The 5 Oldest Schools in New Jersey Are Ancient

A look at the New Jersey educational landscape will expose you to a rich and fascinating journey. For instance, during the colonial period, there were a lot of religious influences. The Dutch Reformed Church and Quakers or Society of Friends are the most notable. Many initially set up religious institutions for their communities. But eventually, they opened up to students from all denominations. A good example would be Princeton University, founded by New Life Presbyterians in the 1740s.  

The educational revolution in New Jersey was quite pronounced in the 18th and 19th centuries, with the formalization of the education system. A good example would be the Common School Act, which the New Jersey state legislation established in 1816. It was the foundational basis for public education. That included property taxation, to get financing to support the learning institutions.

At the same time, private institutions like Newark Academy and Lawrenceville opened their doors. Both have continued to see massive growth over the years and remain a source of education for the students that pass through their doors. A look at the alumni will expose you to influential members of society, which is a clear testament to the high quality of education they got at the institutions. 

Let's explore some of the oldest New Jersey schools and learn interesting facts about them. 

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ 08544

The private Ivy League Princeton University has been around since 1746. At the time of its establishment, it went by the name College of New Jersey. It wasn't until 1896 that the name changed to Princeton University.

The University's founding goes back to the Great Awakening, or periods of religious revival from the 18th century until the late 20th century. In 1741 the Synod of Philadelphia expelled the New Life Presbyterians. 

Out of this, four New Life Presbyterians decided to establish a college for two reasons. The first was their displeasure with Harvard and Yale's position on the Great Awakening. They also did not like the type of instruction that the Log College, a theological seminary in what we now call Warminster, Pennsylvania, was dispensing. 

The four convinced three other New Life Presbyterians to join them in setting up a college in New Jersey. On October 22nd, 1946, they received a charter for the College of New Jersey. 

The first location for the college was in Elizabeth, New Jersey, with Jonathan Dickinson as the president. The curriculum was to be more expansive, offering training on different professions, not only ministerial work. Furthermore, the founders didn't restrict enrollment to Presbyterians only. 

Governor Jonathan Belcher granted the college a second charter in 1748. He also became one of the most significant supporters, even donating a library at the school. In 1947, the college moved to Newark, New Jersey, under the new President Aaron Burr Senior. 1976 marked a third relocation to its current location. 

In 1896, the name changed to Princeton University. The first female graduate student was Sabra Follet Meservey in 1961. She continued with her sterling performance to become the first female Master's holder at Princeton. In 1962, eight more ladies enrolled, and in 1964, the first female Ph.D. holder, T'sai-Ying Cheng, emerged. 

Today, Princeton is a renowned college attracting students from all over the world. As part of the Ivy League, the university excels in academic performance, making it a much sought-after university. 

Undergraduate and graduate programs are available in various fields, such as social sciences, humanities, engineering, natural sciences, and more. Princeton is also a well-known research facility, earning the R1 or very high research activity classification. 

The athletics section comprises 37 sports, including sailing, rugby, football, basketball, and soccer. 

Notable Princeton University Alumni

Notable alumni from Princeton University include the following.

• Former American President John F Kennedy
• American mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr.
• Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
• Computer scientist and mathematician Alan Turing
• Actor Wentworth Miller
• First Lady Michelle Obama
• Model and actress Brooke Shields
• Politician and commentator Ted Cruz
• American actor, director, and producer David Duchovny 

Princeton has been on the map since the 1970s, and we can bet it'll be around for much longer. 

Rutgers Preparatory School

1345 East Avenue Somerset, NJ 08873

Rutgers Preparatory School opened its doors in 1766. The co-educational college preparatory takes students from pre-kindergarten to the 12th grade. It’s the oldest independent school in New Jersey and ranks at number 16 in the country.

At its establishment, Rutgers went by the name Queens College Grammar School. Its first location was in New Brunswick, under headmaster Caleb Cooper. The students would use available boarding houses and taverns as classrooms. From 1809 to 1830, the grammar schools shared a building with the Queen's College. 

The adoption of the current Rutgers name happened in 1825. It was named after Colonel Henry Rutgers, who provided critical financial support to the school, allowing it to re-open. In 1830, Queens College Grammar School moved to the intersection between College Avenue and Somerset Street. It stayed at this location until 1963.

Some significant years for the college include the following.

• The 1860s saw the Preparatory School take in international students.
• In the 1890s, eighth grade and below became co-educational.
• In 1951 Rutgers became completely co-educational and a day school after ending the boarding program.
• 1958 saw the separation of Rutgers University and the Preparatory School. The lower classes occupied Elm Farm in Somerset. 
• 1974 was the year Rutgers Preparatory added a middle school and a bigger library.
•  In 1985, the school opened a new, larger building. This replaced the one that a fire destroyed in 1983.

