Newark Academy is a coeducational private day school located in Livingston, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in sixth through twelfth grades.
It was the first school in New Jersey to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program."Going the Private School Route: Newark Academy", The Village Green, August 18, 2014. Accessed November 15, 2025. "Newark Academy was the first school in New Jersey to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma."International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, Newark Academy. Accessed April 11, 2024. "The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB) is a rigorous and highly respected pre-university program offered by select schools throughout the world. Newark Academy was the first school in New Jersey, public or private, to offer this exceptional advanced learning educational option and we remain the only private, independent school in the region offering the IB." The school receives about 650 applicants for 115 spots, an acceptance rate of roughly 17%.Frequently Asked Questions, Newark Academy. Accessed April 11, 2024. "Each year Newark Academy receives nearly 650 applications for approximately 115 new students." The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1928.Newark Academy, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed February 9, 2022.
As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had an enrollment of 654 students and 78.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.3:1. The school's student body was 43.4% (284) White, 30.0% (196) Asian, 11.8% (77) two or more races, 10.1% (66) Black, 4.6% (30) Hispanic and 0.2% (1) Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander.School data for Newark Academy , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 1, 2023.
History Newark Academy is one of several pre-Revolutionary War schools still operating in the United States and is considered the seventh-oldest private school in the country and the second-oldest day school in the state of New Jersey (behind Rutgers Preparatory School).Warner, Ray. "Newark Academy: '29 vs. '73; Preparing for Princeton", The New York Times, November 25, 1973. Accessed September 12, 2012. "Academy officials say that the school is the seventh oldest independent secondary institution in the nation and the second oldest in New Jersey." The Academy was founded in 1774 by Alexander MacWhorter, a cleric and advisor to George Washington, and was located on Market Street in Downtown Newark."Guide to the Newark Academy Collection 1917-1985 MG 1671", New Jersey Historical Society. Accessed April 7, 2025. "Newark Academy is the second oldest day school in the state of New Jersey, and one of a handful of pre-Revolutionary schools still operating in the United States. The Academy was founded in 1774 by Alexander Macwhorter, a leading cleric and advisor to George Washington." Newark Academy was briefly closed after it was burned by the British during the Revolutionary War. The school then reopened in new quarters in 1792. In 1802, the Academy opened a separate division for girls, but this program was closed in 1859. After 1929, it moved to First Street in the Roseville section of Newark. The Academy moved from Newark to its campus in Livingston, in 1964, and became fully co-educational in 1971.
Campus Newark Academy is located on a campus in northern New Jersey.
The Upper School Academic Center, or the "New Wing", opened in fall 2012 and encompasses of new construction and of renovated space and includes 13 classrooms, two science labs, a multi-purpose area, several small-group collaborative learning spaces and a commons area.
The Wilf Middle School wing opened in fall 2017 and houses two floors of classrooms, laboratories, offices and common spaces that accommodate Middle School teachers and students. Classrooms have Apple TV technology and SmartBoards, which have since been implemented throughout the school. During the construction of the new middle school, Newark Academy also renovated all of the sciences labs, starting with the second-floor natural science and chemistry rooms, and moving on to the first-floor physical science room. These rooms, as well as the laboratories in the middle school, include lab equipment.Construction Updates, Newark Academy, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 21, 2018. Accessed June 20, 2022. As part of Experiential learning programs, middle schoolers of every grade go on a series of trips/excursions at the end of the year, called "Capstone" to such destinations as the United Nations.Capstone Experiences, Newark Academy. Accessed March 28, 2023.
The Coraci Performance Hall, which opened in the summer of 2020, is a 700-seat facility that has been rebuilt to accommodate the increased size of the student body for Morning Meetings and to provide a performance space for student artists that take the stage for dance, choral, orchestral, jazz, and theatrical performances throughout the school year.Arts Facilities, Newark Academy. Accessed March 28, 2023.
The Hawkes Memorial Library, opened in 1974, houses a 23,000-volume collection, and a periodical and microfilm collection.
The Elizabeth B. McGraw Arts Center, which opened in 1992, contains three studio art classrooms (ceramics, drawing/painting, and a digital media lab for film and photography that opened in the summer of 2022), a band/orchestra room, a choral room, a dance studio, a "black box" theater and an art gallery.
The William E. and Carol G. Simon Family Field House opened in 2001. This athletic center houses a gymnasium with three basketball courts, a six-lane pool with a spectator area, a four-lane track and a fitness center. Wrestling and fencing gyms are located in the main building.
