This page was created by a small group of parents in JCPS in 2024 to help other families understand the public high school options and the application process. This is not an official page connected to the school district, and we are not offering professional advice. We are here to share information that we wish we had easy access to from the beginning of the process. There is a wider range of good high school options than many Jersey City parents appreciate, but the process of learning about them and navigating the applications can be confusing. This is a humble community effort to demystify how things work and what happens when.
This page includes information about JCPS and Hudson County schools only. We do not include information about private or charter schools. Private and Catholic schools often require different tests other than the PSAT. It's worth researching their requirements if you plan to apply in order to understand how your student needs to prepare.
October-November
Hudson County Schools of Technology Application
January-February
McNair and Infinity Institute Application
February
HIP Fair
February-March
HIP Applications
JCArts and BEST Applications
Jersey City Public Schools has four district high schools: Dickinson, Ferris, Lincoln, and Snyder. All Jersey City students have the right to attend one of these high schools, designated based on the zone where they live. Each of the four district high schools, in addition to its core academic program, also has specialized programs and tracks within the school. These specialized programs are known as Higher Initiative Programs (HIP) and require students to submit an application and be accepted.
JCPS also has specialized high schools that students can attend if they apply and are accepted. McNair Academic High School and Infinity Institute are academic magnet schools, with a selective admissions process requiring good grades and high PSAT 8/9 scores. Liberty High School and Innovation High School are both smaller schools with strong academics and a supportive environment, with admissions going through the HIP process.
The other public high school options for Jersey City students are the Hudson County Schools of Technology: High Tech High and County Prep. HCST schools follow a vocational model, with students choosing a major that will provide a consistent focus during all four years of high school. HCST students study core academic subjects with students from across the school, and take classes in their major for two periods a day. While JCPS schools are open only to Jersey City students, HCST schools are open to students who live anywhere in Hudson County. This makes admissions more competitive because Jersey City students are opting for a smaller number of open slots.
We appreciate offers to help reach more families by translating this information into additional languages! Suggestions or corrections can also be submitted through this form.