Looking for good school districts (Newark, Union: home, to buy, top schools)

[Cat05]

I currently live in Hoboken, which I love but which has poorly performing public schools. We are looking into moving withing NJ to a district where the public schools are good. There are some restrictions on our move-- we have to be within 30 minutes from an airport, and we have to be within an hour of NYC--preferably less. But for right now, I am focussing on finding areas with good public schools. So, if you love the schools in your area, say so!

Thanks!

[ira]

Hi,

I also live in Hoboken and moving to Bergen County for the same reason - schools.

We've researched Union and Bergen Counties. In Union county, we've looked at Summit, Westfield, Scotch Plains, Mountainside, New Providence. All have excellent schools and are commutable to the city (all within 50 min on a train to midtown Manhattan). In Bergen County, we've looked at Ridgewood, Glen Rock and Ho-Ho-Kus. Again, some of the top schools in the state and all are commutable to the city.

I think you could get to the Newark Airport w/in 30 min from any of those areas.

We both work in Manhattan, so we were concentrating on areas along the train line. If you don't have to take the train to Manhattan every day, your options are much greater. The whole north-east part of Bergen County (that is north of GW bridge) is great.

Let me know if you have any quetions or need more info. Good Luck.

[Cat05]

Thanks Ira,

I will take a look at those areas.

We have friends in Manhattan that we visit weekly, and we also go to see my mother in Brooklyn pretty often. I need to be relatively close in case something happens and she needs us. So commute time is a significant concern.

[mom4]

also check in Momouth county. Marlboro is a good area and great school system. My brother and sister-in-law live their and he works in NY and his mother lives in Brooklyn.

[Cat05]

Isn't Monmouth a little far?

How good is transit into NYC?


I've got a list now, and slowly my husband and I will start checking some of these places out. We have plenty of time, so anyone who wants to throw some more locations into the mix is welcome.

Oh, and Ira, if you are still out there--I'd love to hear anything you want to tell me about how you narrowed your choice down, what you thought of those locations, and what you ultimately decided upon.

My list right now consists of: Ho-ho-kus, Chatham, Millburn, Ridgewood, Livingston, Westfield, Chester, Mendham, Glen Ridge, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Fair Lawn. Also on my list to keep tabs on is Rutherford. It'd be nice to stay here, in some ways, and if Elysian steadies itself AND we get in that could be the best answer for us. Of course then we have the high school problem--and McNair is even harder to get into.

[ira]

Hi Cat05,

I am still here. Send me an email irafridman@yahoo.com and we'll chat.

[howellnj]

yes monmouth county is too far!!! your better off in Middlesex county

[mom4]

Marlboro is 45min. from the city and 35 to Newark airport depending on traffic. A lot of people live in Marlboro and work in NY. Home average is about 500,000. Good school district. My brother-in-law sometimes takes the bus in to the city.

[Adream]

Would Haddonfield put you too far out of the way? Excellent school district there. People I know moved from here to Haddonfield just so their kids could go to the high school.

[AntoinetteNJ]

Hi Cat,

I have the njmonthly NJ school report for 2004, their most updated version. If you'd like a copy, email me at removed and I'll forward it over to you.

Also, one town which hasn't been mentioned here yet which boasts blue ribbon schools is River Edge. Very convenient to NYC, they have a Path Station in town and access to rts. 17 & 4 is just minutes away.

Typically folks who sell their home in River Edge do so only to buy another home within the saem town.

Good luck & let me know if you'd like the school report.