A Small Town with an Outsized College Admissions Profile
Short Hills is not technically its own municipality. Instead, it is the affluent northern section of Millburn Township, an Essex County suburb roughly 20 miles west of Manhattan. Families often move to Short Hills specifically for the schools. As a result, the town has one of the most competitive secondary markets in New Jersey. For families evaluating this market, the options generally fall into three categories.
- Millburn Township’s single, highly ranked comprehensive public high school
- Nearby non-magnet public districts that Short Hills families frequently compare themselves against, including Glen Ridge, Livingston, and Summit
- NAIS-member independent schools within a short drive, including Newark Academy, Kent Place School, and Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child
These environments differ in several important ways. In particular, families should weigh:
- Whether a student attends a single-option district school or chooses among several independent alternatives
- The depth and breadth of AP coursework available at each institution
- How each school’s college counseling office is staffed
- The degree of internal academic competition among high-achieving peers
- How familiar national admissions offices already are with each school’s transcript
With that context established, the sections below examine each school in detail. The analysis begins with the district that actually serves Short Hills students directly.
The Millburn-Short Hills Admissions Context
Selective admissions offices know Millburn Township well. Consequently, a Millburn High School transcript rarely needs extra context in an application file. The district’s academic reputation, in fact, precedes it at nearly every selective university in the Northeast. That familiarity is a genuine strategic asset.
New Jersey’s broader academic profile reinforces that advantage. The state routinely ranks among the top few nationally for the share of high schools in the top national quarter. It trails only Massachusetts and Connecticut in recent years. Consequently, even New Jersey’s mid-tier public schools tend to outperform what their national rank alone might suggest. Admissions offices apply that contextual understanding when reading any New Jersey transcript.
Rutgers, the state’s flagship public university, has grown considerably more selective over the past decade. Many Short Hills families now treat it as a genuine reach rather than a safety option. New Jersey does not offer a broad state merit scholarship comparable to programs in some other states, so families here typically build college lists that lean heavily on private institutions and out-of-state publics.
Internally, the market is intensely competitive. Millburn Township operates a single comprehensive public high school with no in-district alternative. Consequently, nearly every college-bound student in Short Hills competes directly against the same ambitious peer group. That single-school structure differs from many comparable New York suburbs, which split students across multiple public options. As a result, differentiation within the applicant pool depends heavily on course selection and extracurricular specificity rather than on which local school a student attended.
Public High Schools: Millburn and the Regional Comparison Set
Public High Schools at a Glance
| School | NJ State Rank | National Rank | Enrollment | AP Participation | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millburn High School | #12 | #244 | 1,393 | 79% | 99% |
| Glen Ridge High School | #13 | #282 | 811 | 91% | N/A |
| Livingston High School | #20 | #418 | 2,081 | 79% | 91% |
| Summit High School | #28 | #528 | 1,176 | 75% | 96% |
Millburn High School
Public · Millburn/Short Hills, NJ
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| NJ State Rank (U.S. News) | #12 |
| National Rank (U.S. News) | #244 |
| Enrollment (Grades 9–12) | 1,393 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 11:1 |
| AP Courses Offered | 35 |
| AP Participation Rate | 79% |
| AP Exam Pass Rate (Score 3+) | 96% |
| Average SAT | 1420 |
| Graduation Rate | 99% |
Academic Model and Curricular Depth
Millburn High School is the only comprehensive public high school in Millburn Township. It is consistently the highest-ranked non-magnet public school in Essex County. The school offers 35 AP courses across four instructional tracks. These range from Accelerated sections to standard College Prep sections. As a result, ambitious students get a broad menu without every student being forced into the most rigorous lane. Notably, 81% of seniors take at least one AP exam before graduation. In addition, 96% of all AP exams taken result in a score of 3 or higher. That pass rate sits well above both state and national averages.
The school does not rank students. In practice, this policy shifts admissions offices’ attention toward course rigor and grade trends. Millburn also maintains a formal Science Research Program for independent, multi-year investigative projects. The district additionally runs a Seal of Biliteracy initiative; roughly a quarter of recent graduating classes have earned the credential.
Extracurriculars and College Counseling
Beyond academics, Millburn fields a large athletics program. It also runs an extensive roster of performing arts, debate, and STEM-focused clubs. The counseling office is staffed with dedicated college counselors who work directly with families. In addition, the school regularly hosts college representatives from a wide range of national universities. Given the size of each graduating class, however, counselor caseloads remain a genuine constraint. Families who want more individualized planning frequently supplement school resources with outside support.
From a College Admissions Standpoint
Millburn’s transcript carries real weight with selective admissions offices. In part, that weight reflects how many district graduates have preceded the current applicant pool at top-50 universities. That familiarity cuts both ways. Because so many strong students apply from the same school each year, standing out requires more than strong grades alone. Students should pursue depth in one or two specific academic areas. The Science Research Program and upper-level language study toward the Seal of Biliteracy both offer that kind of focus. A clearly defined extracurricular commitment matters more here than a wide but shallow activity list.
