Total enrollment
129,255
+73 (+0%) vs SY 2020-21
Middlesex County
New Jersey · Public K-12
The 214 public K-12 schools in Middlesex County cover all standard grade bands (135 elementary, 40 middle, and 33 high), with combined enrollment around 129,255.
4-year change in Middlesex County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
209
+8 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Middlesex County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In New Jersey | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 43.5% | #6 of 21 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 129,255 | #3 of 21 | #69 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 209 | #3 of 21 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.7:1 | #13 of 21 | #455 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 42.4% | #12 of 21 | #1,989 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 72.9% | #3 of 21 | #40 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.
Middlesex County school rankings
Residents
871,290
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
214
34 districts
Enrollment
129,255
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$111,549
Above New Jersey avg
Free/reduced lunch
42.4%
Above New Jersey avg
Elementary
135
57,342 students
Middle
40
30,262 students
High
33
41,060 students
Combined / other
6
591 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Edison Township School District
16,617 students · 34 districts in Middlesex County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Middlesex 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+
45.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.7%
civilian labor
Median age
40
21.5% under 18
Test scores in Middlesex County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 177 schools ranked. New Jersey state average: 53.1%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Hatikvah International Academy Charter School· 90.1%
- John Adams Middle School· 86.9%
- Metuchen High School· 86.1%
- Edgar Middle School· 84.7%
- Crossroads South Middle School· 84.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Middlesex County
Edison17 schoolsPiscataway14 schoolsEast Brunswick12 schoolsNew Brunswick12 schoolsPerth Amboy11 schoolsOld Bridge10 schoolsParlin8 schoolsSouth Plainfield8 schoolsColonia6 schoolsIselin6 schoolsNorth Brunswick6 schoolsCarteret5 schoolsMetuchen5 schoolsMiddlesex5 schoolsMonmouth Junction5 schoolsMonroe Township5 schoolsPlainsboro5 schoolsSouth River5 schoolsWoodbridge5 schoolsAvenel4 schoolsHighland Park4 schoolsKendall Park4 schoolsSpotswood4 schoolsDunellen3 schoolsEdison3 schoolsFords3 schoolsJamesburg3 schoolsNew Brunswick3 schoolsPerth Amboy3 schoolsPiscataway3 schoolsMonroe Twp2 schoolsNorth Brunswick2 schoolsSouth Amboy2 schoolsCarteret1 schoolCliffwood Beach1 schoolCranbury1 schoolDayton1 schoolDayton1 schoolEast Brunswick1 schoolFords1 schoolLaurence Harbor1 schoolMatawan1 schoolMatawan1 schoolMiddlesex1 schoolMilltown1 schoolMilltown1 schoolMonmouth Junction1 schoolMonroe Township1 schoolMonroe Twp1 schoolPort Reading1 schoolSayreville1 schoolSewaren1 schoolSouth Amboy1 schoolSouth Plainfield1 school
About Middlesex County
Across the sizable New Jersey county of Middlesex County of about 871,290 residents, the public-school footprint covers 214 schools and about 129,255 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $111,549 a year, 46% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%. That income level is 8% noticeably above the New Jersey median.
In terms of grade levels, Middlesex County consists of 135 elementary schools (57,342 students), 40 middle schools (30,262), 33 high schools (41,060), and 6 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Middlesex County is Edison Township School District, which alone enrolls about 16,617 students.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 129,182 students in SY 2020-21 versus 129,255 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Middlesex County added 8 schools, going from 201 to 209.
On allk12, the community for Middlesex County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data