Teunis Haring House · Photo: JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ M.D. · CC BY-SA 4.0Old Tappan’s public schools outscore 90% of New Jersey districts
Math proficiency in Old Tappan’s districts is 62%, above the New Jersey average (36%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Old Tappan, 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.
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.
Old Tappan’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 188 New Jersey towns with household incomes within a quarter of Old Tappan’s, its schools beat 84%, lower than their 90% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Old Tappan runs its own schools through grade 12, then shares
Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan (9–12) is Old Tappan’s own. From grade PK, students attend the Old Tappan Borough School District: T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School, then Charles DeWolf Middle School. See the path ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 75% and math 62% 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
Northern Valley Regional spends $44,187 per student and Old Tappan Borough $23,589, against $28,441 across New Jersey (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓
Choice beyond the district
Mindful Montessori (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.
What’s behind Old Tappan’s grade
A: better than 90% of New Jersey school districts, #26 of 465 New Jersey towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New Jersey average; graduation is the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Old Tappan, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Old Tappan
T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School
Grades PK–4 · 374 students · 11:1 students per teacher
Kindergarten in Old Tappan
T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School
Grades PK–4 · 374 students · 11:1 students per teacher
1st grade in Old Tappan
T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School
Grades PK–4 · 374 students · 11:1 students per teacher
2nd grade in Old Tappan
T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School
Grades PK–4 · 374 students · 11:1 students per teacher
3rd grade in Old Tappan
T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School
Grades PK–4 · 374 students · 11:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Old Tappan
T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School
Grades PK–4 · 374 students · 11:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Old Tappan
Charles DeWolf Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 370 students · 12:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Old Tappan
Charles DeWolf Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 370 students · 12:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Old Tappan
Charles DeWolf Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 370 students · 12:1 students per teacher
8th grade in Old Tappan
Charles DeWolf Middle School
Grades 5–8 · 370 students · 12:1 students per teacher
9th grade in Old Tappan
Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan
Grades 9–12 · 1,086 students · 10:1 students per teacher
10th grade in Old Tappan
Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan
Grades 9–12 · 1,086 students · 10:1 students per teacher
Old Tappan runs its own schools through grade 12 (Northern Valley Regional School District). From grade PK, students attend the Old Tappan Borough School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Old Tappan
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Old Tappan vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the New Jersey towns that share Old Tappan’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Old Tappan | A | Northern Valley Regional PK–12 · Old Tappan Borough PK–8 |
| River Vale | A− | River Vale Township PK–8 · Pascack Valley Regional 9–12 |
| Harrington Park | A | Harrington Park Borough PK–8 · Northern Valley Regional PK–12 |
| Northvale | A− | Northern Valley Regional PK–12 · Northvale Borough PK–8 |
2 of the 3 neighbors share Northern Valley Regional with Old Tappan for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Old Tappan
4 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).
Questions about Old Tappan’s schools
Are Old Tappan’s schools good?
By New Jersey’s own tests, yes: the public schools Old Tappan children attend outscore 90% of New Jersey’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #26 of 465 New Jersey towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 84%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Old Tappan in?
Two districts: Northern Valley Regional School District runs grades PK–12, and Old Tappan Borough School District runs grades PK–8.
Where do Old Tappan kids go to high school?
Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan, with 1,086 students; its own test results earn an A.
What is Old Tappan’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 Old Tappan spend per student?
$44,187 in Northern Valley Regional School District and $23,589 in Old Tappan Borough School District (FY2024), against $28,441 across New Jersey. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Old Tappan?
Yes: Mindful Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 34 students).
Parents talk
What Old Tappan families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Old Tappan → 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.