Private schools in New Jersey range from small Montessori programs to large Catholic high schools and yeshivas with hundreds of students. Our directory lists 1,219 of them across 21 counties, and the mix changes sharply from one county to the next. This page explains who oversees these schools, how the regions differ, and how to get from a listing to an actual enrollment.

Who Oversees Private Schools in New Jersey

New Jersey takes a lighter-touch approach to private schools than many families expect. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) does not license a typical private school the way it oversees a public district. Instead, state law sets the basic rule. Under N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25, children between ages 6 and 16 must attend a public school, a day school that provides equivalent instruction, or receive equivalent instruction elsewhere.

"Equivalent" is the key word. A private school has to teach comparable subjects, but it does not need state approval to open its doors. That puts much of the checking on you, because a listing in any directory is not an endorsement of quality.

Other bodies still have a say, depending on the type of school:

Voluntary accreditation adds another layer. Many independent schools are accredited through the Middle States Association, and some belong to the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Accreditation is not required, but it tells you the school has gone through an outside review.

How Private Schools Are Spread Across New Jersey's Regions

The 1,219 listings are not evenly distributed. They follow population, religious communities, and the commuter belts around New York City and Philadelphia. Here is how that looks on the ground.

Northern New Jersey: Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Passaic

Bergen County has the largest count in the state. Paramus has Absorbent Mind Montessori Academy on Highway 17, and Washington Township is home to Immaculate Heart Academy on Van Emburgh Avenue. Teaneck's Community High School serves teenagers, while Apple Montessori Schools in Oakland focus on early childhood. One county, three very different levels of schooling.

In Hudson County, listings concentrate in Jersey City, which our records file under the name "Jersey," and in Hoboken, where Hoboken Catholic Academy sits on 7th Street. Dense blocks mean many schools occupy older buildings or converted spaces, so campuses are compact and parking is limited. In Newark, part of Essex County, Alpha & Omega Christian School operates on Fleming Avenue. Passaic County adds The Learning Center For Exceptional Children in Clifton and Clearview School in Wayne.

Central New Jersey: Middlesex, Mercer, and Somerset

Edison has 18 listings, including the Keith Wold Johnson Child Center on Oak Tree Road. Princeton, in Mercer County, has 20. One of them, the Child Development Center At Bristol Myers Squibb, is a good reminder that some listings are employer-linked child care programs rather than traditional schools. Hamilton's Little Friends School on Edinburg Road is another Mercer County option.

Somerset County fills in the middle of the state. Elite Prepatory Academy in Franklin and Children's Corner in Bridgewater both appear in our records. Central Jersey families often choose a school near a rail line or highway interchange, since many commute toward New York or Philadelphia.

The Jersey Shore: Ocean and Monmouth

Lakewood, in Ocean County, has 45 listings, second only to Jersey City. The town has a very large Orthodox Jewish community, and its schools reflect that, including Bais Shaindel High School For Girls on River Avenue. Many of these schools follow a calendar built around Jewish holidays, which can differ a lot from the local public district calendar. Ask for the school's calendar before you plan travel or child care.

South Jersey and the Rural Northwest

Burlington County is the busiest southern county. Chesterbrook Academy on Evesboro Medford Road in Evesham, Heritage Christian Academy in Mount Laurel, and Sacred Heart Elementary School on High Street in Mount Holly show the mix of national chains, faith-based schools, and parish schools. Camden County adds Cherry Hill Montessori on Garden Avenue.

Further south, Vineland Regional Adventist School in Cumberland County serves a wide farming area. In the northwest, Veritas Christian Academy in Sparta is one of the few private options in Sussex County. In rural counties there are simply fewer schools and the drives are longer, so transportation planning matters more than it does in Bergen or Hudson.

Finding and Enrolling: How the Process Works in New Jersey

Start with geography, not tuition. Private schools draw students from several towns, so the nearest school is not always the most convenient. Pick two or three towns along your commute and browse the county pages for those areas.

Next, call each school. Many private schools run small offices, so a phone call usually gets an answer faster than an email. Ask whether there is an opening in your child's grade, when the application is due, and when the next tour is. Many schools take applications in the fall and winter for the following September. Deadlines vary, and small early-childhood programs often enroll year-round.

Money is the other practical question. New Jersey does not offer general tuition vouchers to private school families, so tuition is usually paid by the family, often with help from the school's own financial aid. What the state does provide comes through your public school district. Transportation is the largest piece. Your home district must either bus eligible private school students or pay aid in lieu of busing, for students who live a qualifying distance away, up to 20 miles, subject to a per-pupil state cap. Districts set their own request deadlines, so contact the district transportation office early.

The state also funds auxiliary services, often called Chapter 192, such as compensatory education and English as a second language. Chapter 193 covers evaluation, speech and language help, and supplemental instruction for eligible students. Ask the school office which public district delivers each service, because it may be the district where the school sits rather than your home district.