Rutgers has continued to grow and is an important part of the New Jersey educational landscape. To graduate, students must complete 20 course credits. They must also take courses in traditional liberal arts, which include mathematics, history, English, and music, to name a few. Advanced Placement, French, Japanese, Spanish, Latin, and Arabic are other courses. 

The athletics department offers sporting opportunities in baseball, lacrosse, basketball, wrestling, cross country, etc. 

Notable Rutgers Preparatory Alumni

Notable alumni from Rutgers Preparatory include the following.

• Professional basketballers Marvadene Anderson and Leroy Lins
• Competitive swimmer Judy Melic
• Soccer player Zach Perez
• Politician Constance H. Williams
• Film producer Marc Turtletaub
• Poet and author Aline Murray Kilmer
• Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam
• Actor, Stanley Kamel
• Chairman of Johnson & Johnson, Robert Wood Johnson II
• Former U.S. Representative Fred A. Hartley, Jr.
• Film producer Max Raab
• 11th President of Rutgers College, William Henry Steele Demarest

Community service is a key pillar in the school. Thus, every high schooler must complete ten service hours yearly to advance to the next level. With a 100% college admission rate, it could explain why Rutgers continues to gather industry awards and recognition. 

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, New Jersey, NJ 08901-8554

The official name of Rutgers University is Rutger, The State University of New Jersey. The Public Land Grant University got its charter in 1766. It’s now a renowned research university and the largest within the state. 

Rutgers University has gone through several name changes since its establishment: 

• From 1766 to 1825: Queen's College. At this time, there was the college and the grammar school that became the preparatory school. 
• 1825 to 1924: Rutgers College
• 1924 to 1945: Rutgers University

The New Jersey legislature designated the co-ed public University, the State University of New Jersey, in 1945 and 1956 laws.

Rutgers University owes its establishment to ministers from the Dutch Reformed Church. They wanted more autonomy within the American colonies to run their ecclesiastical affairs. The solution lay in the form of a college to train anyone who wanted to become a minister in the church. Significant founding members were Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen and Rev. Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, whose efforts led to the 1766 charter award. 

The Queen’s College curriculum was centered around divinity, language, liberal and other useful sciences. There was also the training of people who wanted to become Dutch ministers in the Reformed Church. 

1771 was the year the first student entered the college. Matthew Leydt had the honor of being the first graduate in 1774. Students would have lessons in the taverns and later private homes with the breakout of the Revolutionary War. 

Financial struggles in the initial years resulted in the closure of Queens College on two separate occasions. A 1808 financial bailout helped re-open the college and the construction of the Old Queens building. The building hosted three institutions, including the Queens College Grammar School. 

The second closure happened from 1812 until 1825, after which it came back as Rutgers College. The name was an homage to Colonel Henry Rutgers, an American revolutionary war hero.

In 1864 Rutgers College became a land-grant college under the Morrill Act of 1862. The act allowed them to receive government benefits. That was a key milestone for the college, resulting in the establishment of the Rutgers Scientific School. The New Jersey legislature led to the college acquiring State University of New Jersey status.  

Presently Rutgers University has three campuses: New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden. The university offers bachelor, master, doctoral and professional degrees in its 175 academic departments. Rutgers is also an R1 Doctoral University signifying very high research activity. 

Outside of coursework are extracurricular activities like clubs and athletics. Some sports include football, rowing, baseball, basketball, swimming, and diving. 

Notable Rutgers University Alumni

Notable alumni from Rutgers University include the following.

• Attorney and activist Paul Robertson
• Romanian American actor Sebastian Stan
• Law professor and American politician Elizabeth Warren
• American actors James Gandolfini, Calista Flockhart, Kristin Davis, and Jane Krakowski
• Statistician and economist Milton Friedman
• Novelists Toni Morrison and Philip Roth
• War veteran and American businessman Richard Winters
• Professional soccer player and Olympic gold medalist Carli Lloyd
• Screenwriter, producer, and actor Kurt Sutter

Rutgers University has come a long way since its humble beginnings and multiple financial struggles. But as a state beneficiary, those days are long behind it. We can expect this exemplary learning institution to keep churning out well-rounded professionals.  

The Lawrenceville School

2500 Main Street, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Lawrenceville Preparatory School opened its doors in 1810 under the name Maidenhead Academy. It owes its existence to Isaac van Arsdale Brown, a Presbyterian clergyman. Since the early days, the school has been open to students from all over, including England, Cuba, and the Cherokee nation. Yet, most of the student body was entirely white for most of its history, with the first admission of an African-American student happening in 1964. 

The school has had several names, including:-

• Lawrenceville Classical
• Commercial High School
• Lawrenceville Academy
• Lawrenceville Classical Academy

A refounding of the institution in 1883 led to the adoption of the current name. The co-ed, boarding, and day school sits in a National Historic Landmark District. 

