Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Ocean County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 40 public preschools serving 16,078 students in Ocean County, NJ.
The top-ranked public preschools in Ocean County, NJ are Island Heights Elementary School, G. Harold Antrim Elementary School and Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Ocean County, NJ public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the New Jersey public pre school average of 36%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 44% statewide average). Pre schools in Ocean County have an average ranking of 6/10, which is in the top 50% of New Jersey public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 36% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New Jersey public preschool average of 65% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Preschools in Ocean County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Island Heights Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
115 Summit Ave
Island Heights, NJ 08732
(732) 929-1222
Gr: PK-6 | 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: #22.
G. Harold Antrim Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
401 Niblick Street
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 899-3737
Gr: PK-8 | 302 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #33.
Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2000 Riviera Parkway
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 701-1900
Gr: PK-5 | 706 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #44.
North Dover Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1759 New Hampshire Avenue
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-5860
Gr: PK-5 | 384 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #55.
Beach Haven School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
700 North Beach Ave.
Beach Haven, NJ 08008
(609) 492-7411
Gr: PK-6 | 56 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #66.
Ocean Road Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1210 Benedict Street
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 701-1900
Gr: PK-5 | 483 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
Rank: #77.
Warren H. Wolf Early Childhood Development Center
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: 60-79% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
224 Chambers Bridge Rd
Brick, NJ 08723
(732) 785-3000
Gr: PK | 359 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #88.
Howard C. Johnson Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1021 Larsen Road
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 833-4640
Gr: PK-5 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #99.
Elms Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
780 Patterson Road
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 833-4680
Gr: PK-5 | 705 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1010.
Herbertsville Early Childhood Development Center
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59% )
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2282 Lanes Mill Rd
Brick, NJ 08724
(732) 785-3000
Gr: PK | 224 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #1111.
Lavallette Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
105 Brooklyn Ave.
Lavallette, NJ 08735
(732) 793-7722
Gr: PK-8 | 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #1212.
Whiting Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
412 Manchester Blvd
Manchester Township, NJ 08759
(732) 350-4994
Gr: PK-5 | 266 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1313.
Cedar Grove Elementary School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
179 Cedar Grove Road
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-5830
Gr: PK-5 | 931 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1414.
Manchester Township Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
101 N Colonial Drive
Lakehurst, NJ 08733
(732) 323-9600
Gr: PK-5 | 573 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1515.
Silver Bay Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
100 Silver Bay Road
Toms River, NJ 08753
(732) 505-5880
Gr: PK-5 | 585 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1616.
Switlik Elementary School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
75 West Veterans Highway
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 833-4650
Gr: PK-5 | 758 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1717.
Lucy N. Holman Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
125 Manhattan Street
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 833-4620
Gr: PK-5 | 547 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1818.
H & M Potter School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
60 Veeder Lane
Bayville, NJ 08721
(732) 269-5700
Gr: PK-4 | 627 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1919.
Ocean Gate Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
126 West Arverne Avenue
Ocean Gate, NJ 08740
(732) 269-3023
Gr: PK-6 | 141 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #2020.
Clara B. Worth Elementary School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
57 Central Parkway
Bayville, NJ 08721
(732) 269-1700
Gr: PK-4 | 666 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2121.
Mill Pond Elementary School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
210 Western Blvd
Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734
(609) 971-2070
Gr: PK-K | 599 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Bayville Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
356 Atlantic City Blvd
Bayville, NJ 08721
(732) 269-1300
Gr: PK-4 | 475 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #22 - 2322. - 23.
Ridgeway Elementary School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2861 Ridgeway Rd
Manchester Township, NJ 08759
(732) 323-0800
Gr: PK-5 | 476 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #2424.
Lillian M. Dunfee Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 46% )
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
128 Barnegat Blvd
Barnegat, NJ 08005
(609) 698-5826
Gr: PK | 325 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #2525.
Eagleswood Elementary School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
511 Route 9
West Creek, NJ 08092
(609) 597-3663
Gr: PK-6 | 136 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #2626.
Crawford-rodriguez Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 31%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1025 Larsen Road
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 833-4690
Gr: PK-5 | 718 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #2727.
Waretown Elementary School
(Math: 40-49% | Reading: 30-39% )
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
64 Railroad Avenue
Waretown, NJ 08758
(609) 693-3131
Gr: PK-2 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #2828.
Tuckerton Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
Marine Street
Tuckerton, NJ 08087
(609) 296-2858
Gr: PK-6 | 308 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2929.
Joseph A. Citta Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2050 Lakewood Road
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 818-8550
Gr: PK-5 | 511 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #3030.
Hugh J. Boyd Jr. Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1200 Bay Boulevard
Seaside Heights, NJ 08751
(732) 793-8485
Gr: PK-6 | 157 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #3131.
Lakehurst Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 12%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
301 Union Ave
Lakehurst, NJ 08733
(732) 657-5741
Gr: PK-8 | 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: n/an/a
Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary School
200 S. Barnegat Avenue
Beach Haven, NJ 08008
(609) 494-2341
Gr: PK-2 | 104 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Rank: n/an/a
Lakewood Early Childhood Center
100 Linden Ave
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 905-3626
Gr: PK-K | 248 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: n/an/a
Manchester Regional Day School
Special Education School
890 Toms River Road
Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 928-1500
Gr: PK-12 | 56 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: n/an/a
New Egypt Primary School
131 Evergreen Road
New Egypt, NJ 08533
(609) 758-6800
Gr: PK-K | 177 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 14%
Show 5 more public schools in Ocean County, NJ (out of 40 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Ocean County, NJ?
The top-ranked public preschools in Ocean County, NJ include Island Heights Elementary School, G. Harold Antrim Elementary School and Nellie F. Bennett Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Ocean County?
40 public preschools are located in Ocean County.
What is the racial composition of students in Ocean County?
Ocean County public preschools minority enrollment is 36% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the New Jersey public preschools average of 65% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Ocean County are often viewed compared to one another?

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