| District | City | Rating | Students | Schools | Grades | Zip Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millburn Township School District | Millburn | 10/10 Excellent · 98th pct | 4,793 | 8 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Essex Fells Borough School District | ESSEX FELLS | 10/10 Excellent · 97th pct | 247 | 1 | PK–6 | 0 |
| Glen Ridge Borough School District | Glen Ridge | 10/10 Excellent · 96th pct | 1,833 | 5 | PK–12 | 1 |
| North Caldwell Borough School District | North Caldwell | 10/10 Excellent · 96th pct | 710 | 2 | PK–6 | 0 |
| Livingston Public Schools | Livingston | 10/10 Excellent · 95th pct | 6,371 | 9 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Roseland Borough School District | Roseland | 10/10 Excellent · 93rd pct | 469 | 1 | PK–6 | 0 |
| Cedar Grove Township School District | Cedar Grove | 9/10 Excellent · 84th pct | 1,586 | 4 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Montclair Town School District | Montclair | 9/10 Excellent · 81st pct | 6,216 | 11 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Verona Borough School District | Verona | 8/10 Good · 78th pct | 2,176 | 6 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Fairfield Township School District | Fairfield | 8/10 Good · 77th pct | 694 | 2 | PK–6 | 1 |
| South Orange-Maplewood School District | Maplewood | 8/10 Good · 75th pct | 6,811 | 11 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Nutley Town School District | Nutley | 8/10 Good · 74th pct | 4,072 | 7 | PK–12 | 1 |
| West Essex Regional School District | Essex Fells | 8/10 Good · 71st pct | 1,663 | 2 | 7–12 | 2 |
| Caldwell-West Caldwell School District | Caldwell | 8/10 Good · 70th pct | 2,601 | 7 | PK–12 | 1 |
| West Orange Town School District | West Orange | 7/10 Good · 65th pct | 6,835 | 13 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Bloomfield Township School District | Bloomfield | 5/10 Average · 48th pct | 6,328 | 11 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Belleville Town School District | Belleville | 3/10 Below Average · 23rd pct | 4,970 | 10 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Orange City Township School District | Orange | 2/10 Poor · 18th pct | 5,744 | 12 | PK–12 | 1 |
| Newark City School District | Newark | 2/10 Poor · 12th pct | 41,672 | 63 | PK–12 | 9 |
| East Orange City School District | East Orange | 2/10 Poor · 11th pct | 9,272 | 20 | PK–12 | 2 |
| Irvington Township School District | Irvington | 1/10 Poor · 4th pct | 7,675 | 12 | PK–12 | 1 |
How Essex County compares
Together they enroll 122,738 students across 217 schools. The largest is Newark City School District with 41,672 students. Districts here average 7.0/10, above the New Jersey average of 5.7/10. Ratings range from 1/10 to 10/10.
School Districts in Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County has 21 public school districts covering 31 zip codes. The top-rated district in Essex County is Millburn Township School District (10/10). Ratings are based on the share of students proficient in reading and math on state assessments (NJSLA 2024–25), ranked against all districts in New Jersey. Directory details come from NCES CCD 2024–25.
Enter your zip code on any page to confirm your exact district assignment — district boundaries are address-specific and may not follow county or city lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many school districts are in Essex County, NJ?
21 school districts serve zip codes in Essex County, NJ. This page lists each one with its rating, enrollment, grade span and the zip codes it covers.
What is the best-rated school district in Essex County, NJ?
Of the districts serving Essex County, Millburn Township School District has the highest rating on this site at 10/10. That places it in the 98th percentile among New Jersey school districts.
How are these school district ratings calculated?
Each rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above on New Jersey reading and math assessments, ranked against other districts in New Jersey and converted to a 1–10 scale. Percentiles compare districts within New Jersey only, never across state lines.