Best Public Schools in Old Tappan, NJ

The city of Old Tappan, New Jersey is home to three exceptional public schools: Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School, and Charles DeWolf Middle School. These schools, part of the Northern Valley Regional High School District and the Old Tappan Public School District, have consistently demonstrated exceptional academic performance, with the middle school ranking among the top 14 out of 743 middle schools in New Jersey.

The standout school in Old Tappan is the Charles DeWolf Middle School, which has earned a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger and consistently outperforms the state averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Algebra I, and Science. The T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School is another high-achieving institution, ranking 126 out of 1,338 elementary schools in the state and also earning a 5-star rating. Both the middle and elementary schools boast impressive test scores, with students demonstrating a high level of proficiency in core academic subjects.

While the schools in Old Tappan excel academically, the district as a whole faces a challenge with chronic absenteeism, with all three schools reporting rates higher than the desired target of 10%. Additionally, the significant differences in per-student spending between the high school and the elementary/middle schools warrant further investigation to understand the resource allocation and potential impact on student outcomes. Nevertheless, the overall performance of the schools in Old Tappan makes the district an attractive option for families seeking a quality education for their children.