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West Essex High School

Q: Is West Essex High School a good school?

West Essex High School ranks 96 th of 434 New Jersey high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

96^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 434 New Jersey High Schools

Better than 78% of New Jersey high schools

Summary

West Essex High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in North Caldwell, New Jersey, with a student population of 1,055. The school is part of the West Essex Regional School District, which is ranked 129 out of 609 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

West Essex High School consistently outperforms state and district averages in academic achievement. In the 2024-2025 school year, 66.4% of 9th-grade students were proficient or better in NJSLA/English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 49.9%. The school also maintains an impressive 4-year graduation rate, ranging from 91.1% to 98.1% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, West Essex High School has relatively low chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 2.8% to 16.6% in recent years, which is generally lower than the surrounding schools.

When compared to nearby high schools, such as West Orange High School, Wayne Valley High School, and Montclair High School, West Essex High School generally outperforms these schools in academic performance, graduation rates, and student subgroup rankings. This indicates that West Essex High School is a strong academic institution within the region, offering a quality education to its diverse student population.

1,061

Students ?

11.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,583

Per pupil spending ?

3.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

65 West Greenbrook Rd
North Caldwell, NJ 07006

(973) 228-1200

District: West Essex Regional School District

Feeder schools for West Essex High School:

Elementary:	Adlai E. Stevenson School
	Essex Fells Elementary School
	Grandview Elementary School
	Lester C Noecker
	More...
	Winston S. Churchill School
Middle:	Gould/Mountain Elementary School
	West Essex Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

79.5%

Hispanic:

9.5%

Asian:

6.4%

See top rated New Jersey high schools

Compare West Essex High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 90th percentile in 2019 → 78th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the New Jersey average (60% vs 44% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 22% of New Jersey high schools

✓98% graduate in 4 years — above the New Jersey average (91%)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped from its 90th-percentile peak (2019) to 78th (2025)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school60%

District avg63%

New Jersey avg44%

96^th of 434

New Jersey public high schools ?

Top 22%▲ up 17 pts since 2015

From top 39% (2015) to top 22% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of New Jersey High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

129^th of 609West Essex Regional School District among New Jersey districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	69.8	96 of 434	77.9%	★★★★☆
2024	78.4	64 of 429	85.1%	★★★★☆
2023	72.5	64 of 422	84.8%	★★★★☆
2022	71.7	64 of 415	84.6%	★★★★☆
2021	73.0	64 of 405	84.2%	★★★★☆
2019	80.3	42 of 416	89.9%	★★★★★
2018	60.8	107 of 415	74.2%	★★★★☆
2017	53.1	148 of 411	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2016	60.5	101 of 409	75.3%	★★★★☆
2015	46.0	160 of 406	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2014	78.7	50 of 411	87.8%	★★★★☆
2013	79.4	42 of 396	89.4%	★★★★☆
2012	74.7	86 of 388	77.8%	★★★★☆
2011	73.6	105 of 378	72.2%	★★★★☆
2010	75.6	86 of 371	76.8%	★★★★☆
2009	73.4	103 of 370	72.2%	★★★★☆
2008	72.1	111 of 359	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	71.0	114 of 361	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2006	76.8	75 of 357	79.0%	★★★★☆
2005	75.1	88 of 351	74.9%	★★★★☆
2004	75.0	85 of 348	75.6%	★★★★☆
2003	81.7	51 of 343	85.1%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	58.3	68 of 190	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.2	39 of 191	79.6%	★★★★☆
2023	53.7	72 of 172	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	77.2	27 of 175	84.6%	★★★★☆
2021	77.7	20 of 165	87.9%	★★★★☆
2019	74.5	28 of 191	85.3%	★★★★☆
2018	59.9	67 of 198	66.2%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	73.3	84 of 426	80.3%	★★★★☆
2024	79.1	60 of 420	85.7%	★★★★☆
2023	70.4	58 of 416	86.1%	★★★★☆
2022	69.9	64 of 414	84.5%	★★★★☆
2021	77.5	46 of 402	88.6%	★★★★☆
2019	79.4	43 of 408	89.5%	★★★★☆
2018	59.4	126 of 403	68.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	60.7	131 of 406	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	85.4	43 of 403	89.3%	★★★★☆
2023	60.7	93 of 385	75.8%	★★★★☆
2022	67.5	67 of 382	82.5%	★★★★☆
2021	66.0	77 of 374	79.4%	★★★★☆
2019	91.7	19 of 364	94.8%	★★★★★
2018	59.2	103 of 368	72.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2024	91.3	15 of 358	95.8%	★★★★★
2018	20.6	305 of 345	11.6%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	62.8	118 of 426	72.3%	★★★★☆
2024	75.4	58 of 419	86.2%	★★★★☆
2023	69.6	79 of 414	80.9%	★★★★☆
2022	67.8	74 of 410	82.0%	★★★★☆
2021	70.1	66 of 402	83.6%	★★★★☆
2019	73.2	63 of 407	84.5%	★★★★☆
2018	49.6	152 of 405	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	59.4	95 of 359	73.5%	★★★★☆
2024	70.2	58 of 361	83.9%	★★★★☆
2023	70.0	46 of 339	86.4%	★★★★☆
2022	81.4	24 of 344	93.0%	★★★★★
2021	62.4	73 of 333	78.1%	★★★★☆
2019	93.0	17 of 349	95.1%	★★★★★
2018	56.7	100 of 355	71.8%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	New Jersey percentile	Rating
2025	59.4	112 of 347	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.5	71 of 345	79.4%	★★★★☆
2023	67.0	57 of 335	83.0%	★★★★☆
2022	64.8	65 of 335	80.6%	★★★★☆
2021	62.4	58 of 336	82.7%	★★★★☆
2019	70.9	50 of 339	85.3%	★★★★☆
2018	45.5	148 of 340	56.5%	★★★☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2024)96th percentile+11 vs school

