The Best High Schools for Athletes in New Jersey, According to a 2025 Ranking

Wondering which New Jersey high schools offer the best experience for student-athletes? Niche just released its 2024 rankings of the top 25 schools for sports, based on everything from state titles and student participation to the range of athletic options offered and real reviews from students and parents.

Niche ranked the 25 best high schools in New Jersey for athletes and private schools accounted for 7 of the top 10. Schools placing first to 20th all got A+ ratings and Nos. 21-25 got As.

Delbarton School in Morristown ranked No. 1. The all-boys, grades 7-12 Benedictine Catholic school is also the No. 1 Best Catholic High School in New Jersey. With an overall grade of A+, it received an A+ average in academics, teachers, clubs and activities, college prep and sports, and a B+ in diversity. Eighty-five percent of students play on interscholastic athletic teams from a choice of 17 sports. The Green Wave athletics program includes football, rugby, squash and skiing.

Bergen Catholic High School, coming in at No. 2, is also the No. 3 Best All-Boys High School in NJ, according to Niche. The grades 9-12 school in Oradell got an A+ for academics, clubs and activities, college prep and sports; an A for diversity; and an A- for teachers. The 700 Crusaders play a range of 18 sports – including crew, indoor and outdoor track, rugby, lacrosse and skiing – as part of the NJSIAA and the Big North Conference. Bergen Catholic has won 560 championships since the school’s inception in 1955, and the Crusader Athletic Program won the 2023-2024 Lou Molino Big North Conference All-Sports Banner in the United Division – Boys Schools (and won banners 9 out of the last 11 years).

Ramsey’s Don Bosco Prep came in third. Another private, Catholic, all-boys high school, it also ranks fifth for Best All-Boys High School in the state. The grade 9-12 school received an A+ for academics, clubs and activities, college prep and sports; and an A- for teachers and diversity. There have been 49 league championships, 71 county championships, 15 state championships, and 3 national championships over the years. This includes nine undefeated seasons, and the Ironmen being named the Star Ledger’s Team of the Year eight times. The 2003 group was named the greatest football team in New Jersey high school history. There is bowling, fencing, crew, golf, mountain biking, rugby, skiing and volleyball among its 20 sports offerings.

Ramapo High School, located in Franklin Lakes, took the fourth spot. This is the first public school on the list, also noted as the 13th best public school in New Jersey. Rated A overall by Niche – with an A for academics and clubs/activities, A- for college prep, B+ for teachers, and B- for diversity and administration – it has an A+ ranking because of the 30 year-round sports on its roster. Students sign up for cheerleading, gymnastics, competitive dance, swimming, mountain biking, and flag football.

Seton Hall Prep in West Orange rounds out the Top 5. Another private, all-boys (No. 2 in the state), grades 9-12 Catholic school, it earned high marks with an overall grade of A+. The school garnered an A+ in individual rankings in academics, clubs and activities, college prep, and sports; and an A for teachers and an A- for diversity. Pirates can choose from 16 sports. Since it was founded in 1856, there have been 394 athletic championships. Recently, SHP Crew earned two medals at the state championships, with the Varsity 8 and Junior Doubles both placing third.

The Best High Schools for Athletes in New Jersey in 2025, according to Niche:

1. Delbarton School, private school, Morristown
2. Bergen Catholic High School, private school, Oradell
3. Don Bosco Preparatory High School, private school, Ramsey
4. Ramapo High School, Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District, Franklin Lakes
5. Seton Hall Preparatory School, private school, West Orange
6. Saint Peter’s Prep, private school, Jersey City
7. Immaculate Heart Academy, private school, Washington Twp.
8. Westfield Senior High School, Westfield Public School District, Westfield
9. Red Bank Catholic High School, private school, Red Bank
10. Cedar Creek High School, Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, Egg Harbor City
11. The Pingry School, private school, Basking Ridge
12. Haddonfield Memorial High School, Haddonfield Public Schools, Haddonfield
13. Wayne Hills High School, Wayne Twp. Public School District, Wayne
14. Northern Highlands Regional High School, Allendale
15. Middletown High School South, Middletown Twp. Public School District, Middletown
16. Ridgewood High School, Ridgewood Public School District, Ridgewood
17. Gill St. Bernard’s School, private school, Gladstone
18. St. Augustine Preparatory School, private school, Richland
19. Christian Brothers Academy, private school, Lincroft
20. West Essex High School, West Essex Regional School District, North Caldwell
21. Rutgers Preparatory School, private school, Somerset
22. Wayne Valley High School, Wayne Twp. Public School District, Wayne
23. Notre Dame High School, private school, Lawrenceville
24. Summit Senior High School, Summit Public School District, Summit
25. Ridge High School, Bernards Twp. School District, Basking Ridge

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