Schools in Bergen County NJ: A 2026 Guide

If you're relocating to Bergen County, the school system in your destination town is one of the first things worth researching. Bergen County has roughly 75 separate public school districts, and the way schools are organized varies from town to town. Some boroughs run their own schools from pre-K through 12th grade, while others send students to regional high schools that serve several municipalities.

This guide keeps to the facts: district names, school names, grade configurations, and whether options are public or private. For enrollment details, boundaries, and registration requirements, the best source is always the district itself. Every town guide on this site includes a Schools and Education section with the district and schools that serve that municipality.

How Public Schools Are Organized in Bergen County

Public education in Bergen County is organized at the municipal level. Most towns operate their own district, typically with elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. A number of communities share regional districts, most commonly for high school, so the district serving a property depends on its address rather than just its town name.

Because boundaries are address-specific, the reliable way to confirm a school assignment is to check the district's enrollment or boundary pages, or call the district office directly. NJ School Performance Reports, published by the New Jersey Department of Education, provide factual enrollment and staffing data for every public school in the state.

Examples of District Structures Across the County

District structure varies widely. Here is how a handful of Bergen County municipalities are organized:

• Tenafly — Tenafly Public School District: four elementary schools (grades K–5), Tenafly Middle School (grades 6–8), and Tenafly High School (grades 9–12).
• Ridgewood — Ridgewood Public Schools: a pre-K program, seven elementary schools (grades K–5), two middle schools (grades 6–8), and Ridgewood High School (grades 9–12).
• Fort Lee — Fort Lee School District: elementary schools (pre-K–4), a middle school, and Fort Lee High School.
• Teaneck — Teaneck Public Schools: six elementary schools (grades K–4), three middle schools (grades 5–8), and Teaneck High School (grades 9–12).
• Glen Rock — Glen Rock Public School District: four elementary schools (grades K–5), Glen Rock Middle School (grades 6–8), and Glen Rock High School (grades 9–12).
• Wyckoff — Wyckoff Township Public School District: four elementary schools (grades K–5) and Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School (grades 6–8), with students attending Ramapo High School or Indian Hills High School through the regional Ramapo Indian Hills district.
• River Edge — River Edge Elementary School District: two elementary schools (pre-K–6), with students attending River Dell Middle School (grades 7–8) and River Dell Regional High School (grades 9–12).
• Franklin Lakes — Franklin Lakes Public Schools: three elementary schools (grades Pre-K–5) and Franklin Avenue Middle School (grades 6–8), with students attending Ramapo High School or Indian Hills High School through the regional district.
• Cliffside Park — Cliffside Park School District: four elementary schools (grades PK–4), Cliffside Park Middle School (grades 5–8), and Cliffside Park High School (grades 9–12).
• Palisades Park — Palisades Park Public School District: Charles R. Smith Early Childhood Center (Pre-K–K) and Lindbergh Elementary School (grades 1–6), with Palisades Park Jr./Sr. High School serving grades 7–12.

These structures change from time to time, and every district publishes current information on its own website.

Countywide and Magnet Options

Beyond municipal districts, Bergen County operates two countywide public program systems that any resident can apply to:

• Bergen County Academies (BCA) in Hackensack is a tuition-free, application-based public high school serving students from Bergen County municipalities. It offers specialized academies in areas such as Science and Technology, Business and Finance, Visual and Performing Arts, and Pre-Medical Sciences. Admission is by application.
• Bergen County Technical Schools (BCT) offer career-focused technical education programs with campuses in Hasbrouck Heights, Paramus, and Teterboro. These programs are countywide and application-based.

Application timelines and requirements are published by the Bergen County Technical Schools district, which runs both BCA and BCT.

Private and Parochial Options

Bergen County also has a range of private and parochial schools, both religious and non-sectarian:

• Paramus Catholic High School — a co-educational Catholic high school in Paramus, grades 9–12.
• Don Bosco Preparatory High School — an all-boys Catholic high school in Ramsey, grades 9–12.
• Immaculate Heart Academy — an all-girls Catholic high school in Bergen County, grades 9–12.
• Einhorn School of Performing Arts — a private K–8 performing arts school in Bergen County.
• Numerous Catholic parochial elementary schools operate in towns including Leonia, Cliffside Park, and Palisades Park.

Private school tuition, admissions, and grade spans are set by each school, so check the school's own website for current details.

How to Verify School Information

School information changes, so always verify directly with the source:

• NJ School Performance Reports (nj.gov/education) — factual enrollment, attendance, and staffing data for every public school in New Jersey.
• District websites — boundaries, registration, and calendars, town by town.
• School visits — the district office or school front desk can confirm what serves a specific address.

If you're comparing towns while house hunting, each town guide on this site lists the district and schools that serve that municipality, alongside commute times, parks, and market data. For a walk through how the system works in the towns you're considering, book a call and we can map out the options together.