Before you commit, gather your child's birth certificate, immunization record, and recent report cards. Then ask each school the same short list of questions: Is it accredited, and by whom? What is the total yearly cost, including fees? Who handles special education needs? What is the policy on refunds if you withdraw? How do you get a copy of the school calendar and handbook? Asking identical questions makes it much easier to compare schools fairly.

Private schools in New Jersey are licensed and regulated by the state's department of education, which sets minimum standards for safety, curriculum, and accreditation while allowing institutions significant freedom in operations and admissions. New Jersey may also offer education savings account or voucher programs that provide public funding assistance to eligible families attending private schools.

Private Schools locations are available in 326 cities across New Jersey. They are spread across 21 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of private schools include Jersey, Lakewood, Newark, reflecting larger population centers where demand for diverse educational options tends to support a wider range of private school institutions.

Families in New Jersey exploring private school options should contact each school's admissions office to request a prospectus, schedule a tour, and learn about financial aid availability, as tuition and assistance programs vary significantly from one institution to the next.

Private Schools by Counties

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Families in New Jersey comparing private school options should check each school's accreditation status through the state department of education and request standardized test score data, graduation rates, and college placement outcomes. Many private schools in New Jersey hold open house events in the fall that are open to prospective families without an appointment.

Browse Private Schools by county across New Jersey to find the nearest location.

Planning a Private School Search Around New Jersey's Calendar and Commute

Timing and travel shape a New Jersey school search more than most families expect. Start touring in the fall if you want a September seat, since tours, open houses, and application windows tend to cluster between October and February. Early-childhood programs, such as Kinderprep in Westfield or Children's Corner in Bridgewater, may fill by age group rather than by calendar, so call as soon as you know your target start date.

Commute is the second factor. Roads like Route 17 in Bergen County, the Garden State Parkway, and the New Jersey Turnpike can turn a ten-mile trip into a long one at drop-off time. Drive the route on a school morning before you decide.

Monmouth County has the second-largest number of listings in our database after Bergen County, and Union County towns such as Westfield and Elizabeth add to the northern cluster. Our Elizabeth listing, Our Lady Of Guadalupe Academy on Ikea Drive, shows how the same state can include both suburban and urban parish schools within a few miles.

Bring a list of questions to every visit, and visit at least two schools before choosing. Comparing is the fastest way to notice differences in class size, schedule, and teaching style.

Frequently Asked Questions About Private Schools in New Jersey

In general, no. The New Jersey Department of Education does not license ordinary private schools. State law only requires that a nonpublic day school provide instruction equivalent to the public schools. There are important exceptions. NJDOE approves private schools for students with disabilities, and the Department of Children and Families licenses child care centers, which includes many preschools. Because there is no blanket approval, check for accreditation, ask for license numbers where they apply, and visit in person before you enroll.

Compulsory attendance in New Jersey runs from age 6 to age 16. A private day school that provides equivalent instruction satisfies that requirement, so you do not need to enroll your child in the local public school. Kindergarten is not legally required, though many families start earlier. Preschool programs such as Absorbent Mind Montessori Academy in Paramus or Cherry Hill Montessori serve younger children by choice. If you move a child from public to private school mid-year, notify the public school in writing so attendance records stay accurate.

Often yes. New Jersey law requires your home district to provide transportation, or a payment in place of it called aid in lieu, for eligible nonpublic school students. The distance must meet the state's definition of remote, and the school must be within 20 miles of home. The state caps what a district must spend per pupil. You usually have to submit a request to the district's transportation office by a local deadline. A Lakewood or Edison family may find busing is common, while a rural Sussex County family may receive aid in lieu instead.

The New Jersey Department of Health sets the school immunization rules, and they apply to private schools and licensed child care centers as well as public schools. Requirements typically cover vaccines such as MMR, polio, DTaP, hepatitis B, and varicella, with different schedules by grade level and age. Medical exemptions need a physician's statement, and a religious exemption requires a written statement from the parent. The school's health office will tell you exactly what paperwork it needs, so ask for the current list when you apply rather than relying on an old handbook.

Our listings include schools whose names point to special education, such as The Learning Center For Exceptional Children in Clifton and Clearview School in Wayne, both in Passaic County. Confirm each school's focus by phone. If your public district is placing your child under an IEP, the school generally must be an NJDOE-approved private school for students with disabilities, so ask for its approval status in writing. If you are enrolling privately without district placement, the district may still owe evaluation services under Chapter 193.

For a September start, begin the previous fall. Many schools hold open houses between October and January and set application deadlines in winter. Catholic schools like Hoboken Catholic Academy or Assumption School in Morristown often run registration earlier than the public district does, and competitive high schools may require entrance testing. Small early-childhood programs, such as Little Friends School in Hamilton, can sometimes enroll during the year if there is space. Because every school sets its own timeline, call each one directly and write the dates down, including the deadline to request district transportation.