Female (2025)80th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)74th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2025)72nd percentile-6 vs school

Hispanic (2025)68th percentile-10 vs school

White (2025)68th percentile-10 vs school

Asian (2025)64th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs New Jersey (2024-2025) ?

Algebra II100%+18 vs state

Geometry89%+33 vs state

Mathematics84%+26 vs state

English Language Arts66%+16 vs state

Algebra I37%+5 vs state

Science32%~ state avg

2.5

2 ratings · 1 written review

5★0

4★1

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Weak English and Science departments.

English - Diane Gray is a ruthless grader who forces students to write her way and grades subjectively. There is no evidence that her style and grading contributes to better writing or higher SAT/AP test scores. She has destroyed college hopes of many students I know. She's just a miserable person.

Science dept - just look at how few students take AP bio after honors bio. Teachers can't teach and just give out bad grades to students who can't teach themselves.

There is too much cheating in class. Ask how many students are absent on test days in order to take a makeup test after hearing about test topics from friends.

Sports is everything at WE. Field hockey wins games because the coach threatens kids who win games by less than 8 points. What the hell is going on at this school?

The administration must know what's going on and turn a blind eye. Close Quote

Schools Near West Essex High School

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 Algebra I (2025)		NJSLA Geometry (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 11th Grade	NJSLA English Language Arts 9th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I 9th Grade	NJSLA Algebra I End of Course	NJSLA Geometry 9th Grade	NJSLA Geometry 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
West Essex High School	Public	9-12	65 West Greenbrook Rd	North Caldwell	07006	Essex County	West Essex Regional School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 228-1200	1,061	93	11.4	3.3%	844 (79.5%)	25 (2.4%)	101 (9.5%)	68 (6.4%)	2 (0.2%)	5 (0.5%)	15 (1.4%)	69.8	96^th of 434 public high schools	77.9%		78.4	64^th of 429 public high schools	85.1%	32		83.5	32.2	66.4	36.7	36.5	89.0	89.0	100.0	100.0	$9,583		$9,583
Essex High School	Public	9-12	369 Passaic Avenue	Fairfield	07004	Essex County	Essex Regional Educational Services Commission	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 815-1389	34	3	11.3	64.7%	1 (2.9%)	32 (94.1%)	1 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Essex Campus Academy	Public	9-12	369 Passaic Avenue	Fairfield	07004	Essex County	Essex Regional Educational Services Commission	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 815-1389	37	3	12.3	59.5%	1 (2.7%)	23 (62.2%)	13 (35.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Essex County West Caldwell Technical	Public	9-12	620 Passaic Ave	West Caldwell	07006	Essex County	Essex County Schools of Technology	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 412-2205	353	35	10.0	66.0%	14 (4.0%)	133 (37.7%)	197 (55.8%)	6 (1.7%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	42.6	249^th of 434 public high schools	42.6%		51.3	194^th of 429 public high schools	54.8%	55		61.0	16.7	54.2	30.5	30.5	29.2	26.9			$13,110	$420	$12,690
