Islamic Schools in New Jersey: An Overview

Introduction

New Jersey is home to one of the largest and most diverse Muslim communities in the United States. This vibrant presence is reflected in a growing number of Islamic private schools spread across the state. For the 2026 school year, there are 23 Islamic private schools serving approximately 4,424 students throughout New Jersey.

A Brief History

Islamic schooling in New Jersey has its roots in the 1980s, when the Muslim population in the state began to grow significantly. Among the earliest institutions was Al-Ghazaly School, founded in 1984 by the Islamic Education Foundation of New Jersey (IEF). Originally offering K–12 classes at the site of the Islamic Center of Jersey City near Communipaw Avenue, it was the first Islamic school to serve the Muslim population in Northern New Jersey.

As the community expanded rapidly during the 1990s, three mosques — ICJC, ICPC, and NHIEC — collaborated to broaden Islamic education by formally organizing under the current IEF structure. In 1995, IEF purchased two additional buildings: one in Prospect Park, NJ (which became Al-Hikmah Elementary School), and one in Teaneck, NJ (which became the flagship Al-Ghazaly High School).

Similarly, Madrasatu Ahlis Sunnah in East Orange was established in 1984 as the Islamic Day School, and Noor-Ul-Iman School (NUI) in South Brunswick has been operating for over 30 years. These institutions were among the pioneers of full-time Islamic education in the state.

Notable Schools

Al-Ghazaly Junior/Senior High School (Wayne, NJ)

Operated by the Islamic Education Foundation of NJ, Al-Ghazaly serves grades 7–12 with approximately 339 students. It is consistently ranked among the top Islamic private high schools in New Jersey. The school reports a 100% matriculation rate to four-year colleges over the past decade and offers more than 40 extracurricular and volunteering opportunities.

Noor-Ul-Iman School (South Brunswick / Monmouth Junction, NJ)

One of the state's largest and most established Islamic schools, NUI serves students from Pre-K through 12th grade with an enrollment of approximately 538 students. It holds a Niche grade of A+ and a student-teacher ratio of 9 to 1.

Darul Arqam School (South River, NJ)

An accredited institution serving Pre-K through 12th grade with approximately 450 students, Darul Arqam received accreditation from the Cognia Global Commission in 2021. The school offers Advanced Placement courses for high school students, as well as college-level Islamic Studies from the Manara Institute, granting an Associate's Degree to all graduates.

Rising Star Academy (Union City, NJ)

Serving Pre-K through 12th grade with around 532 students, Rising Star Academy holds an average class size of 20 students. The school offers four sports programs and 12 extracurricular activities, including Debate, Model UN, and Science Olympiad. It is ranked among the top 28 private high schools in New Jersey.

Madrasatu Ahlis Sunnah / Ahlus Sunnah School (East Orange, NJ)

Originally established in 1984 as the Islamic Day School, this institution offers education from Pre-K through 12th grade with approximately 191 students. Its curriculum includes daily Qur'an recitation and memorization, Arabic language development, and courses in Islamic history, fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), and Prophetic studies.

Badr Islamic School (Jersey City, NJ)

Serving students from Pre-K through 8th grade, Badr School is accredited by Cognia (formerly AdvancED) and is located at 539 Bergen Avenue in Jersey City.

Al-Hikmah Elementary School (Prospect Park, NJ)

Part of the IEF school system, Al-Hikmah serves Pre-K through 6th grade with approximately 301 students and a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1.

Islamic Academy of South Jersey

Recognized as the first full-time Islamic school in Southern New Jersey, the Islamic Academy of South Jersey serves Pre-K through the upper elementary grades, with plans to add a grade level each year.

An-Noor Academy & Darul Huda Institute (Piscataway, NJ)

Located at 1000 Hoes Lane in Piscataway, An-Noor Academy is a co-educational school serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade. Founded in 2000, the school enrolls approximately 361–388 students with a student-teacher ratio of 8 to 1 and an average class size of 15. It holds a Niche grade of A and reports a 100% college matriculation rate. Notably, 88% of its faculty hold advanced degrees, and the student body is 95% students of color — placing it among the top 20% of New Jersey private schools for diversity. The school also operates the Darul Huda Institute, a dedicated Tahfiz (Qur'an memorization) program run by qualified scholars with over a decade of teaching experience in the United States.