One of the most significant educators was the three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Thorton Wilder. Others were American Scholars Thomas H. Johnson and R. Inslee Clark Junior. The latter is credited with revolutionizing Yale Ivy League admissions in the 1960s. 

Lawrenceville remained a boy's school until 1985, when the board of trustees voted to turn it into a co-ed facility. Yet, it wasn't until 1987 that the first girls could get into the school. In 1999, Alexander Petrone was the first female student body president. 

Students can engage in extracurricular sports like basketball, fencing, golf, track, squash, and water polo. 

Notable Lawrenceville School Alumni

Notable alumni from the school include the following.

• Psychologist and author Aldo Leopold
• Former Honduran president Ricardo Maduro
• Congressman Patrick Murphy
• Federal Judge J. Harvey Wilkinson III
• Former press secretary Jay Carney
• Musicians Dierks Bentley and Huey Lewis
• Writers James Merrill, Howard Johnson, and Frederick Buechner
• Athletes Bobby Sanguinetti and Joakim Noah
• Screenwriter Merian C. Cooper
• Former linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals Billy Granville
• Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey William Stryker Gummere
• Award-winning journalist Karen Hao
• Vice chairman of Franklin Resources, Rupert Johnson Jr.
• Emmy-nominated showrunner, Ashley Lyle

Lawrenceville School prides itself on being a tight-knit community that helps students widen their perspectives while creating lasting bonds. We can expect the good work to continue for many more centuries.  

Newark Academy

91 South Orange Academy, Livingston, NJ 07039

The private day school Newark Academy is a pre-revolutionary war school that is still operational. A prominent adviser and cleric, Alexandra McWhorter, founded the school in 1774. At the time, it was located in downtown New York on Market Street. 

An unfortunate incident during the Revolutionary War led to the burning of the school by the British, leading to its closure. However, the school recovered from the devastation and opened up once again in 1792. In 1802, the girls went to a division separate from the boys. This continued until 1859 when the school closed the program. 

The first relocation occurred in 1929 with new premises in Roseville's First Street. The second move to its current location happened in 1964, and 7 years later, the school was fully co-educational.

Nowadays, Newark Academy sits on a 68-acre campus that many would describe as picturesque. The serene environment is conducive to learning and features state-of-the-art facilities. These include science labs, modern classrooms, performing arts centers, and a well-equipped library. 

Newark Academy has received recognition as one of the best college prep private schools. The teachers and club activities have also been highly ranked. Graduating students must complete the following:-

• Four years of English
• Three years of mathematics, humanities, and laboratory science
• Second language proficiency
• An immersion trip
• 40 hours of community service
• A senior project
• June 3rd terms

Students can access college-level courses like multivariable calculus and linear algebra number theory, among others. Other academic options are international Baccalaureate diplomas and advanced placement. That makes it the only independent New Jersey school to offer both. Seniors can also elect to take independent study programs working with a faculty advisor. 

Athletics is a big part of the curriculum. Boys and girls can participate in sports like cross country, soccer, field hockey, football, and volleyball. Others are fencing, winter track, wrestling, and swimming.

Notable Newark Academy Alumni

Notable alumni from Newark Academy include the following.

• Professional soccer player Israeli-American Ryan Adeleye
• Author, attorney, and judge Samuel Fowler Bigelow
• Federal judge Jennifer Choe-Groves
• Television commentator and lobbyist Lanny Davis
• Mechanical engineer, industrialist, and inventor James Mapes Dodge
• Actor Jared Gilman, Asher Grodman
• Jazz singer Stacey Kent
• Mathematician Daniel Quillen
• Basketball player Jocelyn Wilby
• Biographical writer Thomas Kiernan
• Medal of Honor recipient James Parker
• Nobel Prize recipient Richard Thaler
• New York Liberty player Jocelyn Willoughby
• 63rd Secretary of the Treasury, William E. Simon

Newark Academy prides itself on its ability to navigate any storms that come its way. The institution is also bold enough to keep re-imagining the educational landscape, both present and future. The confidence, tradition, and boldness keep the Newark Academy doors open. 

New Jersey Is Home to Ancient Schools that Are Still Open to Date

Any state that manages to keep some of the most ancient schools open today is one that’s committed to education. And New Jersey is certainly no exception to this. From the article, it’s clear that some institutions still offer exemplary education in this century.

The contribution of the oldest schools in New Jersey is notable in the social, intellectual, and cultural fabric of this American state. Brilliant minds have passed through the institution's corridors. They’ve gone on to make significant contributions in different fields like politics, entertainment, mathematics, and sport. 

Finally, old Universities like Princeton and Rutgers are top research facilities whose innovations are making a difference in the world. Amazingly, what may have started as a humble dream or desire to make a change by the founders is still felt today. 

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