Newark Academy's outdoor facilities include courtyards with seating areas, two baseball diamonds, a softball field, an all-weather track, a field hockey area, two lacrosse and soccer fields, two football fields, one basketball half-court, a cross country course and 10 tennis courts.
Faculty and administration Newark Academy's faculty has an average of 17.5 years of teaching experience, and 90 percent of the 92 teachers and administrators have advanced degrees; 14 have doctorate degrees.Fast Facts, Newark Academy. Accessed December 14, 2022.
In 2007, Donald M. Austin was appointed as the 49th Head of School for Newark Academy. He previously served as resident director for School Year Abroad in Rennes, France. He earned an undergraduate degree in English and French from Georgetown University and a master's of philosophy in French studies from New York University.
Austin's team of administrators includes Cathy Atwell, upper school principal; Tom Ashburn, middle school principal; Pegeen Galvin, dean of students; and Traci Osterhagen Brock, dean of faculty.Administration, Faculty & Staff, Newark Academy. Accessed March 28, 2023.
Student body For the 2023–2024 school year, Newark Academy has students from over 90 communities in grades 6–12. There are 473 students in the Upper School and 204 students in Middle School. Students of color represent 60% of the student population.
Academics Graduation requirements In order to graduate students must complete four years of English, three years of humanities, three years of mathematics, three years of laboratory science, proficiency in a second language (level 3), one year of arts, three June Terms, an immersion trip, 40 hours of community service, and a senior project.
Academic offerings Newark Academy offers a wide variety of classes across disciplines and at many different levels. Newark Academy offers many IB and AP classes, in addition to other college-level classes in Multivariable calculus, Differential Equations, Linear algebra, Non-Euclidean geometry, and Number theory.
Newark Academy is part of the Malone Schools Online Network, a consortium of 27 independent schools across the country that offers a selection of 46 classes available online in conjunction with one another, run by teachers at the member schools.Colleges and Universities Attended by Newark Academy Graduates 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, Newark Academy. Accessed March 16, 2022. MSON offers many college-level and elective classes such as "Are We Rome?," "Creative Writing in the Digital Age" and "Positive Psychology."About MSON, Malone Schools Online Network. Accessed January 10, 2024. "27 member schools enroll their students in 46 courses from Organic Chemistry to Ancient Greek to Philosophy in Pop Culture."
Newark Academy also offers an Independent Studies program for seniors. Seniors may elect to take a self-designed full-year course on a topic of their choosing. Students work with a faculty advisor, and often one other student who helped design the course, throughout the year researching the topic at hand and culminating in a final project. Courses in the past have focused on feminism, and American modern judicial history, amongst other subjects.
Advanced curricula Newark Academy is the only independent school in New Jersey that offers both the Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) programs.
Advanced Placement The College Board's Advanced Placement Program (AP) offers high school students the opportunity to do college-level work. Successful achievement on the culminating exams may result in credit or advanced placement upon matriculation to college. Newark Academy offers 4 AP classes (US History, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, and Calculus AB/BC).
International Baccalaureate In 1991, Newark Academy became the first school in New Jersey to grant the International Baccalaureate diploma.Newark Academy, International Baccalaureate. Accessed July 22, 2007. The I.B. diploma is awarded following the successful completion of a rigorous two-year curriculum. 47 members of the Class of 2021 pursued the full IB diploma. Approximately 95 percent of the Class of 2023 was enrolled in at least one IB course.
Awards, recognition and rankings Niche.com ranked Newark Academy fourth in its "Best College Prep Private High Schools in New Jersey", fourth in "Best Private High Schools in New Jersey" and ninth in "Best High Schools for STEM in New Jersey."Newark Academy, Niche. Accessed November 22, 2022. The school received an A+ for teachers, academics, clubs & activities, and college prep. Niche ranked it as the 12th best private high school in the New York City area.2021 Best Private High Schools in the New York City Area, Niche. Accessed March 28, 2023. Niche.com ranked the school as the 37th best private high school on its list of the 2024 Best Schools in America.2024 Best Schools in America, Niche. Accessed May 28, 2024.
The school was listed in the top 100 prep schools in the world according to Prep Review.Newark Academy, Prep Review. Accessed May 28, 2024. In 2024, Niche awarded it the best school in Essex County for its high school program.2024 Best Private High Schools in Essex County, Niche. Accessed April 11, 2024.
Athletics