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Best Public Schools in Clifton, NJ

At a glance

Schools

10,312

Students

Districts

Top rankedSchool #9314^th of 1,347 New Jersey elementary schools

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Biggest riser

School #5 up 165 spots statewide this year

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Smallest classes

School #16 8.2 students per teacher

SchoolDigger ratings

3★

2★

1★

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Summary:

The city of Clifton, New Jersey is home to 20 schools, including 16 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 1 high school, all part of the Clifton Public School District. The district is ranked 457 out of 609 districts in New Jersey and is rated 1 star out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Within the district, a few standout schools emerge. School #9 and School #16 are elementary schools that consistently perform well, ranking in the top 25% and top 50% of New Jersey elementary schools, respectively. These schools have high proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. In contrast, School #11 and School #12 struggle to meet state standards.

The district's only high school, Clifton High School, performs poorly compared to other high schools in the state, ranking in the bottom 25%. However, the Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton, a public charter school, outperforms the district and state averages in many subject areas, suggesting that the charter model may be a successful approach for some students in Clifton.

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Ranking:

E = Elementary, M = Middle, H = High, A = Alternative, P = Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				NJGPA English Language Arts (2025)	NJGPA Mathematics (2025)	NJSLA-S Science (2025)			NJSLA English Language Arts (2025)							NJSLA Mathematics (2025)						NJSLA Algebra I (2025)				NJSLA Algebra II (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	NJGPA English Language Arts 11th Grade	NJGPA Mathematics 11th Grade	NJSLA-S Science 5th Grade	NJSLA-S Science 8th Grade	NJSLA-S Science 11th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 3rd Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 4th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 5th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 6th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 7th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 8th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 9th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 3rd Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 4th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 5th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 6th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 7th Grade	NJSLA Mathematics 8th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I 8th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I 9th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I 10th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I End of Course	NJSLA Algebra II 9th Grade	NJSLA Algebra II End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton	Public, Charter	5-8	1255 Main Avenue	Clifton	07011	Passaic County	Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 278-7707	185	10	18.5	54.1%	58 (31.4%)	5 (2.7%)	93 (50.3%)	26 (14.1%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	52.6	328^th of 752 public middle schools	56.4%		59.4	281^st of 743 public middle schools	62.2%	47			18.8	12.0				25.0	51.8	51.8	63.8				18.8	39.3	48.1	27.8	72.7			72.7			$9,165	$577	$8,588
Clifton High School	Public	9-12	333 Colfax Avenue	Clifton	07013	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 470-2312	3,150	225	14.0	66.9%	764 (24.3%)	111 (3.5%)	2,092 (66.4%)	144 (4.6%)	19 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (0.4%)	30.2	313^th of 434 public high schools	27.9%		28.9	317^th of 429 public high schools	26.1%	4	74.2	46.1			15.7							37.4								13.0	5.9	12.7	91.1	91.1	$12,104	$05	$12,099
Christopher Columbus Middle School	Public	6-8	350 Piaget Avenue	Clifton	07011	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 470-2360	1,092	120	9.1	74.1%	204 (18.7%)	35 (3.2%)	771 (70.6%)	50 (4.6%)	13 (1.2%)	2 (0.2%)	16 (1.5%)	28.5	528^th of 752 public middle schools	29.8%		29.9	510^th of 743 public middle schools	31.4%	18				8.1					36.3	37.2	42.8					23.8	28.9	13.7	100.0			100.0			$12,843	$593	$12,250
Woodrow Wilson Middle School	Public	6-8	1400 Van Houten Avenue	Clifton	07013	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 470-2348	1,255	115	10.8	56.1%	357 (28.4%)	58 (4.6%)	718 (57.2%)	96 (7.6%)	7 (0.6%)	3 (0.2%)	16 (1.3%)	41.6	423^rd of 752 public middle schools	43.8%		41.7	410^th of 743 public middle schools	44.8%	13				13.1					36.1	51.1	51.4					31.1	35.5	25.8	96.3			96.3			$12,567		$12,567
School #1	Public	PK, KG-5	158 Park Slope	Clifton	07011	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 470-2370	255	22	11.8	76.5%	104 (40.8%)	11 (4.3%)	122 (47.8%)	11 (4.3%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	3 (1.2%)	32.3	925^th of 1347 public elementary schools	31.3%		31.8	917^th of 1338 public elementary schools	31.5%	8			18.2			25.5	46.8	40.4					40.3	39.6	41.5										$12,189		$12,189
