Best Schools in Somerset, New Jersey
17 schools · 8 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Somerset?
Use this page to compare every school in Somerset 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.
Pine Grove Manor School
Elementary · Franklin Township Public School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Macafee Road School
Elementary · Franklin Township Public School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Elizabeth Avenue School
Elementary · Franklin Township Public 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 Somerset for 2026 are Pine Grove Manor School (8.6/10), Macafee Road School (8.2/10), and Elizabeth Avenue School (8.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 16 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
17
10 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$438,600
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
17
10 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$438,600
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.2/10 despite 31% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 Somerset schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Somerset
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (16 of 17). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pine Grove Manor School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Macafee Road School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Elizabeth Avenue School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Cedar Hill Prep School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 5 | The Center School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Hillcrest School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Rutgers Preparatory School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Franklin Middle School at Sampson G. Smith Campus | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | St Matthias Elementary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Somerset Bible Baptist Christian Ac | 6.2 / 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
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $117,866
- Median home value
- $438,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 55%
- Avg commute
- 34 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 67%
38% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Somerset compares
New Jersey rank
#149 of 344
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.2
above New Jersey avg (6.4)
Median household income
$118k
100% of New Jersey median
Schools in this city
16
About Schools in Somerset, New Jersey
Somerset, New Jersey offers parents 10 ranked public schools with an average score of 6.0 out of 10 — a middle-of-the-road baseline that masks real variation within the city. The elementary tier pulls the overall average up. Three schools, or 30% of the ranked pool, score 7 or higher, which is a meaningful concentration of strong options at the younger grades. The city's high school sits below that threshold, so families planning long-term should factor in secondary performance as children advance.
The elementary schools are Somerset's clearest strength. Conerly Road School leads the city with a 7.9 out of 10, the highest score among all ranked schools here. Elizabeth Avenue School follows at 7.7, and MacAfee Road School rounds out the top tier at 7.2. All three are elementary campuses, which means parents with young children have genuine options near the top of the local range. If elementary performance is the primary filter, Somerset delivers a cluster of competitive choices that compare favorably to the citywide average.
The middle and upper grades tell a different story. Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School, the city's charter option, scores 6.2 — just above the city mean. Franklin High School scores 5.6, the lowest mark among the five named schools and a notable step down from the elementary tier. Parents whose children are approaching or already in high school should weigh that gap carefully, including whether district transfer options or private alternatives make sense for their family.
The practical read for parents: Somerset rewards elementary-age families with a strong top tier, but the performance curve flattens — and dips — as grade levels rise. Families prioritizing the elementary years will find Conerly Road School and Elizabeth Avenue School worth a close look. Those planning further ahead should use the 5.6 score at Franklin High School as a starting point for deeper research into course offerings, graduation outcomes, and any recent performance trends. Somerset's 6.0 average is solid but not exceptional — context matters, and the school-by-school spread is wide enough that where you land in the system shapes the experience considerably.
Elementary Schools
8 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 379 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.6 | ||
| 2 | 420 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 | ||
| 3 | 561 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 | ||
| 4 | 452 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 | ||
| 5 | 333 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.0 | ||
| 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 | Cedar Hill Prep School
Private
205 students · Pre-K–8th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | St Matthias Elementary School
Private
244 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | Sadiq School
Private
6 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | — | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 714 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
| 2 | 667 students · 6th–8th | 5.7 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,200 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 | ||
| 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 | New Road School of Somerset
Private
70 students · 7th–12th | 5.9 | ||
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 608 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 2 | 1,357 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 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 | The Center School
Private
73 students · 2nd–12th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | Rutgers Preparatory School
Private
647 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 3 | 68 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.2 | ||
Schools in Somerset
Somerset, New Jersey · 17 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$117,866
Median Home Value
$438,600
Median Rent
$1,942/mo
Population
55,862
College Educated
55%
Homeownership
67%
Avg Commute
34 min
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Community Profile
Somerset has a median household income of $117,866. It is a well-educated community where 55% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $438,600, with a median rent of $1,942/month. The local poverty rate of 6.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 34 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Jersey
- Elementary
- 8
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 2
- Other
- 5
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 Somerset, New Jersey
How many schools are in Somerset, New Jersey?
Somerset has 17 schools, including 10 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Somerset, New Jersey?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Somerset is 6.6 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 Somerset, New Jersey?
The top-ranked school in Somerset on MySchoolScout is Pine Grove Manor School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Somerset, New Jersey?
The top-ranked elementary school in Somerset on MySchoolScout is Pine Grove Manor School with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Somerset, New Jersey?
The top-ranked middle school in Somerset on MySchoolScout is Franklin Middle School at Sampson G. Smith Campus with a composite score of 6.6/10.
What is the best high school in Somerset, New Jersey?
The top-ranked high school in Somerset on MySchoolScout is New Road School of Somerset with a composite score of 5.9/10.
How many school districts serve Somerset, New Jersey?
Somerset is served by 3 school districts: Central Jersey College Prep Charter School, Thomas Edison Energysmart Charter School, Franklin Township Public School District.
What is the education level in Somerset, New Jersey?
According to Census data, 55% of adults in Somerset have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Somerset, New Jersey?
The median household income in Somerset is approximately $117,866 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Somerset, New Jersey?
Yes, Somerset has 7 private schools alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Cedar Hill Prep School with a score of 7.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Somerset, New Jersey?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Somerset is 9.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Somerset, 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.