Are there waiting lists for the best elementary schools in Bergen County?

Are there waiting lists for the best elementary schools in Bergen County, particularly given the intense competition and significant demand for highly-rated schools with strong academic performance, diverse enrichment programs, or specialized offerings, and how extensive are these lists compared to available spots in schools often sought after by families relocating to the area or looking for alternatives to their assigned neighborhood schools?

Yes, many of the top-performing elementary schools in Bergen County, New Jersey, frequently have waiting lists due to high demand and limited capacity. Key factors contributing to these lists include:

1. Residency Requirements: Public schools are typically assigned by residential zoning, and popular districts (e.g., Ridgewood, Saddle River, Haworth, or Tenafly) often have enrollment caps. Families moving into these areas after the annual application deadlines or mid-year transfers may be placed on waiting lists.
2. School Choice Programs: Some districts (e.g., Bergenfield or Ramsey) offer school-choice options, allowing applications to non-zoned schools. Oversubscribed magnet programs, such as gifted and talented initiatives at schools like Lincoln Elementary in Bergenfield or Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School district’s feeder schools, often generate waiting lists.
3. Program Popularity: Schools with specialized programs, such as language immersion (e.g., Spanish or Mandarin tracks in Teaneck) or STEM-focused curricula, see high interest. For instance, the Bergen Academies’ elementary feeder programs or lottery-based schools in Englewood may have waitlists exceeding capacity by 20–50% in certain grades.
4. High Demand Grades: Kindergarten and first-grade entries typically have the longest waitlists due to cohort turnover. For example, Ridgewood’s Glen Street or Travell Elementary schools often near capacity for kindergarten, with waitlists based on residency verification date.
5. District Specifics:
   • Ridgewood: Uses a "walk-zone" priority; non-resident or late applicants are waitlisted.
   • Tenafly: Has a closed transfer policy; interdistrict transfers face waitlists based on space availability.
   • Saddle River: Private schools like Saddle River Day School also maintain waitlists for elementary grades due to prestige and small class sizes.
6. Transient Population: High-cost living in desirable towns leads to frequent relocations, creating waitlists as residents leave or new families move in.
7. Administrative Policies: Waitlists are typically ranked by application date, residency ties to the school zone, or sibling priority. Lists are active through the academic year but may re-prioritize each August.

Families should check individual district websites (e.g., Bergen County School Directory) for specific protocols, as policies vary. For the most accurate waitlist lengths, direct contact with the school’s registrar is recommended, as year-over-year demand fluctuates.