Start with the official reports
The New Jersey Department of Education publishes School Performance Reports for every public school and district. They cover enrollment, assessments, graduation, chronic absenteeism, course offerings and more. Compare schools in the context of their student populations.
Confirm the assignment
In NJ, school districts usually follow municipal lines, but some towns send high schoolers to a regional or neighboring district, and elementary assignments can depend on the street. Call the district with the exact address.
Visit and ask
- Class sizes and support services.
- Programs that matter to your child: special education, gifted, arts, athletics, languages.
- Before- and after-care.
- Recent or planned redistricting.
Taxes and schools go together
School levies are often the largest part of a NJ tax bill. See each town guide for its effective tax rate.
Questions, answered
Where can I find official NJ school ratings?
New Jersey publishes School Performance Reports rather than a single rating. Search them on the NJ Department of Education’s website.
General information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Rules change; confirm with your attorney, tax professional or lender.