Total enrollment
144,268
+7,728 (+6%) vs SY 2020-21
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.
4-year change in Essex County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
239
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Essex County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New Jersey | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 38.1% | #12 of 21 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 145,473 | #1 of 21 | #56 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 241 | #2 of 21 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 13.7:1 | #21 of 21 | #1,197 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 54.0% | #5 of 21 | #1,408 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 70.2% | #6 of 21 | #94 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Essex County school rankings
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
School enrollment
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%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Science Park High School· 95.5%
- Glenwood School· 94.5%
- Gould/Mountain Elementary School· 91.5%
- STEM Innovation Academy of the Oranges· 90.7%
- Technology High School· 89.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Barringer High School· 5.4%
- West Side High School· 6.7%
- Weequahic High School· 7.3%
- John L. Costley Middle School· 11.4%
- Central High School· 11.6%
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 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 144,268 students, grew 6% from the 136,540 reported in SY 2020-21.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data