Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Closter

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Hess, Harold, Lustron HouseHess, Harold, Lustron House · Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD · CC BY-SA 4.0
A
Schools in Closter · Closter Borough School District, Northern Valley Regional School District

Closter’s public schools outscore 93% of New Jersey districts

65% of students in Closter’s public schools are proficient in math, above the New Jersey average (36%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Closter, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New Jersey, not nationally.

#16of 465 New Jersey townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Jersey state tests taken in spring 2022, when 99% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
78%
▲ 29 pts vs NJ 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
65%
▲ 29 pts vs NJ 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
98%
▲ 8 pts vs NJ 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$44.2K
▲ 55% vs NJ $28.4K
FY2024 · Northern Valley Regional
Students per teacher
10.4
NJ 11.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
3
3,316 students on the public path
In brief

Closter’s schools, in brief

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 78% and math 65% across both districts in spring 2022, against 49% and 36% statewide; 98% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Closter Borough spends $23,364 per student and Northern Valley Regional $44,187, against $28,441 across New Jersey (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Acton Academy of Bergen County (private) is in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Closter’s grade

A Test scoresA Graduation

A: better than 93% of New Jersey school districts, #16 of 465 New Jersey towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New Jersey average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

New Jersey school districts we grade (651)Better than 93%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Jersey towns with similar household incomes (210)Better than 94%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,342 test results and a graduating class of 479 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 99% of Closter’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,357 in math, 1,328 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Closter, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–4Hillside Elementary SchoolCloster Borough School DistrictA+
5–8Tenakill Middle SchoolCloster Borough School DistrictA
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+

Closter runs its own schools through grade 8 (Closter Borough School District). From grade PK, students attend the Northern Valley Regional School District, shared with Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood and Old Tappan. Its high school is in Old Tappan. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Closter

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Closter Borough School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 2 schools · 1,192 students, up 4% since 2020–21 · 12.1 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$23,364NJ $28,441 · FY2024
A+
Northern Valley Regional School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 2,302 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 9.6 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$44,187NJ $28,441 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–8, Closter Borough School District82%
State average 48.6% · 799 students tested
Math · PK–8, Closter Borough School District70%
State average 35.5% · 813 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Northern Valley Regional School District72%
State average 48.6% · 529 students tested
Math · PK–12, Northern Valley Regional School District57%
State average 35.5% · 544 students tested

Closter vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New Jersey towns that share Closter’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ClosterACloster Borough PK–8 · Northern Valley Regional PK–12
Harrington ParkAHarrington Park Borough PK–8 · Northern Valley Regional PK–12
NorwoodANorthern Valley Regional PK–12 · Norwood Borough PK–8
EmersonB+Emerson Borough
DemarestADemarest Borough PK–8 · Northern Valley Regional PK–12
AlpineA+Alpine Borough
HaworthAHaworth Borough PK–8 · Northern Valley Regional PK–12

4 of the 6 neighbors share Northern Valley Regional with Closter for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Closter

5 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New Jersey’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Closterby address
Hillside Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
A+
599 students11:1Rate it →
Tenakill Middle School
Middle · Grades 5–8
A
593 students14:1Rate it →
Also serving Closterin other towns
Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan
High · Grades 9–12 · Old Tappan
A
1,086 students10:1Rate it →
Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest
High · Grades 9–12 · Demarest
A+
1,038 students11:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Acton Academy of Bergen County
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Nonsectarian
73 students14:1Rate it →

Questions about Closter’s schools

Are Closter’s schools good?

By New Jersey’s own tests, yes: the public schools Closter children attend outscore 93% of New Jersey’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #16 of 465 New Jersey towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 94%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Closter in?

Two districts: Closter Borough School District runs grades PK–8, and Northern Valley Regional School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood and Old Tappan.

Where do Closter kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan and Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest.

What is Closter’s graduation rate?

98% of the class of 2023 in Northern Valley Regional School District graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey.

How much does Closter spend per student?

$23,364 in Closter Borough School District and $44,187 in Northern Valley Regional School District (FY2024), against $28,441 across New Jersey. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Closter?

Yes: Acton Academy of Bergen County (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 73 students).

Parents talk

What Closter families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Closter → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New Jersey. Stars are from neighbors.