Morris County Area Schools Dominate New 'Best Schools' List

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — In New Jersey, where there are 2,516 public schools (at all grade levels) and 1,428 private schools, being on a list of the top 100 schools in the state would be quite an honor. And having several schools on the list would be impressive for any district.

The website Niche.com, which specializes in all different types of rankings, recently released a 2020 list of the top 300 schools in New Jersey, including public and private schools for all grade levels. Methodology included test scores, parent surveys, and more.

Many of the schools at the very top of the list are private schools or public magnet schools where kids must compete to get in.

However, Morris County has a slew of both public and private schools on the list. In fact, it has quite a number of schools in the top 200.

The first two Morris County schools to appear on the list are private schools, including one way up at the top at number 7. They are:

• 7. Delbarton School, Morristown (private, 7-12)
• 23. Morristown-Beard School ([private, 6-12)

But the public schools did quite well too. The schools in the top 200 are:

• 83. Morris County School of Technology, Denville (public, 9-12)
• 95. West Morris Mendham High School (public, 9-12)
• 153. Parsippany High School (public, 9-12)
• 168. Chatham High School (public, 9-12)
• 171. Immaculate Heart Academy, Washington Township (public, 9-12)
• 195. Hilldale Elementary School, Montville (public, K-5)

Schools around the Morris County area were prominent throughout the list. Between the 200 and 300 slots, 13 more schools made an appearance. They are:

• 227. West Morris Central High School (public, 9-12)
• 232. Morris Hills High School (public, 9-12)
• 246. Northvail Elementary School, Parsippany-Troy Hills (public, K-5
• 248. Academy of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown (public, 9-12)
• 255. Rockaway Meadow School, Parsippany-Troy Hills (public, K-5)
• 261. Troy Hills School, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District (public, K-5)
• 267. Southern Boulevard School, The School District of the Chathams (public, PK, K-3)
• 274. Parsippany Hills High School (public, 9-12)
• 275. Littleton School, Parsippany-Troy Hills (public, PK, K-5)
• 276. Lafayette Avenus School, The School District of the Chathams (public, 4-5)
• 287. Central Middle School, Parsippany-Troy Hills (public, 6-8)
• 297. Brooklawn Middle School, Parsippany-Troy (public, 6-8)
• 298. Milton Avenue School, The School District of the Chathams (public, PK, K-3)

Read more about the rankings and methodology here. Read more stories about the Morris County schools on Patch here.

Patch reporter Caren Lissner contributed to this report.