Beyond School Rankings: What Morristown Home Buyers Need to Know

But here's what many people don't realize: those online school rankings you're studying might not tell you what you really need to know.

The Ranking Reality Check

Morristown School District is ranked #65 in New Jersey. At first glance, that might seem less appealing than districts ranked in the top 20 or 30. But before you eliminate towns based on rankings alone, understand what these numbers actually measure.
What rankings typically capture:

• Standardized test scores
• Student performance averages
• Graduation rates

What rankings often miss:

• Quality of teaching
• Available programs and resources
• Community and culture
• How your tax dollars are actually spent

The Hidden Factor: Optional Testing

Here's something most buyers don't know: in many districts, standardized tests are actually optional. Students can opt out with a note from their parents.
I've heard from teachers that high-achieving students with heavy AP course loads sometimes skip these tests because they're already overwhelmed with AP exams. When your best students opt out, average scores drop—even though the education quality remains excellent.

What Morristown Offers That Rankings Don't Show

Universal Public Preschool: Morristown offers full-day preschool starting at age three with transportation included. Many surrounding "top-ranked" districts offer no public preschool, use lottery systems, or only provide needs-based programs.
Fiscal Responsibility: Rankings calculate per-pupil costs but don't account for debt service. A fiscally healthy district means more of your tax dollars go directly to education rather than paying off bonds. This allows investment in programs, teachers, and resources rather than debt obligations.
Where Your Money Actually Goes: Consider not just the total tax burden but how efficiently those dollars are being used in the classroom versus servicing debt.

The Real Questions to Ask

Instead of fixating on rankings, consider:

• Talk to actual families: Ask parents whose children currently attend about their experience, teacher quality, and available programs.
• Consider your child's needs: A "top-ranked" school with limited arts programs might not be ideal if your child is passionate about music.
• Look at resources: What extracurriculars are offered? What support exists for students who need extra help?
• Evaluate fiscal health: How much goes to education versus debt service?

The Bottom Line

School quality matters tremendously, but a number on a ranking list doesn't tell you whether a district will be the right fit for your child. Rankings don't show you where your tax dollars actually go or capture the long-term benefits of universal preschool access.
Some of the most satisfied families I work with chose districts that weren't the "highest ranked" but offered the right combination of programs, fiscal responsibility, and community culture for their specific needs.
Don't let rankings alone eliminate towns you might otherwise love. Do your research, talk to families, understand how districts allocate resources, and make decisions based on what will actually serve your children best—not what looks best on a spreadsheet.

Ryan Bruen leads The Bruen Team at Coldwell Banker in Morristown, the #1 sales team in the office for over seven years. Questions about school districts in Morris County? We're here to provide real-world insights beyond the rankings.