Best Schools in Trenton, New Jersey
37 schools · 19 Elementary · 10 Middle · 6 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Trenton?
Use this page to compare every school in Trenton 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.
Christina Seix Academy
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Villa Victoria Lower School
High. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Gershom Mott Elementary School
Elementary · Trenton 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 Trenton for 2026 are Christina Seix Academy (8.1/10), Villa Victoria Lower School (7.7/10), and Gershom Mott Elementary School (6.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 34 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
37
34 public · 3 private
Avg Score
4.5
out of 10
Median Home
$263,267
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Schools
37
34 public · 3 private
Avg Score
4.5
out of 10
Median Home
$263,267
home value · ACS
Districts
8
serving the city
Rates 6.7/10 despite 57% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.3 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 Trenton schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Trenton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (34 of 37). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christina Seix Academy | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Villa Victoria Lower School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Gershom Mott Elementary School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Benjamin C Gregory Elementary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Franklin Elementary School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | International Charter School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 7 | Foundation Academy Charter School | 5.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Paul Robeson Charter School for the Humanities | 5.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Achievers Early College Prep Charter School | 5.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Mcvs Assunpink Shared Time Center/rubino | 5.4 / 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
- 4.5/10
- Median household income
- $88,258
- Median home value
- $263,267
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 54%
6% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Trenton compares
New Jersey rank
#341 of 344
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.9
below New Jersey avg (6.4)
Median household income
$88k
75% of New Jersey median
Schools in this city
34
About Schools in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton's public school landscape spans 32 ranked schools, but the performance data tells a candid story. The citywide average score sits at 3.6 out of 10, and just 1 school — 3% of all ranked schools — scores 7 or above. That narrow top tier defines the stakes for parents here: the gap between the best available option and the typical assignment is wide.
The city's clear leader is Mercer County Technical School Health Sciences Academy, a technical-track high school scoring 7.7 out of 10. It stands alone above the 7-point mark in Trenton. At the elementary level, Paul Robeson Charter School for the Humanities comes in second citywide at 6.9, followed by International Charter School at 6.0. Both are charter schools with separate enrollment processes. For high school, Trenton Central High School's Main Campus scores 5.9 — the highest among traditional public high schools in the dataset — with MCVS Assunpink Shared Time Center/Rubino close behind at 5.7.
The schools outperforming Trenton's 3.6 average cluster almost entirely in the charter and technical-school tier. That pattern is the most important structural fact for parents to understand: the gap between these schools and the broader district is not marginal — it's the difference between a 7.7 and the citywide mean. Families who qualify and apply for the top-tier programs access a fundamentally different experience than those who rely on default zone assignments.
Practically, research here starts with enrollment logistics. Charter and technical schools set their own application windows and lottery timelines. Confirm those dates early — seats are limited and late applications typically don't enter the pool. For families without access to these programs, Trenton Central's Main Campus represents the strongest traditional public high school option in the city, though even its 5.9 score is a reminder that the district as a whole sits well below the 7-point threshold that only one school in Trenton has reached.
Elementary Schools
19 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 366 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 6.7 |
| 2 | 295 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 6.5 |
| 3 | 400 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 6.2 |
| 4 | 108 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.1 |
| 5 | 434 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.8 |
| 6 | 542 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 5.0 |
| 7 | 251 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 5.0 |
| 8 | 460 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 4.9 |
| 9 | 359 students · Kindergarten–8th | 4.5 |
| 10 | 456 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 3.7 |
Show all 19 elementary schools in Trenton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 443 students · 6th–10th | 5.5 |
| 2 | 639 students · 4th–6th | 4.1 |
| 3 | 342 students · 4th–6th | 3.8 |
| 4 | 530 students · 4th–6th | 3.7 |
| 5 | 490 students · 4th–6th | 3.5 |
| 6 | 445 students · 7th–8th | 3.5 |
| 7 | 572 students · 4th–6th | 3.4 |
| 8 | 565 students · 4th–6th | 3.4 |
| 9 | 681 students · 7th–8th | 3.3 |
| 10 | 610 students · 7th–8th | 3.1 |
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 115 students · 7th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 2 | 134 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 | ||
| 3 | 2,138 students · 10th–12th | 4.1 | ||
| 4 | 617 students · 9th–12th | 3.0 | ||
| 5 | 35 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
| 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 | Villa Victoria Lower School
Private
93 students · 6th–12th | 7.7 | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,090 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.8 |
| 2 | 837 students · 9th–9th | 2.3 |
Schools in Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey · 37 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 10 ZIP codes
Median Income
$88,258
Median Home Value
$263,267
Median Rent
$1,423/mo
Population
195,490
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
54%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
14.6%
Community Profile
Trenton has a median household income of $88,258. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $263,267, with a median rent of $1,423/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.6%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- New Jersey
- Elementary
- 19
- Middle
- 10
- High
- 6
- Other
- 2
Resources
School Districts (8)
International Charter School of Trenton
1 school · 108 students
The Village Charter School
1 school · 359 students
Foundation Academy Charter School
1 school · 1,090 students
Paul Robeson Charter School for the Humanities
1 school · 434 students
Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf
2 schools
Achievers Early College Prep Charter School
1 school · 443 students
Area Vocational Technical School District of Mercer County
5 schools · 365 students
Trenton Public School District
25 schools · 15,459 students
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 Trenton, New Jersey
How many schools are in Trenton, New Jersey?
Trenton has 37 schools, including 34 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Trenton, New Jersey?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Trenton is 4.5 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 Trenton, New Jersey?
The top-ranked school in Trenton on MySchoolScout is Christina Seix Academy with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Trenton, New Jersey?
The top-ranked elementary school in Trenton on MySchoolScout is Christina Seix Academy with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Trenton, New Jersey?
The top-ranked middle school in Trenton on MySchoolScout is Achievers Early College Prep Charter School with a composite score of 5.5/10.
What is the best high school in Trenton, New Jersey?
The top-ranked high school in Trenton on MySchoolScout is Villa Victoria Lower School with a composite score of 7.7/10.
How many school districts serve Trenton, New Jersey?
Trenton is served by 8 school districts: International Charter School of Trenton, The Village Charter School, Foundation Academy Charter School, Paul Robeson Charter School for the Humanities, Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf, Achievers Early College Prep Charter School, Area Vocational Technical School District of Mercer County, Trenton Public School District.
What is the education level in Trenton, New Jersey?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Trenton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Trenton, New Jersey?
The median household income in Trenton is approximately $88,258 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Trenton, New Jersey?
Yes, Trenton has 3 private schools alongside 34 public schools. The top-rated private school is Christina Seix Academy with a score of 8.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Trenton, New Jersey?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Trenton is 13.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Trenton, 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.