Best Schools in Scotch Plains, New Jersey
21 schools · 8 Elementary · 3 Middle · 10 High
Choosing a school in Scotch Plains?
Use this page to compare every school in Scotch Plains 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.
Terrill Middle School
Middle · Scotch Plains-fanwood School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Union County Tech
High · Union County Vocational-technical School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School
Elementary · Scotch Plains-fanwood 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 Scotch Plains for 2026 are Terrill Middle School (7.9/10), Union County Tech (7.9/10), and J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 19 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
21
15 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$696,900
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
21
15 public · 6 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$696,900
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 7.9/10 despite 9% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.2 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 Scotch Plains schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Scotch Plains
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (19 of 21). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terrill Middle School | 7.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Union County Tech | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Academy for Allied Health Sciences | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Howard B. Brunner Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Union County Magnet High School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 7 | William J. Mcginn Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Academy for Performing Arts | 6.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Malcolm E Nettingham Middle School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Jcc of Central New Jersey | 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
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $173,564
- Median home value
- $696,900
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 65%
- Avg commute
- 35 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 81%
37% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Scotch Plains compares
New Jersey rank
#174 of 344
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above New Jersey avg (6.4)
Median household income
$174k
147% of New Jersey median
Schools in this city
19
About Schools in Scotch Plains, New Jersey
Scotch Plains, New Jersey offers a compact but well-regarded public school system with 14 ranked schools and an average score of 6.7 out of 10 — a solid baseline that outpaces many comparable suburban communities. Five schools, or 36% of the district's ranked campuses, score 7 or higher, signaling consistent performance across multiple grade levels rather than a single outlier pulling up the average.
At the top of the district sits Hillcrest Academy-North, a high school scoring 8.3 out of 10 and the strongest performer in the city. J. Ackerman Coles Elementary follows at 8.1, making it one of the highest-rated elementary schools in the area and a meaningful asset for families with younger children. Academy For Information Technology and Union County Magnet High School round out the upper tier at 7.6 and 7.5 respectively, giving families multiple strong options at the high school level — unusual for a district this size. Howard B. Brunner Elementary (7.4) adds another quality entry point on the elementary side.
The presence of two magnet high schools in the top five — Academy For Information Technology and Union County Magnet High School — is worth noting. These schools draw competitive applicants from across Union County, which means admission is selective and not guaranteed by address. Parents targeting either school should factor in application timelines and eligibility requirements early in their planning.
For families moving to Scotch Plains, the practical picture is encouraging. The district's 6.7 average reflects broad competence, not a tale of a few strong schools masking weak ones. With 36% of schools clearing the 7-point threshold and the top-rated school hitting 8.3, the ceiling is high and the floor is respectable. Elementary families have two strong neighborhood options in Coles and Brunner, while high school families can pursue selective magnet programs or rely on Hillcrest Academy-North as a consistently high-performing default. The district rewards parents who research individual school assignments early — knowing which attendance zone you're buying into matters here.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 548 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | 415 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.5 | ||
| 3 | 549 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.0 | ||
| 4 | 412 students · Pre-K–4th | 5.9 | ||
| 5 | 425 students · Pre-K–4th | 4.5 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Jcc of Central New Jersey
Private
67 students · Pre-K–TK | 6.6 | ||
| 2 | St Bartholomew Academy
Private
236 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.7 | ||
| 3 | Jump Immersion School
Private
8 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | — | ||
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 834 students · 5th–8th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 933 students · 5th–8th | 6.7 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Newmark School
Private
89 students · 2nd–8th | 5.7 | ||
High Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 507 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 304 students · 9th–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 3 | 311 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 | ||
| 4 | 240 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 5 | 303 students · 9th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 6 | 1,551 students · 9th–12th | 5.5 | ||
| 7 | 66 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 8 | 17 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 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 | 588 students · 9th–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 2 | Newmark High School
Private
68 students · 9th–12th | 5.2 | ||
Schools in Scotch Plains
Scotch Plains, New Jersey · 21 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$173,564
Median Home Value
$696,900
Median Rent
$1,816/mo
Population
24,667
College Educated
65%
Homeownership
81%
Avg Commute
35 min
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Community Profile
Scotch Plains has a median household income of $173,564. It is a well-educated community where 65% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $696,900, with a median rent of $1,816/month. The local poverty rate of 2.8% is relatively low. The average commute in the area is 35 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Jersey
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 10
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 Scotch Plains, New Jersey
How many schools are in Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
Scotch Plains has 21 schools, including 15 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Scotch Plains 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 Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
The top-ranked school in Scotch Plains on MySchoolScout is Terrill Middle School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
The top-ranked elementary school in Scotch Plains on MySchoolScout is J. Ackerman Coles Elementary School with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
The top-ranked middle school in Scotch Plains on MySchoolScout is Terrill Middle School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best high school in Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
The top-ranked high school in Scotch Plains on MySchoolScout is Union County Tech with a composite score of 7.9/10.
How many school districts serve Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
Scotch Plains is served by 3 school districts: Scotch Plains-fanwood School District, Union County Educational Services Commission, Union County Vocational-technical School District.
What is the education level in Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
According to Census data, 65% of adults in Scotch Plains have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
The median household income in Scotch Plains is approximately $173,564 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
Yes, Scotch Plains has 6 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Jcc of Central New Jersey with a score of 6.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Scotch Plains, New Jersey?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Scotch Plains is 12.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Scotch Plains, 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.