New Jersey’s public schools have long been a source of pride—and a new national ranking once again backs that up. According to a report from WalletHub released yesterday, the Garden State has the third-best public school system in the U.S. for 2025.
The report compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C., using 32 indicators of school quality and safety—from test scores and graduation rates to student-teacher ratios and access to digital learning tools. New Jersey stood out for its academic performance and improvements in school safety.
Here’s how New Jersey schools stack up:
- 3rd overall in the nation
- 2nd in reading test scores
- 5th in math test scores
- 7th in student-teacher ratio
- 14th in median ACT score
- 2nd-highest share of students scoring 3 or higher on AP exams
- 1st for having a statewide digital learning plan
- 3rd for the share of public schools ranked in the top 700 nationwide
“New Jersey excels particularly in core learning metrics, with the second-best reading scores, fifth-best math scores, and the second-highest share of students scoring 3 or higher on Advanced Placement exams,” Chip Lupo, a writer and analyst for WalletHub, told New Jersey Family. He added that New Jersey also boasts one of the lowest student-to-teacher ratios in the country, which helps improve classroom attention and support.
On the safety side, New Jersey ranked 21st overall, an improvement from 23rd last year. “The state has adopted comprehensive digital learning plans, requires both school safety plans and safety audits, and ranks fourth in the nation for the lowest share of armed high school students,” Lupo said. “This underscores a proactive approach to safety, though there’s still room for improvement in areas like drug exposure and school violence.”
New Jersey’s rise from 4th place in 2024 to 3rd in 2025 was driven by modest gains in both quality and safety. “While the quality score increased slightly from 65.13 to 65.25, the safety score saw a bigger jump—from 56.70 to 58.03—helping the state climb the overall rankings,” Lupo said.
Massachusetts topped the list again in 2025, earning the highest scores in both math and reading, along with the highest share of students scoring 3 or above on AP exams. “Massachusetts also has the fifth-lowest share of students who report being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property, and the fourth-lowest share who report illegal drugs being available on campus,” Lupo said.
While public school quality plays a big role in student success, experts emphasize that schools are one piece of a larger picture.
A child’s family, peer group, and a community’s broader socioeconomic status are critical factors that support success, said Jill Channing, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Center for Community College Leadership at East Tennessee State University. “Research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child has shown that stable relationships, safe environments, and opportunities for enrichment outside of school are equally critical,” Channing said. “A high-quality school can buffer the effects of adverse experiences, but it cannot replace the support that comes from a stable home environment and a safe neighborhood.”
Top 10 Public School Systems in 2025, According to WalletHub:
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- New Hampshire
- Wisconsin
- Rhode Island
- Indiana
- Maryland
- New York
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