Verona High School	Public	9-12	151 Fairview Ave	Verona	07044	Essex County	Verona Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 571-6750	593	54	11.0	0.5%	470 (79.3%)	12 (2.0%)	68 (11.5%)	22 (3.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (3.2%)	70.9	91^st of 434 public high schools	79.0%		67.6	109^th of 429 public high schools	74.6%	18		81.8	57.1	62.0	27.0	27.0	67.3	67.3			$12,611	$135	$12,476
James Caldwell High School	Public	9-12	265 Westville Ave	West Caldwell	07006	Essex County	Caldwell-West School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 228-6981	749	75	9.9	11.5%	574 (76.6%)	18 (2.4%)	115 (15.4%)	35 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	5 (0.7%)	73.1	79^th of 434 public high schools	81.8%		76.5	69^th of 429 public high schools	83.9%	10		81.7	40.0	64.4	45.9	45.9	86.9	86.9			$14,431	$24	$14,407
Passaic Valley Regional High School	Public	9-12	100 East Main Street	Little Falls	07424	Passaic County	Passaic Valley Regional High School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 890-2500	1,093	82	13.2	36.4%	530 (48.5%)	41 (3.8%)	443 (40.5%)	57 (5.2%)	2 (0.2%)	2 (0.2%)	18 (1.6%)	40.3	263^rd of 434 public high schools	39.4%		40.4	256^th of 429 public high schools	40.3%	7	83.8	47.3	14.8	50.4	13.6	13.6	87.9	85.2			$15,358	$176	$15,182
Cedar Grove High School	Public	9-12	90 Rugby Road	Cedar Grove	07009	Essex County	Cedar Grove Township School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 239-6400	421	43	9.7	6.4%	323 (76.7%)	15 (3.6%)	44 (10.5%)	30 (7.1%)	2 (0.5%)	5 (1.2%)	2 (0.5%)	62.8	134^th of 434 public high schools	69.1%		53.4	178^th of 429 public high schools	58.5%	44		87.0	25.4	57.7	33.3	33.3	85.8	85.8			$9,924	$27	$9,897
Wayne Valley High School	Public	9-12	551 Valley Road	Wayne	07470	Passaic County	Wayne Township Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(973) 317-2200	1,201	123	9.8	11.6%	804 (66.9%)	29 (2.4%)	247 (20.6%)	90 (7.5%)	4 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	26 (2.2%)	64.2	122^nd of 434 public high schools	71.9%		68.9	106^th of 429 public high schools	75.3%	16	86.7	68.0	39.6	59.2	29.9	29.9	85.4	85.4			$16,982	$363	$16,619
Montclair High School	Public	9-12	100 Chestnut St	Montclair	07042	Essex County	Montclair Public School District	No	(n/a)	No	No	(973) 509-4100	1,925	150	12.8	17.9%	935 (48.6%)	434 (22.5%)	305 (15.8%)	97 (5.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	145 (7.5%)	62.5	135^th of 434 public high schools	68.9%		62.3	136^th of 429 public high schools	68.3%	1	88.1	69.1	47.9	62.9	14.3	14.3	43.3	43.3	96.0	96.0	$9,854	$108	$9,746

Frequently Asked Questions about West Essex High School

What schools feed into West Essex High School?

West Essex High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Adlai E. Stevenson School
Elementary : Essex Fells Elementary School
Elementary : Grandview Elementary School
Elementary : Lester C Noecker
Elementary : Winston S. Churchill School
Middle : Gould/Mountain Elementary School
Middle : West Essex Middle School

Is West Essex High School a good school?

West Essex High School ranks 96^th of 434 New Jersey high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of West Essex High School?

Students at West Essex High School are 80% White, 10% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 2% African American, 1% Two or more races.

What district is West Essex High School in?

West Essex Regional School District

How many students attend West Essex High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 1,061 students attended West Essex High School.

Rate West Essex High School!

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Schools in North Caldwell, NJ

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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.