Best Schools in Essex County, NJ

Top Elementary, Middle, & High Schools in Essex County, NJ

If you are a parent looking to move with your children, finding the right school is an essential part in deciding where to live. To help you with your decision, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best elementary, middle, and high schools near our Essex County apartments.  


Elementary & Middle Schools

Redwood Elementary School

75 Redwood Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052
Redwood Elementary

Source: woboe.org

Quick Numbers

Nearby Communities

Grades: K-5

Redwood Elementary School is one of the largest elementary schools in the West Orange School District. This school has an active PTA that plans family math and literacy events, book fairs, science fairs, and other school spirit events. The school also hosts various events to help those in the community, such as a Girl Scout Coat Drive, Canned Food Drive, and walkathons.


Oak View Elementary School

150 Garrabrant Avenue, Bloomfield, NJ 07003

Oak View

Source: oakview.bloomfield.schooldesk.net

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Nearby Communities

Grades: K-6

Oak View Elementary School has an outstanding 95 percent math literacy rating and 91 percent overall proficiency rating. Students of Oak View Elementary scored almost 20 percent higher on PARCC Language Arts tests than other districts within New Jersey, according to schooldigger.com. The schools mascot is a Bengal and its colors are blue and orange.


H.B. Whitehorne Middle School

600 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, NJ 07044
H.B. WhiteHorn Middle School

Source: veronaschools.org

Quick Numbers

  • 9/10 rating on greatschools.org
  • 86% proficiency in Algebra I.  (50% higher than state average.)
  • 736 students

Nearby Communities

Grades: 5-8
The school is split into the “Olmstead House” and “Carnegie House.” This middle school also offers a variety of extracurricular clubs for students such as band, soccer, basketball, and even a Lego Robotics Club. Students who graduate from H.B. Whitehorne will advance to Verona High School. In 2016, the school had a student who was a semifinalist in the National Geographic State Bee.


High Schools


Verona High School

151 Fairview Ave., Verona, NJ 07044
Verona High School

Source: sec.powermediallc.org
Quick Numbers

  • 609 total students
  • 99% graduation rate
  • 75% AP® Examination passing rate

Nearby Communities

The Washington Post considers this school one of the most challenging high schools in the entire nation. The school offers 16 Advanced Placement Courses and approximately 85 percent of its students go on to four-year colleges. Outside of the classroom, the school has won 34 state and conference championships over the past five years, and is well known for its drama and performing arts program.  Fun fact: This school is the only one in New Jersey whose mascot is “the hillbilly.”


James Caldwell High School

265 Westville Ave, West Caldwell, NJ 07006
James Caldwell High

Source: thealternativepress.com

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Nearby Communities

New Jersey Monthly ranked James Caldwell High School as one of the top 100 high schools in the state. Most classrooms have 11 students for every teacher. There are 16 AP level classes available to students. In sports, the school has won state titles in softball, girls’ volleyball, boys’ tennis, and wrestling. The school also has clubs aimed at helping the surrounding community, such as Project HELP, Interact Club, and Key Club.