Looking for good school districts (Newark, Hackensack: neighborhoods, top school, live)

[Summer16]

Holmdel borders Hazlet and Middletown, which both have train stations. Also, Matawan has a train station. Depending where you are in Holmdel, it's not any farther than a town with the actual train station. And in some cases can be closer.

[ira]

Be careful with that. Some towns don't allow or have very limited non-resident parking at the train station. Westfield, for example, has a 3-year waiting list. Some people say that you can always find parking on the street but I wouldn't want to rely on that every morning.

[citywonder91]

try bergen county and get out of hudson and move somewhere liek north bergen 45 min from newark airport and 20 min from newyork not bad a lil bad on da airport thou who cares only 15 min but the best school i know ridgefield nj a small town next to north bergen 100 percent of there high graduated high school

[Cat05]

I've read good things about Ridgefield.

After thinking things over, I really have to confine myself to Bergen or Union counties. An hour commute just to get to Penn Station is too far for me. Its a pity, but there it is.

[AntoinetteNJ]

Originally Posted by Cat05

I've read good things about Ridgefield.

After thinking things over, I really have to confine myself to Bergen or Union counties. An hour commute just to get to Penn Station is too far for me. Its a pity, but there it is.

Hello again,

Ridgefield has a decent school system; an especially good special ed dept. My oldest was in the middle school, Slocum-Skewes.

As part of your research into an area, and as much of a pain as it could be...you MUST MUST MUST visit the area during different times of day. Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Cliffside Park, that whole South Eastern Bergen County area is plagued with a day laborer situation.

They congregate on street corners and frankly give the neighborhood a real seedy feel. It's one of the many reasons we moved our family out of the area entirely.

Regardless of where you choose to move, I always advise my clients to visit the neighborhood during the day and evening to avoid any unpleasant surprises after you move in!

[nowaytoknowyet]

Originally Posted by AntoinetteNJ

Hello again,

Ridgefield has a decent school system; an especially good special ed dept. My oldest was in the middle school, Slocum-Skewes.

As part of your research into an area, and as much of a pain as it could be...you MUST MUST MUST visit the area during different times of day. Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Cliffside Park, that whole South Eastern Bergen County area is plagued with a day laborer situation.

They congregate on street corners and frankly give the neighborhood a real seedy feel. It's one of the many reasons we moved our family out of the area entirely.

Regardless of where you choose to move, I always advise my clients to visit the neighborhood during the day and evening to avoid any unpleasant surprises after you move in!

Ridgefield does have good schools, but I think nowadays it may have gone down a 1/2 - 1 notch from what it was about 5 years ago - this is what I hear anyways.

I reside in this area as well - the day laborer situation is real prevalent in Cliffside Park and Fairview.

This area is not cheap to live in however as like in many other parts of this state. There's a complex in process of being built in Cliffside Park that's supposed to have penthouse views of the NYC skyline from every floor, between 1 - 2,000 feet of space priced between $1 - $2 million dollars EACH.

This area is already slowly making a transition to be affordable solely for the wealthy and I wonder how long it'll be before it's solely for millionares.
The middle-class is being squeezed-out from this area.

I speak to many people each week planning to move away from this area and NJ altogether.

To survive here one has to have THE JOB (the high paying job) as "A JOB" doesn't cut it as you'll struggle to make ends meet.

[machonatmanuel]

i suggest go to this website: www.greatschools.net. Click on NJ as state then click on go. then click on research and compare then type the near you addresss (the one you are thinking of buying the house)..there you will see the exact school nearest to that house you are planning to buy. Also you can check the rating, ethnicity, etchetera...But in my opinion after all I have researched araes there I like Colonia because of the schools.

[RAINBOWWAVES]

without a doubt, Carlstadt or Hackensack...

[krsta]

I know of the perfect small town with really good public schools and centrally located. Palisades Park, NJ. The only thing about our town is that the prices of homes are very expensive. I have searched out many schools for my kids and I have never been happier then with Pal. Pk's public school even after having my kids in very expensive private schools. Our town within the past 8 years has become overpopulated with people of Korean descent. I can say as a result our school system has gotten very advanced. The Korean's stress education and our school is now more advanced. Newark airport is without traffic 15 min away with traffic 30-40min. Pal. Pk is 5 min away from the George Washington Bridge. Please email me if I could answer any questions.

[krsta]

When I posted my reply I hadn't read all of the other comments made. I just wanted to comment on some of the things said. Ridgefield is Not Good. I have 3 children and a lot of experince with schools and my kids have many friends that live in other towns. I have not heard very good things about Rigefield. A mom has told me she is very unhappy with her daughter in the High School. Fort Lee has one good elementary school the others not so good. I also have lived a short time in Northern Bergen County, the town I lived in was very prejudiced if you were not of a German descent. If you love Hoboken you would love Palisades Park.