Directory Schools

Education Guide: 2024

Written by Bianca kirschner

Schools, Daycares, & Preschools in Jersey City

Picking the best school to send your child to can be stressful. With all of the options available, you want to make sure you make the right choice! Below is a list of private schools, charter schools, public schools, and day cares in Jersey City & Hoboken! We also provide a few after-school and summer camp resources! Schools Daycares Preschools Jersey City

Public Schools

In the United States, public schools are divided into districts. Districts can include one city or town, but other districts comprise many towns and cities. Not sure where your local school is located within your district? No worries, you can check the New Jersey School Directory. All public schools are free because they rely on federal, state, and local tax dollars. By law, public schools must accept every child in their district, but this does not mean your child will get into the school you choose.

Pre-K Dual Language Program Guidelines for Public Schools
Students must be residents of Jersey City and meet the enrollment eligibility. In addition, children must be four years old by October 1. The Pre-K Dual Language classrooms are configured to half of the 15 students (7/8) speak English, and the other half (7/8) speak Spanish. The Pre-K Dual Language Program is available in 4 Jersey City Schools, including PS #3, #5, #6, and #30.
Registration:
The Pre-K Dual  Language registration process usually takes place between February and March. Applications can be picked up from the Early Childhood Department at 346 Claremont Avenue in Jersey City, the Early Childhood webpage, and public schools. Once completed, applications can be submitted by hand, certified mail, or email. Students who are not chosen will be placed on a waiting list and per their lottery number, and they can apply for other schools, daycares, and preschools in Jersey City.

Preschool Program and Full Day Kindergarten Program
Registration:
The following are the steps that parents need to complete during registration. Ensuring you check individual school requirements for each requirement can change and vary from school to school.
Get a copy of the school’s registration form.
Answer the district’s health questionnaire less than 12 months before the start of the school year. Then, if you require support with health insurance, you may qualify for New Jersey Family Care. New Jersey Family Care is also available to qualify legal immigrants. You can reach them online or by calling 1-800-701-0710.
Child Immunization from an NJ doctor or recognized health authority from your last place of residency.
A copy of your child’s last school report from your last place of residency, if applicable.
Four proofs of residency. These include a utility bill, apartment lease, valid driver’s license, or notarized affidavit.
The child’s original birth certificate. A passport alone will not be accepted. If original documents have not been translated to English, they should have an English translation provided by a reputable translator.
Two emergency contacts for school records.

Private Schools

Private schools are autonomous, which allows them to have the freedom to offer religious education and curriculum apart from the regulated state standards. Private schools also depend on their funding, from intuition, grants, donations, and endowments. Private schools are not required to accept every child that applies. But there are many more schools,  daycares, and preschools in Jersey City that you can apply to.
Admission:
The private school admission process usually starts about 12 months before enrollment.
Open House is held in the fall for parents and potential students to visit the school and learn about the program. Parents should receive a Pre-Application during the open house, and it should be completed with a non-refundable direct deposit covering an interview/evaluation with the child.
Families are notified of admissions by an acceptance letter mailed to the family. Letters usually arrive in March.
Families are required to respond within one week of receiving an acceptance letter. To secure space, a contract needs to be signed and non-refundable and registration fees paid.

Charter Schools

Similar to traditional public schools, charter schools are free. However, paces are often limited. Charter schools are independently run, and for-profit private companies operate some. A school’s ability to remain often depends on the school’s management and the students’ performance. Usually, charter schools tend to be smaller schools resulting in smaller class sizes. All charter schools hold lotteries for admission.
Application:
Two application rounds for charter schools – March and October.
The application process is conducted in two phases.

School/Daycare Enrollment Process
Toddler Program: must be two years old by October 1.
Transitional Three’s Program: must be turning three years old between October 2 – December 31.
Pre-K 3: must be three years old by October 1.
Pre-K 4: must be four years old by October 1.
Kindergarten: must be five years old by October 1.

