When a family maps out a move, the question of where the children will go to school usually rises to the top of the list. Good news for anyone eyeing northern New Jersey: this corner of the state is home to a deep bench of strong public high schools, each with its own personality and its own strengths. Some lean into science and technology, others into the arts, and a few keep things small and personal.
Below we walk through several standout campuses across Bergen County, along with the towns they anchor. If you are weighing a relocation, knowing what each district offers can help you match a neighborhood to what your child actually needs. As a family-owned crew that moves households all over this part of the state, we hear these questions from parents almost every week.
Ridgewood High School: strong on both academics and activities
Right in the center of Ridgewood, this high school has built a reputation on rigorous coursework paired with a lively campus culture. Enrollment tops 1,700, and the results back up the name: scores on standardized tests run high, and the graduation rate clears 95 percent. The Advanced Placement catalog is broad, with more than 20 offerings that stretch from Calculus all the way to Art History, and most students sit for at least one, posting pass rates above the national mark.
Life outside the classroom is just as full. Students can join a competitive robotics squad, plug into prize-winning music ensembles, or pick from a wide slate of sports. There is room here for nearly any interest to grow. Families settling near this corner of the county lean on our local moving team to get unpacked and into the school routine quickly.
Paramus High School: built around innovation
Sitting in the middle of Paramus, this school puts real weight behind science and technology. Its laboratories are genuinely modern, and that equipment supports serious work in science, engineering, and math while newer tools filter into other subjects too. The arts hold equal footing. Paramus is known for standout programs in studio art and the performing arts that regularly move out of the classroom into gallery nights and stage productions.
A few things that define the school:
- Enrollment near 1,200 students
- A STEM core backed by modern labs and classroom tech
- Arts classes that culminate in gallery nights and performances
- Athletics from basketball to swimming and beyond
- Standing partnerships with local companies
That athletic side runs deep, with teams from the pool to the court teaching discipline and cooperation. The ties to nearby businesses matter as well, opening doors to internships and hands-on projects that classrooms alone cannot provide. All told, Paramus turns out to be as much a community hub as a place to earn credits.
Northern Highlands Regional High School: a national standout
Based in Allendale, Northern Highlands draws teenagers from a handful of neighboring towns and lands, year after year, on lists of the country’s best public high schools. The proof shows up at graduation: close to every senior goes on to college, a testament to how seriously the school takes college preparation.
The course menu is deep, with Advanced Placement classes and honors tracks in areas like English Literature and Physics. Just as important, the building is set up to support students beyond grades, offering access to college advising and mental-health support so kids always have somewhere to turn. For a household relocating to Allendale from farther afield, our long distance moving crews handle the heavy lifting so the focus stays on settling the family.
Pascack Valley High School: technology woven through the curriculum
Over in Hillsdale, Pascack Valley has made technology part of nearly everything it does. Through a one-to-one program, every student carries a laptop, which reshapes how lessons are taught and how kids learn. The academic lineup features a full range of AP classes alongside distinctive electives like digital art and coding, subjects that map neatly onto today’s job market.
The school also leans hard into student involvement. Dozens of clubs, from environmental groups to coding squads, give students a reason to stay engaged and a way to build friendships across grade levels.
Bergen County Academies: specialized tracks for focused students
In Hackensack, Bergen County Academies runs on a model unlike a typical high school. This is a selective magnet program, and admission is competitive, hinging on academic record and a demanding entrance exam. Students who make the cut choose an academy built around a specific field and dive deep, learning by doing inside purpose-built facilities.
What sets the school apart:
- Focused academies in engineering, science, and the visual and performing arts
- About 1,100 students on campus
- A teaching staff over 100 strong, some coming straight from industry
- Internships linked to top area employers and colleges
- High-end labs, design studios, and spaces for research
Once inside, students mix Advanced Placement coursework with real-world experience through those internships and university tie-ins. Those connections sharpen the learning and give graduates a running start on careers. Families moving into the area to reach a school like this often ask us to bundle packing services with the move so nothing slows down the transition.
Glen Rock High School: a close community feel
Glen Rock High serves a compact, spirited town, and its size is exactly the draw. With roughly 800 students, the school can give each one real attention, the kind of personal touch bigger buildings struggle to match. Academic standards stay high all the same, with a solid roster of AP courses and dependable college-prep guidance.
Being small does not thin out the options. Students still have sports, arts, and volunteer programs that pull the community together and help kids grow outside the classroom. It is a place where a young person is unlikely to slip through the cracks.
Finding the right fit for your family
Taken together, the public schools of Bergen County add up to a rich set of choices, each blending demanding academics with a full menu of activities. That variety is a gift for relocating families: whether you want cutting-edge technology, a national powerhouse, or a small school where everyone knows your child’s name, there is a match somewhere in the county. Put each school’s strengths next to what your kids need, and the decision starts to make itself.
Once you have picked your town, the move is the last piece. Our family-owned team at Teddy Bear Moving, based in Fairfield, handles the logistics from start to finish, so you can spend your energy on school tours and first-day jitters. Reach us at 973-500-6003 whenever you are ready to plan.
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