Public schools in Garfield, NJ
12 open public schools with an address in Garfield, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,038
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
11.5:1
New Jersey median 11.2:1
Charter schools
1
0 virtual
An overview of Garfield public schools
The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Garfield, NJ: 6 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 4 combined or other. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,038 students, an average of 503 per school. The largest campus is Bergen Arts and Sciences Charter School (1,276 students), and the largest elementary school is Washington Irving School #4 (441).
Garfield Public School District operates the most schools here (11), 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 11.5:1, 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 62% 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 Garfield
Elementary schools in Garfield
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln School #6 Garfield Public School District | PK–05 | 385 | 10.3:1 | |
| Christopher Columbus School #8 Garfield Public School District | PK–05 | 366 | 11.2:1 | |
| James Madison School #10 Garfield Public School District | PK–05 | 280 | 11:1 | |
| Roosevelt School #7 Garfield Public School District | PK–05 | 282 | 12.6:1 | |
| Thomas Jefferson School #9 Garfield Public School District | PK–05 | 368 | 10.1:1 | |
| Washington Irving School #4 Garfield Public School District | PK–05 | 441 | 13.5:1 |
Middle schools in Garfield
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield Middle School Garfield Public School District | 06–08 | 971 | 11.1:1 |
High schools in Garfield
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield High School Garfield Public School District | 09–12 | 1,258 | 13.2:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Garfield
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen Arts and Sciences Charter School Bergen Arts and Science Charter School · Charter | KG–12 | 1,276 | 14.3:1 | |
| Garfield Early Childhood Learning Center Garfield Public School District | PK–PK | 204 | 10.2:1 | |
| Garfield Public Preschool 3 at Headstart Garfield Public School District | PK–PK | 102 | 12.8:1 | |
| Garfield Public Preschool Annex Garfield Public School District | PK–PK | 105 | 11.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White32.2%
- Hispanic55.5%
- Black8.6%
- Asian2.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial1%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Garfield schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,038 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Garfield
How many public schools are in Garfield, NJ?
The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Garfield: 6 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 4 combined or other. Together they reported 6,038 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Garfield?
Schools with an address in Garfield belong to 2 education agencies, led by Garfield Public School District (11 schools), Bergen Arts and Science Charter School (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 Garfield?
Garfield High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Garfield, with 1,258 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Garfield?
Yes. 1 of the 12 public schools in Garfield are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Bergen Arts and Sciences Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Garfield schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Garfield public schools is 11.5:1, 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 Garfield 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