Glen Ridge High School
Public · Glen Ridge, NJ
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| NJ State Rank (U.S. News) | #13 |
| National Rank (U.S. News) | #282 |
| Enrollment (Grades 7–12) | 811 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 12:1 |
| AP Participation Rate | 91% |
| Math Proficiency | 64% |
| Reading Proficiency | 75% |
Glen Ridge High School sits roughly a 20-minute drive from Short Hills. It is the smallest of the four public schools in this comparison. Notably, it also posts the highest AP participation rate in the group at 91%. That figure reflects a district-wide culture in which advanced coursework is the default, not the exception. The school’s small size allows for closer teacher-student relationships than a school the size of Millburn or Livingston can typically offer. That said, it also means a narrower overall course catalog.
From a College Admissions Standpoint
Glen Ridge is a genuine peer to Millburn in terms of academic rigor and admissions-office familiarity. This holds true despite its considerably smaller enrollment. Students from smaller districts like Glen Ridge sometimes benefit from a more legible transcript, since a smaller graduating class produces less internal grade compression. Families comparing Short Hills to Glen Ridge should weigh that smaller-school intimacy against Millburn’s larger AP catalog.
Livingston High School
Public · Livingston, NJ
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| NJ State Rank (U.S. News) | #20 |
| National Rank (U.S. News) | #418 |
| Enrollment (Grades 9–12) | 2,081 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 11:1 |
| AP Courses Offered | 37 |
| AP Participation Rate | 79% |
| Graduation Rate | 91% |
Livingston High School is Millburn’s longtime athletic rival and a fellow Essex County district. It is the largest school in this comparison set, with more than 2,000 students. That scale supports 37 AP courses, the broadest catalog among the four public schools profiled here. Livingston’s size, however, also means larger class sections in core subjects than a student would typically find at Millburn or Glen Ridge.
From a College Admissions Standpoint
That scale works to a motivated student’s advantage in one specific way. The sheer breadth of AP and elective offerings makes it easier to build a genuinely specialized academic profile. Students aiming for the most selective universities should use that breadth deliberately. In particular, clustering coursework around a defined interest area matters more than simply accumulating AP credits, since admissions offices already see many broadly strong applicants from this school each cycle.
Summit High School
Public · Summit, NJ
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| NJ State Rank (U.S. News) | #28 |
| National Rank (U.S. News) | #528 |
| Enrollment (Grades 9–12) | 1,176 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 11:1 |
| AP Participation Rate | 75% |
| Graduation Rate | 96% |
Summit High School, located in neighboring Union County, rounds out the regional comparison set. Its 75% AP participation rate and 96% graduation rate place it solidly among New Jersey’s strongest non-magnet public schools. That said, its national rank trails the other three schools in this set. Summit offers over 260 courses across core academics, world languages, and career-technical pathways. The school, additionally, maintains a well-regarded performing arts department in which more than 80% of students participate at some level.
From a College Admissions Standpoint
Summit is a solid, if slightly less nationally visible, alternative to Millburn. It particularly suits families who prioritize a broad co-curricular program alongside academics. Because Summit’s national ranking sits below Millburn’s, Glen Ridge’s, and Livingston’s, students here may need to work harder to establish visibility with admissions offices outside the immediate region. As a result, standardized testing and outside recognition, such as competitions, become relatively more valuable additions to an application.
Independent Schools
Independent Schools at a Glance
| School | Gender | Grades | Enrollment | Student-Teacher Ratio | NAIS Member |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark Academy | Coed | 6–12 | 654 | 8:1 | Yes |
| Kent Place School | Girls (PK coed) | PK–12 | 636 | 7:1 | Yes |
| Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child | Girls 7–12 (coed PK–6) | PK–12 | 498 | 6:1 | Yes |
Newark Academy
Independent · Livingston, NJ
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Grades | 6–12 |
| Enrollment | 654 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 8:1 |
| Average Class Size | 13 |
| AP and IB Courses | Both offered; first NJ school to offer the IB |
| Average SAT | 1440 |
| Average ACT | 32 |
| NAIS Membership | Yes |
| Top-25 University Rate | ~28% |
| HYPSM Rate | ~14% |
Academic Model and Signature Programs
Newark Academy, located in neighboring Livingston, is a coeducational day school for grades six through twelve. Notably, it was the first school in New Jersey to offer the International Baccalaureate program. The school continues to run the IB alongside a full AP curriculum. That dual-track structure gives families a genuine choice between two rigorous but philosophically distinct pathways. Class sizes average just 13 students. The 8:1 student-teacher ratio supports close faculty relationships that generate detailed, specific letters of recommendation.
College Placement and Community
Newark Academy’s average SAT of 1440 and ACT of 32 rank among the strongest of any school in this comparison. In fact, roughly 14% of recent graduates have matriculated to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, or MIT. The school draws students from more than 85 New Jersey communities. This, in turn, produces a broader geographic mix than a single-town public district typically offers.
