Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Passaic County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 150 public schools serving 80,468 students in Passaic County, NJ (there are 66 private schools, serving 10,718 private students). 88% of all K-12 students in Passaic County, NJ are educated in public schools (compared to the NJ state average of 87%).
The top-ranked public schools in Passaic County, NJ are School 28, Passaic County Technical Institute Stem Academy and Albert Payson Terhune Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Passaic County, NJ public schools have an average math proficiency score of 26% (versus the New Jersey public school average of 38%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 49% statewide average). Schools in Passaic County have an average ranking of 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of New Jersey public schools.
Minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the New Jersey public school average of 63% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Passaic County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
School 28
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥99%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
200 Presidential Boulevard
Paterson, NJ 07522
(973) 321-0281
Gr: PK-8 | 463 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #22.
Passaic County Technical Institute Stem Academy
Vocational School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
45 Reinhardt Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 790-6000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,040 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #33.
Albert Payson Terhune Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
40 Geoffrey Way
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 633-3150
Gr: K-5 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #44.
Packanack Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
190 Oakwood Drive
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 633-3170
Gr: K-5 | 408 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #55.
Schuyler Colfax Middle School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1500 Hamburg Turnpike
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 633-3130
Gr: 6-8 | 650 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #66.
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1310 Ratzer Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 633-3160
Gr: K-5 | 387 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #77.
Randall Carter Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
531 Alps Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 633-3145
Gr: K-5 | 351 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #88.
Little Falls Township Public School # 3
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Little Falls School # 3, 560 M
Little Falls, NJ 07424
(973) 256-1034
Gr: 3-4 | 217 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #99.
George Washington Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
68 Lenox Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 633-3140
Gr: 6-8 | 493 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1010.
Anthony Wayne Middle School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
201 Garside Avenue
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 389-2120
Gr: 6-8 | 617 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1111.
James Fallon Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
51 Clifford Drive
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 633-3125
Gr: K-5 | 370 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #1212.
Little Falls Township Public School # 1
(Math: 42% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Little Falls School # 1, 32 St
Little Falls, NJ 07424
(973) 256-1033
Gr: 5-8 | 392 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1313.
Marshall Hill Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
210 Marshall Hill Road
West Milford, NJ 07480
(973) 697-1705
Gr: PK-5 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1414.
Lafayette Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
100 Laauwe Avenue
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 633-3165
Gr: K-5 | 321 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1515.
School #16
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
755 Grove Street
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2420
Gr: K-5 | 201 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1616.
Passaic County Technical Institute
Vocational School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
45 Reinhardt Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 790-6000
Gr: 9-12 | 3,565 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1717.
Wayne Hills High School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
272 Berdan Avenue
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 317-2000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,162 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Classical Academy Charter School Of Clifton
Charter School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1255 Main Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07011
(973) 278-7707
Gr: 5-8 | 185 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
School #9
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
25 Brighton Road
Clifton, NJ 07012
(973) 470-2396
Gr: PK-5 | 306 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #2020.
Pines Lake Elementary School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
511 Pines Lake Drive
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 633-3175
Gr: K-5 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #2121.
Haskell Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
973 Ringwood Avenue
Haskell, NJ 07420
(973) 835-8200
Gr: PK-8 | 382 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #2222.
High Mountain School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
515 High Mountain Road
Haledon, NJ 07508
(973) 427-1220
Gr: 5-8 | 259 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Lakeland Regional High School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
205 Conklintown Road
Wanaque, NJ 07465
(973) 835-1900
Gr: 9-12 | 823 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #23 - 2423. - 24.
Peter Cooper School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
54 Roger Court
Ringwood, NJ 07456
(973) 962-7500
Gr: K-3 | 235 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #2525.
Lincoln School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
40 Mill Street
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
(973) 835-7100
Gr: PK-5 | 344 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #2626.
Wanaque Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
First Street
Wanaque, NJ 07465
(973) 835-8200
Gr: PK-8 | 506 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #2727.
Roosevelt Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
50 Roosevelt Avenue
Hawthorne, NJ 07506
(973) 423-6485
Gr: K-5 | 521 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #2828.
Lakeside School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
316 Lakeside Avenue
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
(973) 835-7100
Gr: 6-8 | 370 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #2929.
Passaic Academy For Science And Engineering
(Math: 32% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
291 Lafayette Avenue
Passaic, NJ 07055
(973) 470-5504
Gr: 6-12 | 650 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3030.
White Rock Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2 Francine Place
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438
(973) 697-2414
Gr: 1-5 | 481 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #3131.
Upper Greenwood Lake Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
41 Henry Road
Hewitt, NJ 07421
(973) 697-1707
Gr: K-5 | 250 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #3232.
Maple Road Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
36 Maple Road
West Milford, NJ 07480
(973) 697-1704
Gr: PK-5 | 303 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #3333.
School #2
(Math: 48% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1270 Van Houten Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07013
(973) 470-2380
Gr: K-5 | 401 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #3434.
Theunis Dey Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
55 Webster Drive
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 633-3155
Gr: K-5 | 459 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #3535.
Wayne Valley High School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
551 Valley Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 317-2200
Gr: 9-12 | 1,201 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Show 100 more public schools in Passaic County, NJ (out of 150 total schools)
Loading...

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Passaic County, NJ?
The top-ranked public schools in Passaic County, NJ include School 28, Passaic County Technical Institute Stem Academy and Albert Payson Terhune Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Passaic County?
154 public schools are located in Passaic County.
What percentage of students in Passaic County go to public school?
88% of all K-12 students in Passaic County are educated in public schools (compared to the NJ state average of 87%).
What is the racial composition of students in Passaic County?
Passaic County public schools minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the New Jersey public schools average of 63% (majority Hispanic).
Which public schools in Passaic County are often viewed compared to one another?

Recent Articles

AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.

Quick Links

School Search Tools:
School by Type (NJ):
Private & Boarding Schools:
State Links:

Most Popular Articles

The Pros and Cons of Mandatory Gym Class in Public Schools
The Pros and Cons of Mandatory Gym Class in Public Schools
 School Rankings by Category
School Rankings by Category
What are the Benefits of Public School Over Homeschooling?
What are the Benefits of Public School Over Homeschooling?
 Can Students Be Legally Prosecuted for School Fights?
Can Students Be Legally Prosecuted for School Fights?
 Uniforms: The Pros and Cons
Uniforms: The Pros and Cons

More Articles

Opinion
Evaluating Public Schools
Public School Policies
Local School Topics
About Public Schools