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Joseph Jackson House, Rockaway, NJPhoto: Zeete · CC BY-SA 4.0
B
Schools in Rockaway · Morris Hills Regional School District, Rockaway Borough School District

Rockaway’s public schools outscore 61% of New Jersey districts

On the state reading tests, 64% of Rockaway’s students scored proficient, above the New Jersey average (49%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Rockaway, 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.

#189of 465 New Jersey townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Jersey state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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
64%
▲ 15 pts vs NJ 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
39%
▲ 4 pts vs NJ 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
93%
▲ 2 pts vs NJ 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$34.3K
▲ 21% vs NJ $28.4K
FY2024 · Morris Hills Regional
Students per teacher
10.5
NJ 11.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
5
1,711 students on the public path
In brief

Rockaway’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 448 New Jersey towns with household incomes within a quarter of Rockaway’s, its schools beat 74%, higher than their 61% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Rockaway runs its own schools through grade 8, then shares

Lincoln Elementary School (PK–3) and Thomas Jefferson Middle School (4–8) are Rockaway’s own. From grade 9, students attend the Morris Hills Regional School District with Denville, Rockaway and Wharton: Morris Hills High School. The high school’s own results earn a B+, the highest on the path. See the path ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 64% and math 39% across both districts in spring 2022, against 49% and 36% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Morris Hills Regional spends $34,335 per student and Rockaway Borough $26,971, against $28,441 across New Jersey (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Divine Mercy Academy/Diocese (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 Rockaway’s grade

B Test scoresB− Graduation

B: better than 61% of New Jersey school districts, #189 of 465 New Jersey towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the New Jersey average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

New Jersey school districts we grade (651)Better than 61%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Jersey towns with similar household incomes (448)Better than 74%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 986 test results and a graduating class of 656 could put Rockaway anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Rockaway’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,004 in math, 969 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–3Lincoln Elementary SchoolRockaway Borough School DistrictB+
4–8Thomas Jefferson Middle SchoolRockaway Borough School DistrictB
9–12Morris Hills High SchoolMorris Hills Regional School DistrictB+

Rockaway runs its own schools through grade 8 (Rockaway Borough School District). From grade 9, students attend the Morris Hills Regional School District, shared with Denville, Rockaway and Wharton. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Rockaway

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

Morris Hills Regional School DistrictGrades 9–12 · 2 schools · 2,590 students, down 1% since 2020–21 · 10.4 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$34,335NJ $28,441 · FY2024
B+
Rockaway Borough School DistrictGrades PK–8 · 2 schools · 571 students, up 13% since 2020–21 · 10.8 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$26,971NJ $28,441 · FY2024
B−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · 9–12, Morris Hills Regional School District72%
State average 48.6% · 651 students tested
Math · 9–12, Morris Hills Regional School District39%
State average 35.5% · 681 students tested
Reading · PK–8, Rockaway Borough School District47%
State average 48.6% · 318 students tested
Math · PK–8, Rockaway Borough School District39%
State average 35.5% · 323 students tested

Rockaway vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
RockawayBRockaway Borough PK–8 · Morris Hills Regional 9–12
Rockaway TownshipB+Rockaway Township PK–8 · Morris Hills Regional 9–12
DenvilleA−Denville Township PK–8 · Morris Hills Regional 9–12

All 2 neighbors share Morris Hills Regional with Rockaway for grades 9–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Rockaway

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 Rockawayby address
Lincoln Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–3
B+
272 students13:1Rate it →
Thomas Jefferson Middle School
Middle · Grades 4–8
B
299 students9:1Rate it →
Morris Hills High School
High · Grades 9–12
B+
1,140 students10:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Rockawayrun by other districts or the state
Academy for Mathematics Science and Engineering
High · Grades 9–12
A+
Career and Technical
181 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Divine Mercy Academy/Diocese
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
231 students16:1Rate it →

Questions about Rockaway’s schools

Are Rockaway’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of New Jersey: the public schools Rockaway children attend outscore 61% of New Jersey’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #189 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 Rockaway in?

Two districts: Rockaway Borough School District runs grades PK–8, and Morris Hills Regional School District runs grades 9–12, shared with Denville, Rockaway and Wharton.

Where do Rockaway kids go to high school?

Morris Hills High School, with 1,140 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Rockaway’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in Morris Hills Regional School District graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey.

How much does Rockaway spend per student?

$34,335 in Morris Hills Regional School District and $26,971 in Rockaway Borough School District (FY2024), against $28,441 across New Jersey. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Rockaway?

Yes: Divine Mercy Academy/Diocese (Catholic, grades PK–8, 231 students).

Parents talk

What Rockaway families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Rockaway → 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.