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Essex County

New Jersey · Public K-12

Essex County's school count of 249 reflects a public K-12 system serving about 145,473 students inside New Jersey, around 17% of the county population. The level mix is 164 elementary, 29 middle, and 46 high schools.

7-year change in Essex County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
144,268
+8,903 (+7%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
239
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
20%
was 24%
% Hispanic
36%
was 30%
% Black
36%
was 39%
% Asian
6%
was 5%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
863,002
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
249
47 districts
Enrollment
145,473
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$80,789
Below New Jersey avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.0%
Above New Jersey avg
Elementary
164
72,656 students
Middle
29
15,979 students
High
46
39,220 students
Combined / other
10
17,618 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Newark Public School District
41,502 students · 47 districts in Essex County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Essex County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
30%
Hispanic
25%
Black
36%
Asian
6%
Two or more
13%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
19%
Hispanic
36%
Black
36%
Asian
6%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
39.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
8.7%
civilian labor
Median age
38
23.6% under 18

Test scores in Essex County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 213 schools ranked. New Jersey state average: 53.1%.

See all 213 schools in Essex County ranked by score →

All schools (249)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Yantacaw SchoolNutleyElementaryPK-06512·
Belmont Runyon Elementary SchoolNewarkElementaryPK-08508·
Belleville PS8BellevilleElementaryPK-06505·
Marshall Elementary SchoolS OrangeElementaryKG-04504·
Fairview Elementary SchoolBloomfieldElementaryPK-06499·
Ivy Hill Elementary SchoolNewarkElementaryPK-08488·
Avon Avenue SchoolNewarkElementaryPK-08485·
Gregory Elementary SchoolW OrangeElementaryKG-05484·
Demarest Elementary SchoolBloomfieldElementaryKG-06482·
Cicely L. Tyson Community Elementary SchoolEast OrangeElementaryPK-05481·
Edison Middle SchoolW OrangeMiddle06-06477·
Riker Hill Elementary SchoolLivingstonElementaryKG-05477·
Hillside Elementary SchoolLivingstonElementaryKG-05476·
Memorial Middle SchoolCedar GroveMiddle05-08468·
Berkeley Terrace Elementary SchoolIrvingtonElementaryPK-05464·
Roosevelt Middle SchoolW OrangeMiddle07-08457·
Chancellor Avenue Elementary SchoolIrvingtonElementaryKG-05455·
Berkeley Elementary SchoolBloomfieldElementaryKG-06453·
Kelly Elementary SchoolW OrangeElementaryKG-05451·
Lester C NoeckerRoselandElementaryPK-06451·
Lincoln SchoolNutleyElementaryKG-06446·
Redwood Elementary SchoolW OrangeElementaryKG-05446·
Hawthorne Avenue SchoolNewarkElementaryPK-08444·
Grove Street Elementary SchoolIrvingtonElementaryPK-05443·
Collins Elementary SchoolLivingstonElementaryKG-05440·
Belleville PS4BellevilleElementaryPK-06438·
Charles H. Bullock SchoolMontclairElementaryKG-05438·
St. Cloud Elementary SchoolW OrangeElementaryKG-05436·
University High SchoolNewarkHigh08-12426·
Belleville PS7BellevilleElementaryPK-06425·
Burnet Hill Elementary SchoolLivingstonElementaryPK-05425·
Park Avenue Elementary SchoolOrangeElementaryPK-08423·
Seth Boyden Elementary Demonstration SchoolMaplewoodElementaryKG-05423·
Cedar Grove High SchoolCedar GroveHigh09-12421·
Grandview Elementary SchoolN CaldwellElementaryPK-03420·
Lincoln Elementary SchoolNewarkElementaryPK-08420·
East Orange Community Charter SchoolEast OrangeElementaryKG-04414·
Newark Sch of Data Science and Information TechnologyNewarkHigh09-12414·
Washington Elementary SchoolW OrangeElementaryPK-05414·
Shelia Y. Oliver AcademyEast OrangeElementaryPK-08413·
Washington Elementary SchoolWest CaldwellElementaryKG-05409·
Mount Pleasant Elementary SchoolLivingstonElementaryKG-05407·
Watchung Elementary SchoolMontclairElementaryKG-05406·
Winston S. Churchill SchoolFairfieldElementary03-06401·
Oak View Elementary SchoolBloomfieldElementaryKG-06399·
Orange Preparatory Academy School of Inquiry and InnovationOrangeMiddle08-08397·
Bard Early College High SchoolNewarkHigh09-12395·
Thurgood Marshall Elementary SchoolIrvingtonElementaryPK-05393·
Hartshorn SchoolShort HillsElementaryKG-04392·
Northeast Elementary SchoolUpper MontclairElementaryKG-05391·
Bradford Elementary SchoolUpper MontclairElementaryPK-05388·
American History High SchoolNewarkHigh09-12386·
Whitney E. Houston AcademyEast OrangeElementaryPK-08385·
Forest Street Community Elementary SchoolOrangeElementaryPK-07384·
University Elementary SchoolIrvingtonElementaryPK-05384·
Carteret Elementary SchoolBloomfieldElementaryKG-06383·
Dionne Warwick InstituteEast OrangeElementaryPK-05379·
Newark School of Global StudiesNewarkHigh09-12377·
Nishuane Elementary SchoolMontclairElementaryPK-02377·
New Horizons Community Charter SchoolNewarkElementaryKG-08370·
Central Elementary SchoolOrangeElementaryKG-02369·
South 17th Street SchoolNewarkElementaryPK-08368·
Heywood Avenue Elementary SchoolOrangeElementaryPK-07363·
Washington SchoolMillburnMiddle05-05363·
Belleville PS5BellevilleElementaryPK-06362·
Deerfield SchoolShort HillsElementaryKG-04358·
Essex County West Caldwell TechWest CaldwellHigh09-12353·
Franklin Elementary SchoolBloomfieldElementaryKG-06352·
Mount Pleasant Elementary SchoolWest OrangeElementaryKG-05349·
South End Elementary SchoolCedar GroveElementaryPK-04349·
Wyoming SchoolMillburnElementaryKG-04346·
Link Community Charter SchoolNewarkElementaryKG-08343·
Brookdale Elementary SchoolBloomfieldElementaryKG-06342·
Radcliffe SchoolNutleyElementaryKG-06342·
Burch Charter School of ExcellenceIrvingtonElementaryKG-05335·
Belleville PS3BellevilleElementaryKG-06334·
Hazel Avenue Elementary SchoolW OrangeElementaryKG-05334·
John L. Costley Middle SchoolEast OrangeMiddle06-08334·
LEAD Charter SchoolNewarkHigh09-12333·
Watsessing Elementary SchoolBloomfieldElementaryKG-06333·
Augusta Preschool AcademyIrvingtonElementaryPK-PK330·
Ironbound Academy Elementary SchoolNewarkElementaryKG-06325·
Patrick F. Healy Middle SchoolEast OrangeMiddle06-08322·
Grover Cleveland Elementary SchoolNewarkElementaryPK-08321·
The Gray Charter SchoolNewarkElementaryKG-08317·
Glenwood SchoolShort HillsElementaryKG-04315·
Adlai E. Stevenson SchoolFairfieldElementaryPK-02312·
North End Elementary SchoolCedar GroveElementaryPK-04309·
Pride Academy Charter SchoolEast OrangeMiddle05-08300·
Harriet Tubman Elementary SchoolNewarkElementaryPK-08298·
Roseville Community Charter SchoolNewarkElementaryKG-04285·
Gould/Mountain Elementary SchoolN CaldwellMiddle04-06279·
South Mountain SchoolMillburnElementaryPK-04278·
Newark School of Fashion & DesignNewarkHigh09-12275·
Oakwood Avenue Community SchoolOrangeElementaryPK-07272·
Ecole Toussaint LouvertureEast OrangeElementaryPK-05269·
Gordon Parks AcademyEast OrangeElementaryPK-02268·
Sojourner Truth Middle SchoolEast OrangeMiddle06-08264·
Laning Avenue SchoolVeronaElementaryPK-04261·
Nelson Mandela Elementary SchoolNewarkElementaryPK-04256·

