Why Oak Knoll Is One of the Best Schools in Summit, NJ?

Walk through the Oak Knoll campus in Summit, NJ, and you immediately sense a learning environment built with intention. It is a place where curiosity, faith, leadership, and academic purpose are not just ideals but daily habits. Founded in 1924, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child has spent nearly a century educating students with a commitment to strong academics, joyful learning, character formation, and service rooted in Catholic tradition.



Yet one of Oak Knoll’s most distinctive qualities is its structure: a coeducational Lower School (PK–6) and an all-girls Upper School (Grades 7–12), each purposefully designed to give students what they need at every stage of development.

This thoughtful model is one of the reasons many families consider Oak Knoll among the Best Schools in Summit, NJ — and across the region.

A Coed Lower School That Builds Strong Academic Foundations (PK–Grade 6)

The Lower School blends foundational skill-building with exploration, hands-on learning, and character development. With small class settings, children experience an environment where they feel known and encouraged.

Students benefit from:

  • Early literacy and numeracy emphasis

  • Daily opportunities to problem-solve, create, and collaborate

  • Faith-integrated lessons that build empathy and integrity

  • Science labs, makerspace activities, and inquiry-based exploration

  • A nurturing environment where confidence takes root early

This is not simply an elementary program — it’s a launchpad for future academic and personal growth.

An All-Girls Upper School That Elevates Leadership (Grades 7–12)

As students transition to middle and high school, Oak Knoll becomes an all-girls environment — a model intentionally designed to empower young women academically, socially, and spiritually.

The Upper School offers:

  • Advanced and AP-level courses

  • Honors pathways and interdisciplinary studies

  • A research-rich curriculum with global perspectives

  • Strong focus on writing, public speaking, and analytical thinking

  • Leadership opportunities through clubs, athletics, and service

  • Dedicated college counseling beginning early in the Upper School journey

Students are encouraged to use their voices, take intellectual risks, and lead with courage — qualities that thrive in a supportive, all-girls environment.

This is what many families look for when exploring a Girls School in NJ or a Girls School in New Jersey, and Oak Knoll offers one of the most respected programs in the state.

Faith, Character, and Service at the Center

As a Holy Child school, Oak Knoll emphasizes values such as compassion, respect, joy, and service. Students participate in service-learning experiences, chapel gatherings, reflection, and community care initiatives.

The goal is simple yet profound: develop young people who think critically, act ethically, and serve others with purpose.

Families seeking an independent school in NJ often highlight this balance — rigorous academics anchored in timeless values.

A Close-Knit Community Where Students Are Known

Across both divisions, Oak Knoll maintains a warm, inclusive, and supportive atmosphere. Teachers work closely with students, forming relationships that guide learning, confidence, and character.

Whether a student is exploring the arts, participating in athletics, joining clubs, or preparing for college, they are surrounded by adults who believe in their potential and peers who help them grow.

This sense of belonging is one of the strongest reasons families consider Oak Knoll when comparing options for the best private school NJ or the best school NJ for their child.

Preparing Students for College — and the World Beyond

With individualized college counseling, rigorous academics, global perspectives, and leadership development, Oak Knoll graduates step confidently into competitive colleges and universities.

But the real hallmark of an Oak Knoll education is something deeper: intellectual curiosity, compassion, resilience, and a drive to serve. These qualities follow students long after graduation.

Why Oak Knoll Stands Out in Summit, NJ

Oak Knoll delivers a rare combination:

  • Coed, nurturing early education

  • All-girls, empowering secondary education

  • Catholic values lived with warmth and purpose

  • Strong academic outcomes

  • Leadership and service woven into daily life

  • A joyful, supportive community that grows with each student

For families searching for a school grounded in mission, excellence, and heart, Oak Knoll offers a uniquely powerful educational journey — one that honors the whole child from PK through Grade 12.
Location: 44 Blackburn Rd, Summit, NJ 07901, USA

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