These 21 N.J. schools are among the nation’s best, U.S. News says
New Jersey continues to have some of the top public schools in the United States, according to one of the most recognizable national rankings in the country.
The U.S News & World Report rankings of best high schools was released Tuesday, with New Jersey claiming 21 of the top 500, including seven of the top 100.
The Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies, a selective school located on the campus of the county community college in Edison, was rated best in the Garden State and No. 33 in the nation.
The school was also recognized as among the best science, technology, engineering and math programs in the country. It placed second in the U.S. in that category, behind another New Jersey school —Monmouth County’s High Technology High School in Lincroft, which took top honors there, and No. 57 in the overall national rankings.
The report evaluated nearly 17,800 schools across the United States, assessing them based on standardized test scores, graduate rates and the performance of traditionally underserved populations: their black, Hispanic and low-income students.
In New Jersey, specialized schools with selective enrollment typically earn the highest marks, often followed by traditional high schools in wealthy suburbs.
Overall, New Jersey placed fifth in U.S. News’ ranking among states, behind Massachusetts, California, Connecticut and Maryland.
Here are the schools that made the top 500:
21. Ridge High School
Location: Basking Ridge, Somerset County
National ranking: 472
20. West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South
Location: West Windsor, Mercer County
National ranking: 456
19. Summit Senior High School
Location: Summit, Union County
National ranking: 448
18. Glen Ridge High School
Location: Glen Ridge, Essex County
National ranking: 396
17. Marine Academy of Science and Technology
Location: Highlands, Monmouth County
National ranking: 391
16. Millburn High School
Location: Millburn, Essex County
National ranking: 366
15. Princeton High School
Location: Princeton, Mercer County
National ranking: 356
14. West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North
Location: Plainsboro, Middlesex County
National ranking: 302
13. Academy of Allied Health and Science
Location: Neptune, Monmouth County
National ranking: 273
12. Elizabeth High School
Location: Elizabeth, Union County
National ranking: 257
11. Infinity Institute
Location: Jersey City, Hudson County
National ranking: 216
10. Academy for Allied Health Sciences
Location: Scotch Plains, Union County
National ranking: 207
9. Union County Magnet High School
Location: Scotch Plains, Union County
National Ranking: 131
8. Academy for Information Technology
Location: Scotch Plains, Union County
National Ranking: 130
7. Bergen County Technical High School – Teterboro
Location: Teterboro, Bergen County
National ranking: 93
6. Biotechnology High School
Location: Freehold, Monmouth County
National ranking: 85
5. Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health
Location: Woodbridge, Middlesex County
National ranking: 70
4. Dr. Ronald E. McNair High School
Location: Jersey City, Hudson County
National ranking: 63
3. High Technology High School
Location: Lincroft, Monmouth County
National ranking: 57
2. Bergen County Academies
Location: Hackensack, Bergen County
National ranking: 46
1. Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies
Location: Edison, Middlesex County
National ranking: 33