Cities in Essex County

Newark65 schoolsNewark23 schoolsEast Orange22 schoolsIrvington13 schoolsBloomfield11 schoolsBelleville9 schoolsLivingston9 schoolsOrange9 schoolsMontclair8 schoolsW Orange8 schoolsNutley7 schoolsMaplewood6 schoolsVerona6 schoolsCedar Grove4 schoolsGlen Ridge4 schoolsMillburn4 schoolsWest Caldwell4 schoolsFairfield3 schoolsS Orange3 schoolsShort Hills3 schoolsSouth Orange3 schoolsUpper Montclair3 schoolsWest Orange3 schoolsCaldwell2 schoolsFairfield2 schoolsN Caldwell2 schoolsNorth Caldwell2 schoolsOrange2 schoolsWest Caldwell2 schoolsWest Orange2 schoolsBelleville1 schoolEssex Fells1 schoolGlen Ridge1 schoolMillburn1 schoolRoseland1 school

About Essex County

Essex County is a wide-reaching county of about 863,002 residents in New Jersey. Its public-school system serves approximately 145,473 students across 249 schools.

Zooming out, census numbers show median household income runs near $80,789, roughly 39% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 11%. That income level is 22% below the New Jersey median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Essex County is built around 164 elementary schools (72,656 students), 29 middle schools (15,979), 46 high schools (39,220), and 10 combined or other schools.

Newark Public School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 41,502 students on its own.

Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 144,268 students, grew 7% from the 135,365 reported in SY 2017-18. The Hispanic share of public-school enrollment grew from 30% to 36%.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Essex County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Essex County?
Essex County, New Jersey has 249 public K-12 schools serving approximately 145,473 students.
How many high schools are in Essex County?
Essex County, New Jersey has 46 public high schools, serving approximately 39,220 students.
How many middle schools are in Essex County?
Essex County, New Jersey has 29 public middle schools, serving approximately 15,979 students.
How many elementary schools are in Essex County?
Essex County, New Jersey has 164 public elementary schools, serving approximately 72,656 students.
What is the largest school district in Essex County?
Newark Public School District is the largest school district in Essex County, serving approximately 41,502 students. The county contains 47 school districts overall.
How many people live in Essex County?
Essex County has roughly 863,002 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Essex County?
Median household income in Essex County is $80,789, below the New Jersey average of $103,339. About 11.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Essex County?
Approximately 39.1% of adults 25 and older in Essex County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Essex County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 54.0% of students in Essex County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the New Jersey county average of 41.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Essex County schools?
Across Essex County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 15.3 to 1.

Essex County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data