Pillars Preparatory Academy (South River, NJ)

Located at 34 Charles Street in South River, Pillars Preparatory Academy is an accredited nonprofit Islamic school serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade. The school has an enrollment of approximately 450 students with a notably low student-teacher ratio of 6 to 1 and an annual tuition of $9,950 for the highest grade offered. Pillars holds a Niche grade of A+ and reports a 100% college graduation rate. The academic program is structured across early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school divisions, with a dedicated Arabic Studies, Qur'an, and Hifz department. Arabic instruction is offered at multiple proficiency levels. The school is ranked among the top 46 private high schools in New Jersey.

Al-Wali Academy (Edison, NJ)

Al-Wali Academy is an Islamic school located at 10 Olsen Avenue in Edison, NJ, operating under the umbrella of Masjid Al-Wali — the first mosque established in Edison, founded in 2011. The school was founded in 2022 and offers a comprehensive academic curriculum for Pre-K through middle school, integrated with an Islamic Studies, Qur'an, and Arabic language program. The school describes its mission as guiding students to become confident model citizens demonstrating academic excellence and Islamic values, with plans to eventually expand to the high school level. In addition to its full-time weekday program, Al-Wali also operates a Sunday School and Saturday School for students ages 4 to 20, focused on Qur'anic studies, Seerah, and Islamic lifestyle education.

Success Academy – Al Falah Center (Bridgewater, NJ)

The Al Falah Center, located at 881 Route 206 in Bridgewater Township, is the first Islamic center in Bridgewater and Somerset County. Its establishment involved a notable legal history: after the Township changed zoning laws in 2011 to prevent the construction of the mosque, Al Falah Center filed a federal lawsuit under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). In 2014, the parties reached a settlement in which Bridgewater agreed to exchange land for the property, and Al Falah received a $5 million monetary settlement — the highest recovery ever in a lawsuit involving the establishment of a religious center under RLUIPA. The entire settlement amount was donated toward building the center.

In addition to its existing weekend school program (Al-Falah Sunday School), which operates on Sunday mornings at the mosque and covers Qur'an memorization, Qur'anic studies, and Islamic studies, Al Falah Center launched Success Academy in September 2025 — its first full-time Islamic day school. Success Academy is currently enrolling students for its early childhood program for Fall 2026. The school is guided by the Quran and Sunnah and is currently in the process of pursuing formal accreditation, with eligibility to apply beginning in September 2026.

MCNJ Islamic Sunday School (Muslim Community of New Jersey)

For families who do not attend full-time Islamic schools, the MCNJ Islamic Sunday School is the largest Sunday Islamic school in New Jersey, serving over 300 students. Founded in 1996, it has provided Islamic education as a community service run by volunteers and is open to students from all backgrounds.

Curriculum and Educational Model

Islamic schools in New Jersey generally follow a dual-curriculum model. Alongside New Jersey state academic standards — covering subjects such as mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies — these schools integrate Islamic studies into the daily schedule. Common components of the Islamic curriculum include:

• Qur'an memorization (Hifz) and recitation

• Arabic language instruction

• Islamic history and civilization

• Fiqh (Islamic law and jurisprudence)

• Seerah (biography of the Prophet Muhammad)

• Moral and character education

Many schools also offer bilingual Arabic-English programs, and a growing number have introduced STEM initiatives, robotics, and coding programs as part of their modern academic offerings.

Accreditation and Academic Standards

Several Islamic schools in New Jersey have pursued formal accreditation to meet rigorous academic standards. Darul Arqam School and Badr Islamic School have both received accreditation through Cognia (formerly AdvancED), a global nonprofit accrediting organization. Accreditation requires schools to demonstrate adherence to standards related to learning environments, teaching quality, and institutional leadership.

The average acceptance rate for Islamic private schools in New Jersey is 67%, which is lower than the overall New Jersey private school average of 78%, reflecting competitive admissions at several institutions.

Community and Extracurricular Life

Beyond academics, Islamic schools in New Jersey frequently serve as community hubs. Many institutions host:

• Weekend Qur'an memorization programs

• Youth groups and Islamic trivia competitions

• Science fairs, spelling bees, and debate tournaments

• Interfaith outreach programs

• Community service and volunteering initiatives

Some schools have also established partnerships with universities and professional organizations, offering mentorship programs, internships, and dual-enrollment college opportunities for high school students.

Conclusion

Islamic schools in New Jersey represent a well-established and growing sector of private faith-based education in the state. With 23 institutions currently serving more than 4,400 students across all grade levels, they range from small elementary programs to full Pre-K–12 academies with robust extracurricular offerings and accredited curricula.