Best Public Schools in Dover, NJ

The city of Dover, New Jersey is home to 7 schools, including 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. These schools are primarily part of the Dover Public School District, with the exception of two elementary schools, Dennis B O'Brien Elementary School and Birchwood Elementary School, which are part of the Rockaway Township School District.

The two Rockaway Township elementary schools, Dennis B O'Brien Elementary School and Birchwood Elementary School, stand out as the top-performing schools in the area. These schools consistently achieve higher test scores, with proficiency rates often exceeding 50% in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. They also have lower chronic absenteeism rates and serve a smaller percentage of economically disadvantaged students compared to the Dover public schools. Additionally, these Rockaway Township schools receive significantly higher per-student funding, which may contribute to their stronger academic outcomes.

In contrast, the Dover public schools, including Dover High School, North Dover Elementary School, Academy Street Elementary School, Dover Middle School, and East Dover Elementary School, generally have lower test scores, higher rates of economically disadvantaged students, and lower per-student funding. This performance gap between the Dover and Rockaway Township schools suggests that addressing factors such as resource allocation and socioeconomic disparities could be crucial in improving educational outcomes for all students in the Dover area.