These 21 N.J. schools are among the nation’s best, U.S. News says

New Jersey continues to have some of the top public schools in the United States, according to one of the most recognizable national rankings in the country.

The U.S News & World Report rankings of best high schools was released Tuesday, with New Jersey claiming 21 of the top 500, including seven of the top 100.

The Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies, a selective school located on the campus of the county community college in Edison, was rated best in the Garden State and No. 33 in the nation.

The school was also recognized as among the best science, technology, engineering and math programs in the country. It placed second in the U.S. in that category, behind another New Jersey school —Monmouth County’s High Technology High School in Lincroft, which took top honors there, and No. 57 in the overall national rankings.

The report evaluated nearly 17,800 schools across the United States, assessing them based on standardized test scores, graduate rates and the performance of traditionally underserved populations: their black, Hispanic and low-income students.

In New Jersey, specialized schools with selective enrollment typically earn the highest marks, often followed by traditional high schools in wealthy suburbs.

Overall, New Jersey placed fifth in U.S. News’ ranking among states, behind Massachusetts, California, Connecticut and Maryland.

Here are the schools that made the top 500:

21. Ridge High School

Location: Basking Ridge, Somerset County

National ranking: 472

20. West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South

Location: West Windsor, Mercer County

National ranking: 456

19. Summit Senior High School

Location: Summit, Union County

National ranking: 448

18. Glen Ridge High School

Location: Glen Ridge, Essex County

National ranking: 396

17. Marine Academy of Science and Technology

Location: Highlands, Monmouth County

National ranking: 391

16. Millburn High School

Location: Millburn, Essex County

National ranking: 366

15. Princeton High School

Location: Princeton, Mercer County

National ranking: 356

14. West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North

Location: Plainsboro, Middlesex County

National ranking: 302

13. Academy of Allied Health and Science

Location: Neptune, Monmouth County

National ranking: 273

12. Elizabeth High School

Location: Elizabeth, Union County

National ranking: 257

11. Infinity Institute

Location: Jersey City, Hudson County

National ranking: 216

10. Academy for Allied Health Sciences

Location: Scotch Plains, Union County

National ranking: 207

9. Union County Magnet High School

Location: Scotch Plains, Union County

National Ranking: 131

8. Academy for Information Technology

Location: Scotch Plains, Union County

National Ranking: 130

7. Bergen County Technical High School – Teterboro

Location: Teterboro, Bergen County

National ranking: 93

6. Biotechnology High School

Location: Freehold, Monmouth County

National ranking: 85

5. Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health

Location: Woodbridge, Middlesex County

National ranking: 70

4. Dr. Ronald E. McNair High School

Location: Jersey City, Hudson County

National ranking: 63

3. High Technology High School

Location: Lincroft, Monmouth County

National ranking: 57

2. Bergen County Academies

Location: Hackensack, Bergen County

National ranking: 46

1. Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies

Location: Edison, Middlesex County

National ranking: 33

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