Twenty-one public elementary schools in Bergen County have earned places among New Jersey’s top 100 in the newly released 2027 U.S. News & World Report rankings.
The rankings, published October 20, 2026, evaluated approximately 46,700 public elementary schools and 24,700 middle schools nationwide.
Schools were evaluated using student performance in mathematics and reading, with adjustments accounting for students’ socioeconomic backgrounds.
Two Bergen County Schools Reach the Top 10
Alexander Hamilton School in Glen Rock ranked ninth in New Jersey, while Orchard Elementary School in Ridgewood secured tenth place.
Other highly ranked schools include Radburn Elementary in Fair Lawn at No. 18, Somerville Elementary in Ridgewood at No. 20, and Berkeley Elementary School in Westwood at No. 25.
Ridgewood had a particularly strong showing, with five elementary schools among the state’s top 100.
Fort Lee School Among the Best
School No. 1 in Fort Lee earned 92nd place statewide, joining the list of Bergen County schools recognized for academic achievement.
The recognition is particularly meaningful for local families and educators, reflecting the school’s performance in the academic areas evaluated by U.S. News.
All 21 Bergen County Schools in the Top 100
| NJ Rank | School | Municipality |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Alexander Hamilton | Glen Rock |
| 10 | Orchard Elementary | Ridgewood |
| 18 | Radburn Elementary | Fair Lawn |
| 20 | Somerville Elementary | Ridgewood |
| 25 | Berkeley Elementary | Westwood |
| 37 | Travell Elementary | Ridgewood |
| 44 | Ridge Elementary | Ridgewood |
| 51 | Willard Elementary | Ridgewood |
| 52 | Walter Stillman | Tenafly |
| 61 | Meadowbrook | Hillsdale |
| 62 | Brookside | Allendale |
| 66 | Warren Point Elementary | Fair Lawn |
| 67 | Betsy Ross Elementary | Mahwah |
| 74 | J. Spencer Smith | Tenafly |
| 77 | Lincoln School | Rutherford |
| 80 | Roosevelt School | River Edge |
| 82 | Calvin Coolidge | Wyckoff |
| 85 | Cherry Hill | River Edge |
| 86 | Edward H. Bryan | Cresskill |
| 92 | School No. 1 | Fort Lee |
| 99 | Dorchester Elementary | Woodcliff Lake |
Several additional Bergen County schools finished just outside the top 100, including schools in River Vale, Upper Saddle River, Fair Lawn, Bergenfield, and Paramus.
The U.S. News rankings provide families with one measure of academic performance, although school quality also involves factors beyond standardized test results, including student support, school climate, and educational programs.
Sources: U.S. News & World Report, Patch, NorthJersey.com — October 20, 2026.
By NJ RADAR Team