Tenafly High School Ranking for College Admissions

I’ve read hundreds of applications from Tenafly High School over the years—first as an admissions officer reading for northern New Jersey, and now as a consultant helping students from that same ZIP code try to stand out. 

Here's the truth: no matter how good the Tenafly rankings look online, they don't guarantee a competitive read from a selective college.

In fact, the same metrics that make Tenafly seem impressive on paper can also raise the bar for what admissions officers expect from its students.

Tenafly High School Rankings

Tenafly ranks highly across a lot of metrics:

• Niche: #16 Best Public High School in New Jersey, with an A+ overall grade
  
  
• US News: #31 in NJ, #597 nationally, 96.62/100 overall score

These are objectively strong numbers. 

But here’s what most families don’t realize: when I was reading files, I didn’t consult Niche or US News to figure out how to evaluate a student. I looked at the school profile, which is a document your counselor sends via the Common App along with your transcript. And that’s what every admissions officer does.

What the Tenafly High School Profile Tells Admissions Officers

Tenafly’s 2024–2025 school profile is dense but clear. A few important takeaways:

• Enrollment  is ~1,180 students
  
  
• No class rank reported but a GPA distribution is included
  
  
• GPA scale is reported in weighted and unweighted GPA
  
  
• Rigor options include 24 APs (Calc BC, Physics C, CS A, and several humanities APs)
  
  
• Student outcomes are strong, with matriculations at selective schools like NYU, BU, Rutgers, and Ivies
  
  

This profile gives AOs what they need: a clear sense of how competitive the academic environment is and what kind of curriculum is available. That sets the context for evaluating every student’s file.

How Admissions Officers Read Students from Tenafly

Tenafly is what we call a “high-expectation public”—a school where the average applicant already looks strong. That means AOs do three things:

1. Sort Students into the “School Group”

At highly selective schools, your file is read alongside other applicants from Tenafly. AOs might literally list out all Tenafly applicants, ranked by GPA or academic index. You’re not competing with “every other kid in New Jersey.” You’re competing with the 15–25 other applicants from your school.

2. Benchmark Against Past Years

AOs don’t just look at applicants from this year. They ask: how does this student compare to the top Tenafly applicants last year? The last 5 years? Are they taking as many APs? Are the essays as compelling? The bar is also set by precedent.

3. Evaluate GPA and Rigor in Context

Tenafly’s profile shows AOs exactly what courses were available. So if you didn’t take AP Calc or AP Physics when they were options for your track, you’ll need a compelling reason why.

Strategic Takeaways for Tenafly Families

If You’re a Prospective Family:

• Tenafly offers strong academics.
  
  
• This is a great environment for self-motivated students aiming for selective colleges.
  
  
• Beware of the “false safety” of good averages. Even strong students can get lost in the crowd.
  
  

If You’re a Current Student:

• Aim to be at the top of your class. A 3.7 GPA might sound solid, but at Tenafly, it’s below average for the most competitive students.
  
  
• Max out rigor as much as you can, especially where it makes sense, like in STEM courses if you’re applying for engineering or CS.
  
  
• Stand out beyond the classroom. Selective schools are looking for impact, not just grades.

And most importantly:

It’s not about where you go to high school. It’s about how you perform in the context of that school. That’s what admissions officers see.

Want a second opinion on how your Tenafly application will read? Book a strategy consult with our team.