Best Schools in Toms River, New Jersey
20 schools · 12 Elementary · 2 Middle · 5 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Toms River?
Use this page to compare every school in Toms River 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.
Ocean County Christian Academy
Other. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
East Dover Elementary School
Elementary · Toms River Regional School District. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Ocvts Grunin Performing Arts Academy
High · Ocean County Vocational Technical 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 Toms River for 2026 are Ocean County Christian Academy (7.7/10), East Dover Elementary School (6.9/10), and Ocvts Grunin Performing Arts Academy (6.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 18 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
20
15 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.1
out of 10
Median Home
$378,400
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
20
15 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.1
out of 10
Median Home
$378,400
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 6.9/10 despite 34% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 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 Toms River schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Toms River
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (18 of 20). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocean County Christian Academy | 7.7 / 10 |
| 2 | East Dover Elementary School | 6.9 / 10 |
| 3 | Ocvts Grunin Performing Arts Academy | 6.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Toms River High School East | 6.4 / 10 |
| 5 | Cedar Grove Elementary School | 5.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Toms River Intermediate School East | 5.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Washington Street Elementary School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Hooper Avenue Elementary School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Walnut Street Elementary School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Toms River Intermediate School North | 5.0 / 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
- 5.1/10
- Median household income
- $91,363
- Median home value
- $378,400
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 35%
- Avg commute
- 31 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 81%
6% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Toms River compares
New Jersey rank
#331 of 344
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.2
below New Jersey avg (6.4)
Median household income
$91k
77% of New Jersey median
Schools in this city
18
About Schools in Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River, New Jersey is home to 20 schools, including 15 public schools and 5 private schools. The city's schools span 12 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.1 out of 10, schools in Toms River show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Toms River is Ocean County Christian Academy with a composite score of 7.7/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Toms River is served by 2 school districts: Ocean County Vocational Technical School District, Toms River Regional School District. These districts collectively serve 15,313 students.
Toms River's community shows 35% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $91,363. The poverty rate in the area is 6.4%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
12 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 601 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | 957 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.9 | ||
| 3 | 337 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.5 | ||
| 4 | 697 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.1 | ||
| 5 | 718 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.1 | ||
| 6 | 522 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.6 | ||
| 7 | 386 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.3 | ||
| 8 | 604 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.0 | ||
| 9 | 409 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.1 | ||
| 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 | St Joseph Grade School
Private
499 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.4 | ||
Show all 12 elementary schools in Toms River
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,278 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 2 | 932 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 268 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 2 | 1,444 students · 9th–12th | 6.4 | ||
| 3 | 1,962 students · 9th–12th | 4.2 | ||
| 4 | 1,371 students · 9th–12th | 3.5 | ||
| 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 | Donovan Catholic High School
Private
641 students · 9th–12th | 4.2 | ||
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocean County Christian Academy
Private
144 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.7 |
Schools in Toms River
Toms River, New Jersey · 20 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$91,363
Median Home Value
$378,400
Median Rent
$1,613/mo
Population
94,054
College Educated
35%
Homeownership
81%
Avg Commute
31 min
Poverty Rate
6.4%
Community Profile
Toms River has a median household income of $91,363. It is an area where 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $378,400, with a median rent of $1,613/month. The local poverty rate of 6.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Jersey
- Elementary
- 12
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 5
- Other
- 1
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 Toms River, New Jersey
How many schools are in Toms River, New Jersey?
Toms River has 20 schools, including 15 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Toms River, New Jersey?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Toms River is 5.1 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 Toms River, New Jersey?
The top-ranked school in Toms River on MySchoolScout is Ocean County Christian Academy with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Toms River, New Jersey?
The top-ranked elementary school in Toms River on MySchoolScout is East Dover Elementary School with a composite score of 6.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Toms River, New Jersey?
The top-ranked middle school in Toms River on MySchoolScout is Toms River Intermediate School East with a composite score of 5.8/10.
What is the best high school in Toms River, New Jersey?
The top-ranked high school in Toms River on MySchoolScout is Ocvts Grunin Performing Arts Academy with a composite score of 6.6/10.
How many school districts serve Toms River, New Jersey?
Toms River is served by 2 school districts: Ocean County Vocational Technical School District, Toms River Regional School District.
What is the education level in Toms River, New Jersey?
According to Census data, 35% of adults in Toms River have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Toms River, New Jersey?
The median household income in Toms River is approximately $91,363 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Toms River, New Jersey?
Yes, Toms River has 5 private schools alongside 15 public schools. The top-rated private school is Ocean County Christian Academy with a score of 7.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Toms River, New Jersey?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Toms River is 13.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Toms River, 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.