Schools, Daycares and Preschools in Jersey City

The Brunswick School

189 Brunswick St, Jersey City, NJ 07302 – Phone: (201) 478-8886

The mission of The Brunswick School (TBS) is to provide a safe, nurturing, and inspiring learning environment and holistic education that considers children’s physical, cognitive, social/emotional, language, and life-skill development and progress. TBS helps children reach developmentally-appropriate milestones, using an adaptable curriculum that meets the unique needs of each child and allows teachers to scaffold learning catering to each child’s talents and strengths.

TBS believes that fostering creativity, offering hands-on experiences, and connecting the classrooms with the real world through monthly themes, are effective ways to engage and develop young minds so they can thrive in elementary school and beyond.

The school was founded on the belief that we should celebrate the diversity of Jersey City. We are committed to fostering meaningful connections with those in our neighborhood and extended community of students, families, teachers, and staff.

Smart Start Academy

SSA Hoboken : 552 9th Street, Hoboken, NJ, 07030
SSA Jersey City: 532 Jersey Ave, Jersey City, NJ, 07302
SSA Lumber House: 430 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ, 07307

Smart Start Academy is dedicated to bringing the best environment for learning and creativity to each student. Their full-day programs have a curriculum that works to meet every learning style that nurtures every aspect of a child- the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects.

Ivy Primary Prep

675 Monmouth St, Jersey City, NJ 07310 – Phone: 201-743-9190

Ivy Primary Prep is an early childhood education center catering to ages 18 months through 6 years. The center focuses on primary learning and early childhood development, offering academically focused programs. Ivy Primary Prep takes an innovative approach to the development of the whole student by emphasizing a curriculum that includes physical, social, and emotional components. The teaching method revolves around interactive and workshop-based lesson plans. Each classroom is capped at ten students to foster an academically challenging environment and maximize student-teacher engagement.
Ivy Primary Prep is not a school adjusting to COVID. Still, a new facility was built and structured during COVID, with the health and safety of Little Ivies, staff, and community always being top priority.

The Waldo School

110 1st St. Jersey City, NJ – Phone: 201-721-6000

Located in the heart of the Waldo section of the Jersey City Waterfront, World of ABC, The Waldo School sets the standard for leading private education. Founded and currently owned by Jersey City native Daniela Sarbu, students are encouraged to explore and flourish while discovering and developing new talents within the framework of the International Baccalaureate curriculum approach. Our students are inspired to grow as individuals, with no child forced to ascribe to one specific mold, through equal emphasis on all disciplines and opportunities to explore concepts at their own pace. With grades preschool through 8th, students will grow with us each year!

Franklin High School

88 Town Square Place, Jersey City, NJ – Phone: 201-234-4781

My Gym Children’s Fitness Center

252 9th St, Jersey City, NJ 07302 – Phone: 201-205-1218

Waterfront Montessori

150 Warren St #108, Jersey City, NJ 07302 – Phone: 201-333-5600

Learning Ladders

33 Hudson St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
35 Hudson St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
160 Morgan St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

Phone: 201-918-6643

Learning Ladders is an International Baccalaureate School with three campuses in downtown Jersey City. It offers grades for Nursery School, Primary School, Elementary School, Summer Camp and After School programs. Contact to schedule a visit to learn about the IB curriculum and how Learning Ladders provides an edge to its students with intimate class settings, individualized instructions and enrichment classes in an all-inclusive tuition.

Compass Learning Advantage

84 Washington St 4th floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030 – Phone: 551-252-0428

All Saints Episcopal Day School

707 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030 – Phone:  (201) 792-0736

All Saints Episcopal Day School serves students from Nursery (our 3-year old program) through Grade 8. It is a co-ed International Baccalaureate (IB) World School whose students are accepted into some of the most selective, private High Schools in New York and New Jersey. All Saints was founded in 1985 as an Episcopal preschool but as it has grown in size and grade offerings the school has separated from the Episcopal Church while maintaining a spiritual component to its broad curricular offerings. It is an academically rich and rigorous environment with small class sizes and individualized attention so that each student feels challenged yet supported enough that they can explore their passions. The IB program emphasizes the practical application of the students’ learning. A good example of this is the Grade 4’s annual presentation to the Hoboken City Council on a topic of importance to the students. These presentations, such as the plastic bag ban, have resulted in legislation being passed by the Council in support of the students’ aims. The result is that students feel empowered by their ability to effect real change in their community and carry that feeling of achievement forward into their on-going educational and professional careers.

