Public schools in Clifton, NJ
22 open public schools with an address in Clifton, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
22
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,701
20 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
10.8:1
New Jersey median 11.2:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Clifton public schools
The federal directory lists 22 public schools in Clifton, NJ: 14 elementary, 4 middle, 1 high, 3 combined or other. The 20 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,701 students, an average of 535 per school. The largest campus is Clifton High School (3,150 students), and the largest elementary school is School #12 (560).
Clifton Public School District operates the most schools here (21), plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 10.8:1, similar to the statewide school median of 11.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 charter school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
About 65% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Clifton
Elementary schools in Clifton
14| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School #1 Clifton Public School District | PK–05 | 255 | 11.9:1 | |
| School #11 Clifton Public School District | PK–05 | 376 | 10:1 | |
| School #12 Clifton Public School District | PK–05 | 560 | 10.3:1 | |
| School #13 Clifton Public School District | KG–05 | 443 | 11.5:1 | |
| School #14 Clifton Public School District | PK–05 | 355 | 9.5:1 | |
| School #15 Clifton Public School District | PK–05 | 282 | 12.3:1 | |
| School #16 Clifton Public School District | KG–05 | 201 | 8.2:1 | |
| School #17 Clifton Public School District | PK–05 | 501 | 8.8:1 | |
| School #2 Clifton Public School District | KG–05 | 401 | 12.2:1 | |
| School #3 Clifton Public School District | PK–05 | 257 | 13.5:1 | |
| School #4 Clifton Public School District | PK–05 | 130 | 8.7:1 | |
| School #5 Clifton Public School District | KG–05 | 398 | 10.8:1 | |
| School #8 Clifton Public School District | PK–05 | 165 | 9.7:1 | |
| School #9 Clifton Public School District | PK–05 | 306 | 10.9:1 |
Middle schools in Clifton
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Columbus Middle School Clifton Public School District | 06–08 | 1,092 | 9.1:1 | |
| Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton · Charter | 05–08 | 185 | 18.5:1 | |
| Maple Valley Middle School Clifton Public School District | 06–06 | — | — | |
| Woodrow Wilson Middle School Clifton Public School District | 06–08 | 1,255 | 10.9:1 |
High schools in Clifton
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton High School Clifton Public School District | 09–12 | 3,150 | 14:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Clifton
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton Early Learner Academies - Allwood Clifton Public School District | PK–PK | 62 | — | |
| Clifton Early Learner Academies - Brighton Clifton Public School District | PK–PK | 327 | 7.8:1 | |
| Clifton Early Learning Academy Speer Clifton Public School District | PK–PK | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White25.9%
- Hispanic62.5%
- Black3.6%
- Asian5.9%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.7%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial1.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 20 Clifton schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,701 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Clifton
How many public schools are in Clifton, NJ?
The current NCES directory lists 22 open public schools with a location address in Clifton: 14 elementary, 4 middle, 1 high, 3 combined or other. Together they reported 10,701 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Clifton?
Schools with an address in Clifton belong to 2 education agencies, led by Clifton Public School District (21 schools), Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Clifton?
Clifton High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Clifton, with 3,150 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Clifton?
Yes. 1 of the 22 public schools in Clifton are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Clifton schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Clifton public schools is 10.8:1, similar to the New Jersey school median of 11.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Clifton guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby New Jersey cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All New Jersey cities