Best Elementary Schools in NJ ? (Bloomfield, Montclair: best school districts, universities, living)
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Montclair's satellite school system has always fascinated me. Kids choosing what their focus is with their parents starting in middle school (ie: math/science, liberal arts, performing arts, etc).
But yeah, it's probably much easier, and much much shorter to make a list of school districts you should avoid in Northern NJ, rather than the other way around.
Let's throw budget in the mix as well, yes everybody agrees Millburn, Ridgewood, Westfield etc. all have the best school districts in the state (a state full of excellent school systems!) but you have to be able to afford living there, and not everybody can do that.
OP what's your housing budget?
ETA: Also I wanted to point you in the direction of two websites that rank school districts and also give you lots of specifc information about the student body and the teachers. I know you are looking for special services and I don't think the website goes too indepth on that specifically but it will give you a feel for the overall school district. Schooldigger.com and greatschools.com
And for what it's worth I think you are making the right choice moving out of JC! Even without special needs that is not the best school system.
Last edited by icibiu; 10-11-2011 at 09:29 AM..
Reason: added information
Greatschools and Schooldigger are great resources for Elementary schools especially since most towns have at least 2 Elementary schools. Finding the right area of town to move into is key. This is less important in areas like Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Millburn, Livingston,Summit,etc where all schools are going to rate very well. However in areas like Bloomfield or even my town, Hawthorne, the right area can mean the difference between an average or below average school and a top tier school.
Millburn, Livingston, Summit, Ridgewood, Northern Highlands Regional (Bergen Co), West Essex, Glen Ridge, Westfield, New Providence...
Just to clarify what Northern Highlands Regional means in terms of elementary schools, this covers the elementary schools in Allendale, Saddle River, Upper Saddle River and Ho-Ho-Kus.
In Bergen County, I would also include Wyckoff schools.
Let's throw budget in the mix as well, yes everybody agrees Millburn, Ridgewood, Westfield etc. all have the best school districts in the state (a state full of excellent school systems!) but you have to be able to afford living there, and not everybody can do that.
OP what's your housing budget?
ETA: Also I wanted to point you in the direction of two websites that rank school districts and also give you lots of specifc information about the student body and the teachers. I know you are looking for special services and I don't think the website goes too indepth on that specifically but it will give you a feel for the overall school district. Schooldigger.com and greatschools.com
And for what it's worth I think you are making the right choice moving out of JC! Even without special needs that is not the best school system.
If you are coming from out of state you will find that most all the schools in NJ are good.
If your child is an C student they will not become an A student when you move to the "best school system"
Every year there are kids from the inner city going to the best universities in the country. Not because of the schools they attended but because they had parents that knew the value of an education.
The best education starts at home, not in the classroom.
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