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Demarest House, Oakland, Bergen County, NJPhoto: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0
A−
Schools in Oakland · Oakland Borough School District, Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional School District

Oakland’s public schools outscore 78% of New Jersey districts

69% of students in Oakland’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the New Jersey average (49%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Oakland, 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.

#87of 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
69%
▲ 20 pts vs NJ 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
49%
▲ 13 pts vs NJ 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
98%
▲ 8 pts vs NJ 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$35.2K
▲ 24% vs NJ $28.4K
FY2024 · Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional
Students per teacher
9.6
NJ 11.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
12
1,968 students on the public path
In brief

Oakland’s schools, in brief

Oakland runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Valley Middle School (6–8) is Oakland’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional School District with Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff: Indian Hills High School. The high school’s own results earn an A−, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 69% and math 49% 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

Oakland Borough spends $31,007 per student and Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional $35,164, against $28,441 across New Jersey (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Barnstable Academy (private), CTC (private), Apple Montessori School of Oakland (private), Reed Academy (private), The New Jersey Japanese School (private) and Kradle 2 Kindergarten - Bauer Dr. (private) are 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 Oakland’s grade

A− Test scoresA Graduation

A−: better than 78% of New Jersey school districts, #87 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 78%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Jersey towns with similar household incomes (289)Better than 74%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,338 test results and a graduating class of 552 could put Oakland anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 99% of Oakland’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,331 in math, 1,344 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB to A−
6–8Valley Middle SchoolOakland Borough School DistrictA−
9–12Indian Hills High SchoolRamapo-Indian Hill Regional School DistrictA−

Oakland runs its own schools through grade 8 (Oakland Borough School District). From grade 9, students attend the Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional School District, shared with Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Oakland

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

Oakland Borough School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 5 schools · 1,300 students · 9.6 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$31,007NJ $28,441 · FY2024
A−
Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 2 schools · 1,834 students, down 17% since 2020–21 · 9.7 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$35,164NJ $28,441 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–8, Oakland Borough School District71%
State average 48.6% · 896 students tested
Math · PK–8, Oakland Borough School District50%
State average 35.5% · 892 students tested
Reading · 9–12, Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional School District65%
State average 48.6% · 448 students tested
Math · 9–12, Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional School District46%
State average 35.5% · 439 students tested

Oakland vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
OaklandA−Oakland Borough PK–8 · Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional 9–12
Franklin LakesA−Franklin Lakes Borough PK–8 · Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional 9–12
MahwahA−Mahwah Township
WayneB+Wayne Township

Every school in Oakland

12 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 Oaklandby address
Heights Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
343 students10:1Rate it →
TOPS Early Learning Childhood Learning
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
22 students9:1Rate it →
Manito Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
A−
255 students9:1Rate it →
Dogwood Hill Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B
234 students9:1Rate it →
Valley Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
446 students9:1Rate it →
Indian Hills High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
668 students9:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Barnstable Academy
Grades 6–12
Private · Nonsectarian
108 students4:1Rate it →
CTC
Grades 2–12
Private · Special education
85 students5:1Rate it →
Apple Montessori School of Oakland
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
77 studentsRate it →
Reed Academy
Private · Special education
57 students7:1Rate it →
The New Jersey Japanese School
Grades 1–9
Private · Nonsectarian
53 students3:1Rate it →
Kradle 2 Kindergarten - Bauer Dr.
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
27 students27:1Rate it →

Questions about Oakland’s schools

Are Oakland’s schools good?

By New Jersey’s own tests, yes: the public schools Oakland children attend outscore 78% of New Jersey’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #87 of 465 New Jersey towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 74%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Oakland in?

Two districts: Oakland Borough School District runs grades PK–8, and Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff.

Where do Oakland kids go to high school?

Indian Hills High School, with 668 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Oakland’s graduation rate?

98% of the class of 2023 in Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional School District graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey.

How much does Oakland spend per student?

$31,007 in Oakland Borough School District and $35,164 in Ramapo-Indian Hill Regional School District (FY2024), against $28,441 across New Jersey. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Oakland?

Yes: Barnstable Academy (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 108 students), CTC (special education, grades 2–12, 85 students), Apple Montessori School of Oakland (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 77 students), Reed Academy (special education, grades , 57 students), The New Jersey Japanese School (nonsectarian, grades 1–9, 53 students) and Kradle 2 Kindergarten - Bauer Dr. (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 27 students).

Parents talk

What Oakland families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Oakland → 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.