From a College Admissions Standpoint
Newark Academy is arguably the strongest independent alternative to Millburn High School for Short Hills families. The IB option, in particular, is a meaningful differentiator. A strong IB Diploma candidate presents a distinctive, internationally recognized credential that stands apart from the AP-heavy transcripts common in this market. Families should weigh that distinctiveness against Newark Academy’s selective admissions process, since demand from Short Hills families is consistently high.
Kent Place School
Independent · Summit, NJ
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Grades | PK–12 (girls K–12; coed PK) |
| Enrollment | 636 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 7:1 |
| AP Courses Offered | 23 |
| NAIS Membership | Yes |
| Financial Aid | $4M+ awarded annually |
| Founded | 1894 |
Academic Model and Signature Programs
Kent Place School is New Jersey’s only independent, nonsectarian college preparatory day school for girls. It enrolls students from kindergarten through grade 12, with a coeducational preschool. The school’s 7:1 student-teacher ratio ranks second only to Oak Knoll among the schools in this comparison. Its signature Ethics Institute and Girls’ Leadership Institute, moreover, give students structured, school-branded programming. That programming translates well into a distinctive application narrative. More than 20 AP courses are available to upper-school students alongside honors-level coursework.
College Placement and Community
Kent Place awards more than $4 million in financial aid annually. Close to a fifth of the student body receives some form of aid. That figure makes the school more accessible than its sticker price alone suggests. The school draws from roughly 74 New Jersey communities. Recent graduates have gone on to Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Stanford, among other selective institutions.
From a College Admissions Standpoint
Kent Place suits Short Hills families seeking a single-sex environment with a well-resourced college counseling office. The Ethics Institute and Girls’ Leadership Institute both offer built-in opportunities for a specific, well-documented leadership narrative. Admissions readers consistently respond to that kind of narrative. Students should lean into those signature programs deliberately, since they differentiate a Kent Place transcript from the broader field of strong Northeastern all-girls schools.
Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child
Independent · Summit, NJ
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Grades | PK–12 (girls 7–12; coed PK–6) |
| Enrollment | 498 |
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 6:1 |
| AP and Honors Courses | 14+ |
| NAIS Membership | Yes |
| Religious Affiliation | Catholic |
| Founded | 1924 |
Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, also in Summit, is a Catholic independent school. It is coeducational through grade six and all-girls from grades seven through twelve. Its 6:1 student-teacher ratio is the most favorable of any school in this comparison. The Upper School curriculum includes the Infinity Project, a nationally recognized pre-engineering initiative. That project gives STEM-inclined students a distinctive, school-specific credential.
From a College Admissions Standpoint
Oak Knoll suits Short Hills families who want a values-based, close-knit learning environment alongside genuine academic rigor. The Infinity Project, in particular, is worth highlighting directly in applications for students pursuing engineering or computer science. It signals sustained, structured technical engagement well beyond a standard AP Computer Science course. As with Kent Place, the school’s small size means limited seats, so families should start the admissions process early.
How College Transitions Helps Short Hills-Area Families
- Clarifying how selective admissions offices read Millburn High School’s unranked, AP-heavy transcript
- Advising families weighing Millburn against nearby independent alternatives like Newark Academy, Kent Place, and Oak Knoll
- Identifying which academic and extracurricular choices carry the most strategic weight for a given student’s target college list
- Helping students build a differentiated personal narrative within one of New Jersey’s most competitive applicant pools
- Guiding families through New Jersey-specific considerations, including Rutgers’ rising selectivity and the absence of a broad state merit scholarship program
Final Thoughts
Millburn High School remains the clear anchor of the Short Hills market. Its unranked, 35-course AP curriculum gives students genuine flexibility to build a rigorous transcript without the added pressure of a formal class-rank system. Because it is the only public option in Millburn Township, nearly every ambitious student in town competes within the same applicant pool. That structure places real weight on differentiation beyond the transcript itself.
Newark Academy, Kent Place, and Oak Knoll each offer a meaningfully different independent-school alternative. One provides a dual AP/IB structure, while the other two follow single-sex, leadership-focused models. Families willing to look slightly beyond Short Hills toward Glen Ridge, Livingston, or Summit will find genuinely strong public options, each with its own particular strengths in scale, AP breadth, or community culture.
No single school in this market guarantees admission to a highly selective university. Each, in fact, requires a deliberate, well-planned strategy. Wherever your student attends, College Transitions helps families in the Short Hills area turn strong academic options into clear, differentiated admissions plans.
Additional Resources
- Case Study: How One Short Hills, NJ Student Turned Suburban Planning History into a College Admissions Edge
- Is Short Hills, NJ a Good Place for College Admissions?
- Short Hills’ Hidden Curriculum: The Programs and Local Resources That Build a Competitive College Application
- New Jersey College Admissions Counseling
