeton on MySchoolScout is Princeton International Schl of Math and Science with a composite score of 7.7/10.
How many school districts serve Princeton, New Jersey?
Princeton is served by 2 school districts: Princeton Charter School, Princeton Public School District.
What is the education level in Princeton, New Jersey?
According to Census data, 79% of adults in Princeton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Princeton, New Jersey?
The median household income in Princeton is approximately $160,417 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Princeton, New Jersey?
Yes, Princeton has 15 private schools alongside 7 public schools. The top-rated private school is Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart with a score of 8.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Princeton, New Jersey?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Princeton is 7.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Princeton, 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.