Best Public Schools in Ocean, NJ

Ocean, New Jersey, has three schools in the Township of Ocean School District: two elementary schools serving pre-K through grade 4 and one intermediate school serving grades 5–8. In 2025–2026, both elementary schools scored above the state in all four shared grade-and-subject comparisons; together, they averaged 64% proficient versus 48% statewide, a 16-percentage-point lead. The clearest overall finding is that elementary results are strong relative to the state, while intermediate results vary considerably by grade and subject.

Wanamassa Elementary School leads the elementary comparison in three of four results: its grade 3 and grade 4 ELA scores were 68% and 72%, versus 57% and 64% at Wayside Elementary School—gaps of 11 and 9 points. Their math results were much closer: Wanamassa led by 1 point in grade 3, while Wayside led by 1 point in grade 4. Both schools beat state results in every comparison. At Township of Ocean Intermediate School, results were more mixed: ELA was above state results in three of four grades, but math fell below the state by 11 points in grade 7 and 8 points in grade 8. Algebra I stands out as a strength: grade 8 proficiency was 85%, compared with 75% statewide, and the End of Course result was 86%, versus 40% statewide.

Elementary averages declined year over year: Wayside fell from 72% to 61%, while Wanamassa fell from 71% to 66%; their combined lead over the state narrowed from 23 to 16 points. Intermediate trends differed by subject: its math deficit narrowed from 3 points to 2, while science shifted from 5 points above the state to 2 points below. SchoolDigger rates both elementary schools four stars, ranking Wanamassa at the 79th statewide percentile and Wayside at the 71st; the intermediate school receives three stars and ranks at the 53rd percentile. For 2024–2025, free/reduced lunch eligible shares were 16% at Wanamassa, 35% at Wayside, and 37% at the intermediate school; each school reported a 9.4 student–teacher ratio. These are contextual figures, not explanations of test results.