School #2	Public	K-5	1270 Van Houten Avenue	Clifton	07013	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 470-2380	401	33	12.1	46.1%	152 (37.9%)	16 (4.0%)	176 (43.9%)	47 (11.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.2%)	54.7	621^st of 1347 public elementary schools	53.9%		53.6	626^th of 1338 public elementary schools	53.2%	5			27.8			35.5	64.4	55.9					48.4	60.0	50.9										$11,988		$11,988
School #3	Public	PK, KG-5	365 Washington Avenue	Clifton	07011	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 470-2390	257	19	13.5	70.0%	80 (31.1%)	4 (1.6%)	152 (59.1%)	13 (5.1%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.9%)	42.8	774^th of 1347 public elementary schools	42.5%		38.2	818^th of 1338 public elementary schools	38.9%	44			29.7			29.5	51.0	54.8					47.7	35.3	47.6										$11,857		$11,857
School #4	Public	PK, KG-5	194 West Second Street	Clifton	07011	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 470-2382	130	15	8.6	86.2%	42 (32.3%)	10 (7.7%)	64 (49.2%)	12 (9.2%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.8%)	24.9	1024^th of 1347 public elementary schools	24.0%		17.4	1109^th of 1338 public elementary schools	17.1%	85			12.0			41.7	34.8	26.7					40.0	37.5	25.0										$12,498	$594	$11,904
School #5	Public	K-5	136 Valley Road	Clifton	07013	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 470-2386	398	37	10.7	53.5%	119 (29.9%)	13 (3.3%)	222 (55.8%)	36 (9.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.0%)	38.4	837^th of 1347 public elementary schools	37.9%		25.3	1002^nd of 1338 public elementary schools	25.1%	165			17.7			44.8	35.9	48.4					61.1	32.3	35.3										$12,695		$12,695
School #8	Public	PK, KG-5	41 Oak Street	Clifton	07014	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 470-2392	165	17	9.7	55.8%	29 (17.6%)	7 (4.2%)	110 (66.7%)	15 (9.1%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)	18.3	1124^th of 1347 public elementary schools	16.6%		33.7	888^th of 1338 public elementary schools	33.6%	236			11.8			6.5	52.4	26.1					29.1	33.3	17.4										$18,003		$18,003
School #9	Public	PK, KG-5	25 Brighton Road	Clifton	07012	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 470-2396	306	28	10.9	37.6%	112 (36.6%)	8 (2.6%)	150 (49.0%)	22 (7.2%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (3.6%)	78.1	314^th of 1347 public elementary schools	76.7%		65	479^th of 1338 public elementary schools	64.2%	165			43.7			61.7	62.1	79.0					64.6	63.2	71.1										$13,262		$13,262
School #11	Public	PK, KG-5	147 Merselis Avenue	Clifton	07011	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 470-2401	376	38	10.0	76.3%	81 (21.5%)	15 (4.0%)	251 (66.8%)	19 (5.1%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	6 (1.6%)	20	1098^th of 1347 public elementary schools	18.5%		18.2	1100^th of 1338 public elementary schools	17.8%	2			17.5			29.8	30.4	25.0					33.8	31.7	24.4										$12,583	$594	$11,989
School #12	Public	PK, KG-5	165 Clifton Avenue	Clifton	07011	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 470-2404	560	55	10.2	86.1%	67 (12.0%)	6 (1.1%)	473 (84.5%)	6 (1.1%)	6 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	21.6	1071^st of 1347 public elementary schools	20.5%		18.2	1103^rd of 1338 public elementary schools	17.6%	32			7.3			22.2	42.6	38.1					35.5	33.0	23.3										$13,219	$1,304	$11,915
School #13	Public	K-5	782 Van Houten Avenue	Clifton	07013	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 470-2410	443	39	11.5	67.9%	153 (34.5%)	12 (2.7%)	238 (53.7%)	27 (6.1%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.5%)	42.5	780^th of 1347 public elementary schools	42.1%		40.4	789^th of 1338 public elementary schools	41.0%	9			24.6			26.9	48.7	42.2					58.0	50.0	40.9										$11,664		$11,664
School #14	Public	PK, KG-5	99 St Andrews Boulevard	Clifton	07012	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 470-2411	355	38	9.4	63.1%	136 (38.3%)	23 (6.5%)	154 (43.4%)	35 (9.9%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.4%)	35.8	873^rd of 1347 public elementary schools	35.2%		40.9	784^th of 1338 public elementary schools	41.4%	89			13.1			43.6	52.3	37.3					51.3	36.2	34.1										$13,815	$596	$13,219
School #15	Public	PK, KG-5	700 Gregory Avenue	Clifton	07011	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 470-2418	282	23	12.2	70.2%	51 (18.1%)	10 (3.5%)	206 (73.0%)	5 (1.8%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.1%)	29.1	968^th of 1347 public elementary schools	28.1%		26.5	987^th of 1338 public elementary schools	26.2%	19			14.0			25.0	35.5	44.0					44.4	40.0	33.3										$12,735	$594	$12,141
School #16	Public	K-5	755 Grove Street	Clifton	07013	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 470-2420	201	25	8.2	49.3%	65 (32.3%)	14 (7.0%)	82 (40.8%)	28 (13.9%)	2 (1.0%)	1 (0.5%)	9 (4.5%)	55.4	610^th of 1347 public elementary schools	54.7%		55.8	596^th of 1338 public elementary schools	55.5%	14			33.4			34.5	43.5	70.0					68.9	30.4	76.2										$13,684		$13,684
School #17	Public	PK, KG-5	361 Lexington Avenue	Clifton	07011	Passaic County	Clifton Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 458-6017	501	57	8.7	83.8%	59 (11.8%)	15 (3.0%)	412 (82.2%)	11 (2.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	25	1021^st of 1347 public elementary schools	24.2%		28.6	958^th of 1338 public elementary schools	28.4%	63			9.1			46.3	32.3	39.1					40.8	26.7	23.6										$12,646	$594	$12,052

Cities Near Clifton

City	Distance	# of Schools	Statewide Rank
Passaic	0.72 mi	19	483^rd
Garfield	1.35 mi	12	312^th
Paterson	1.39 mi	51	495^th
Elmwood Park	1.54 mi	5	404^th
Wallington	2.35 mi	3	246^th

See the top NJ New Jersey cities

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.