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Best Public Middle Schools in Essex County (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Essex County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 95 public middle schools serving 69,604 students in Essex County, NJ.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Essex County, NJ are Millburn Middle School, Science Park High School and The Gray Charter School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Essex County, NJ public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 27% (versus the New Jersey public middle school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 48% statewide average). Middle schools in Essex County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of New Jersey public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the New Jersey public middle school average of 69% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Middle Schools in Essex County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Millburn Middle School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
25 Old Short Hills Rd
Millburn, NJ 07041
(973) 379-2600
Gr: 6-8 | 1,106 student Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #22.
Science Park High School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
260 Norfolk Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 733-8689
Gr: 7-12 | 964 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #33.
The Gray Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
55 Liberty Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 824-6661
Gr: K-8 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #44.
Heritage Middle School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
20 Foxcroft Dr
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 535-8000
Gr: 7-8 | 994 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #55.
Glen Ridge High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
200 Ridgewood Ave
Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
(973) 429-8303
Gr: 7-12 | 799 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #66.
West Essex Middle School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
65 West Greenbrook Rd
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 228-1200
Gr: 7-8 | 558 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #77.
Buzz Aldrin Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
173 Bellevue Ave
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4220
Gr: 6-8 | 618 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #88.
Renaissance Middle School At The Rand Building
(Math: 48% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
176 North Fullerton Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-5741
Gr: 6-8 | 203 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #99.
South Orange Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
70 North Ridgewood Road
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 378-2772
Gr: 6-8 | 752 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #1010.
Robert Treat Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
443 Clifton Avenue
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 482-8811
Gr: K-8 | 702 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1111.
North Star Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
10 Washington Place
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 642-0101
Gr: K-12 | 6,714 students Student-teacher ratio: 35:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1212.
Grover Cleveland Middle School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
36 Academy Rd
Caldwell, NJ 07006
(973) 228-9115
Gr: 6-8 | 610 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #1313.
Memorial Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
500 Ridge Road
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009
(973) 239-2646
Gr: 5-8 | 468 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1414.
John H. Walker Middle School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
325 Franklin Ave
Nutley, NJ 07110
(973) 661-8869
Gr: 7-8 | 637 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1515.
Maplewood Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
7 Burnett St
Maplewood, NJ 07040
(973) 378-7660
Gr: 6-8 | 762 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1616.
Henry B. Whitehorne Middle School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
600 Bloomfield Ave
Verona, NJ 07044
(973) 571-6751
Gr: 5-8 | 702 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #1717.
Glenfield Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
25 Maple Ave
Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 509-4172
Gr: 6-8 | 512 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1818.
Liberty Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
1 Kelly Drive
West Orange, NJ 07052
(973) 243-8650
Gr: 7-8 | 559 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #1919.
East Orange Stem Academy High School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
129 Renshaw Avenue
East Orange, NJ 07017
(973) 266-5900
Gr: 6-12 | 646 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
Rank: #2020.
Discovery Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
240 Halsey St, 2nd Fl.
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 623-0222
Gr: 4-8 | 99 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1
Rank: #2121.
Roosevelt Middle School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
36 Gilbert Pl
West Orange, NJ 07052
(973) 669-5373
Gr: 7-8 | 457 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2222.
Maria Varisco Rogers Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
233 Woodside Ave
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 481-9001
Gr: K-8 | 572 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2323.
Forest Street Community Elementary School
(Math: 23% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
651 Forest St
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 677-4120
Gr: PK-7 | 384 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1
Rank: #2424.
Pride Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
117 Elmwood Ave
East Orange, NJ 07018
(973) 672-3200
Gr: 5-8 | 300 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
Rank: #2525.
Ann Street School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
30 Ann St
Newark, NJ 07105
(973) 465-4890
Gr: K-8 | 1,294 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #2626.
First Avenue School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
214 First Ave
Newark, NJ 07107
(973) 268-5240
Gr: PK-8 | 1,084 student Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2727.
Bloomfield Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
60 Huck Road
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
(973) 680-8620
Gr: 7-8 | 944 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #2828.
Oliver Street School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
86 Oliver St
Newark, NJ 07105
(973) 465-4870
Gr: PK-8 | 1,034 student Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #2929.
Philip's Academy Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
342 Central Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
(973) 624-0644
Gr: PK-8 | 730 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1
Rank: #3030.
Heywood Avenue Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
421 Heywood Ave
Orange, NJ 07050
(973) 677-4105
Gr: PK-7 | 363 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3131.
Park Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
120 Manchester Place
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5210
Gr: PK-8 | 747 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3232.
Wilson Avenue School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
19 Wilson Ave
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 465-4910
Gr: K-8 | 1,006 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #3333.
Link Community Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 16% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
23 Pennsyvania Ave
Newark, NJ 07114
(973) 642-0529
Gr: K-8 | 343 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
Rank: #3434.
University High School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
55 Clinton Pl
Newark, NJ 07108
(973) 374-3190
Gr: 8-12 | 426 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3535.
Ridge Street School
(Math: 27% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
735 Ridge St
Newark, NJ 07104
(973) 268-5210
Gr: PK-8 | 593 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 99%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Essex County, NJ?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Essex County, NJ include Millburn Middle School, Science Park High School and The Gray Charter School.
How many public middle schools are located in Essex County?
94 public middle schools are located in Essex County.
What is the racial composition of students in Essex County?
Essex County public middle schools minority enrollment is 89% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the New Jersey public middle schools average of 69% (majority Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Essex County are often viewed compared to one another?

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