Hudson County schools earned strong statewide recognition in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report elementary and middle school rankings, released this week. Using U.S. Department of Education data focused on math and reading performance, the report rated schools across the country, including 23,000 public middle schools and about 47,000 public elementary schools.
- Six Hudson County middle schools placed in New Jersey’s top 50, including Infinity Institute, which earned #1 statewide out of 708 ranked middle schools.
- Five Hudson County elementary schools made New Jersey’s top 100, with Cornelia F. Bradford School ranked #2 and Sara M. Gilmore Academy ranked #9.
- U.S. News evaluated 23,000 middle schools and about 47,000 elementary schools nationwide using U.S. Department of Education math and reading data, along with student background and teacher-student ratios.
Hudson County Middle Schools Shine in Statewide Results
Six public middle schools in Hudson County placed in the top 50 statewide, showing strong student performance on state tests and meeting high learning goals across core subjects.
Leading the list is Infinity Institute, part of Jersey City Public Schools, which was named the #1 middle school in New Jersey. The school serves fewer than 300 students in grades 6–12 and uses a special entrance assessment for admission. It placed first among 708 middle schools in New Jersey considered by U.S. News.
Other Hudson County middle schools that earned top-50 statewide rankings include:
- Sara M. Gilmore Academy, Union City School District — #14
- Academy 1, Jersey City Public Schools — #28
- Soaring Heights Charter School, Jersey City — #33
- Nicholas Oresko Community School, Bayonne Public Schools — #38
- Hoboken Dual Language Charter School/HOLA, Hoboken — #50
The top five middle schools statewide were listed as:
- Infinity Institute (Jersey City Public Schools)
- School 28 (Paterson Public School District)
- Upper School (Englewood Cliffs School District)
- Princeton Charter School
- Mendham Township Middle School (Mendham Township School District)
These results place Hudson County prominently among New Jersey’s highest-performing public middle schools.
Top Elementary Rankings Highlight Hudson and Bergen Counties
Elementary schools in North Jersey also performed well. Five public elementary schools in Hudson County and thirteen in Bergen County made New Jersey’s top 100 in this year’s rankings.
Two Hudson County schools earned top-10 statewide positions:
- Cornelia F. Bradford School, Jersey City — #2
- Sara M. Gilmore Academy, Union City — #9
In Bergen County, Alexander Hamilton School in the Glen Rock Public School District placed #8 statewide.
New Jersey’s top five elementary schools, according to U.S. News, were:
- School 28 (Paterson Public School District)
- Cornelia F. Bradford School (Jersey City)
- Princeton Charter School
- Washington Elementary School (Westfield Public School District)
- Forrestdale School (Rumson Borough School District)
U.S. News stated the rankings identify schools that “excel in fostering student achievement and providing exceptional learning environments for all.” The method measured students’ scoring at or above proficiency in math and reading, factored in student background, and used student-teacher ratios to settle ties.