Tessa International School

720 Monroe St Suite E105-106, Hoboken, NJ – Phone: 201-755-5585

 

The French American Academy

Locations in New Jersey:
The French American Academy is proud to announce the opening of our 3rd campus, in Hoboken, NJ with a grand opening planned for September 2022 !
– Jersey City: 209 Third street, NJ 07302 / Pre-School, Elementary School, Middle School
– Hoboken: 360 1st street, NJ 07030 / Pre-School
– Englewood: 85 West Demarest Ave, NJ 07631 / Pre-School, Elementary School

Bilingual Education, International Citizens
From Preschool through Middle School

The French American Academy is an international school, offering a bilingual curriculum, where diversity and inclusion inspire and cultivate openness, empathy, and the pleasure of lifelong learning. We have a child-centered approach, using a comprehensive bilingual curriculum in a safe and creative environment. We are play- based, inquiry-based and project-based learning.

We strive to provide the highest educational standards, for all subjects, in both languages. We combine the best of both educational systems and are accredited by the French Ministry of National Education, the Middle States Association – Commission on Elementary Schools and Colleges.

With a low teacher / Student ratio, the school fosters curiosity and enthusiasm while reaching the highest academic standards. Our students grow up to be successful, respectful, confident, positive, open-minded citizens of the world.

Academy of Excellence

159 2nd St, Jersey City, NJ 07302 – Phone: 201-963-5555

Garden Preschool Cooperative

242 10th St, Jersey City, NJ 07302 – Phone: 201-309-0440

After School Activities

The Little Gym

380 Newark Ave Units 101 & 102, Jersey City, NJ 07302 – Phone:201-222-6209

British Swim School

389 Washington St, #31K – Phone: (201) 676-3630

The British Swim School teaches water survival and swim lessons to over 13,000 nationwide. Babies from 3 months old to adults have the opportunity to participate in classes all over Hudson County.

AlphaMinds Academy

225 Morris Blvd Jersey City, NJ 07302 – Phone: (201) 844-8535

AlphaMinds Academy is an academic and enrichment program that offers in-person and online classes in Chess, Coding, Mathematics, Reading, and Essay Writing. Our classes are taught in a friendly, encouraging, and supportive learning environment, designed to help children advance and thrive in their education, all while allowing them to explore their interests. Enthusiastic instructors teach our classes, most with advanced degrees and years of experience in their respective fields. Our instructors are experts in engaging each student’s natural curiosity to inspire their passion for learning. Whether your child is looking for extra help in a subject or advanced instruction beyond their school’s program, AlphaMinds Academy provides students with the tools and confidence to achieve their full potential! Enroll here!
Our program includes:
Logic PreK (3-4 yo) & Logic K (4-5 yo)
Math: Singapore Math Curriculum (gr. 1-5)
Advanced Math: Pre-Algebra, Algebra I & II, Geometry (gr. 6-10)
Chess: Beginner Intermediate and Advanced groups (gr. pre-K- 8)
Coding: Scratch, JavaScript, Python (gr. 2-10)
Reading: Phonics and Comprehension (gr. PreK – 2)
Essay Writing (gr. 3-8)
Russian Language Immersion Program (1-15 yo)

Luna De Papel

321 Communipaw Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07304

Luna de Papel (paper moon) is a crafting workshop. They offer crafting and DIY classes and workshops for adults and children of all ages. It is a place where all can test the bounds of their imagination in an environment you can enjoy. They also have a ton of after-school programs.

Updated March 14th 2024

About the author

Bianca kirschner

Skip to toolbar