The Red Oaks Schools develops each child's gifts by inspiring personal and intellectual growth.
We educate students from preschool through middle school on two campuses in Morristown, NJ.
Red Oaks students learn to think for themselves, gain academic self-confidence,and form their own values, while respecting those of others.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Top Ranked NJ School
- Grades: Prekindergarten-8
- Enrollment: 210 students
- Average class size: 18 students
- Application Deadline: None / Rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
The Red Oaks School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in New Jersey for:
Category
Attribute
Advanced Degrees
School Overview
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-8
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Year Founded
1965
School Calendar
Student Body
Total Students
210 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
18%
State avg.: 39%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
40 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
90%
Average Class Size
18 students
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Tuition Notes
Primary: $22,885; Elementary: $30,305; Middle School: $35,000
% on Financial Aid
30%
Admissions Director
Fran Sonneborn
Sports
Total Sports Offered
3 sports
Sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
7 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Band and Choir, Improv Club, Math Club, Robotics Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Art Club, Chorus, Musical Theatre Production
Band and Choir, Improv Club, Math Club, Robotics Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Art Club, Chorus, Musical Theatre Production
School Notes
- TheCutler Street campus houses our Pre-K through Grade 4 and is a Montessori program. The Speedwell campus houses our International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (Grades 5-8). Our integrated curriculum is designed to reflect best practices in education, including experiential learning, emphasis on higher-order thinking and problem-solving, deep study of topics, attending to the need of the whole child, and collaborative learning.
- Our educational approach features some mixed age classes, low student-teacher ratios (9:1), and a child-centered curriculum that allows students to learn deeply and at their own pace. Core values of respect, dignity, and social awareness are actively fostered. Poet-, Artist- and scientist-in-residence programs, environmental and community projects, music, Spanish, drama, global awareness, and age-appropriate technology enhance our programs.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
What sports does The Red Oaks School offer?
The Red Oaks School offers 3 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Soccer and Volleyball.
What is The Red Oaks School's ranking?
The Red Oaks School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in New Jersey for: Highest percentage of faculty with advanced degrees.
When is the application deadline for The Red Oaks School?
The application deadline for The Red Oaks School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
School Reviews
5 5/31/2024
As a parent, I can confidently say that The Red Oaks School (ROS) is an excellent choice for my daughter's education. She has been attending this school for the last four years, and she loves every minute of it. She comes home happy with lots of stories about her friends and teachers, and she always shares facts about what she learned in class and the fun way she learns them too. She enjoys doing her homework, which shows me how much she has progressed and how engaged she is with the curriculum. The parent/teacher conference meetings are a delight to attend, as I get to see how the teachers teach the materials and how they apply them to real-life situations. I appreciate the supportive and collaborative parent/teacher community that ROS fosters. Additionally, ROS not only provides academic excellence, but also instills a joy of learning in its students. My daughter is always curious and eager to learn new things, and the school encourages her to explore her interests and passions. The school also offers a variety of extracurricular activities like chess, robotics, music, and few other unique afterschool enrichments, where she can develop her social skills and talents. I am very happy with The Red Oaks School and I would highly recommend it to any parent looking for a well-rounded, enriching education for their child. It is a place where my daughter feels valued, supported, and fulfilled.
5 5/17/2024
My son went to Red Oaks for elementary school, and it was a great experience, for him and for us, giving him a great foundation for future learning and living. It is a nurturing environment in every way, with imaginative and supportive teaching, two endearing campuses, a friendly parent network, and a caring and attentive administration. The Montessori method was especially effective, allowing him to learn in a more hands-on and creative way, cooperating with peers, and taking an active part in his own education.
5 3/15/2024
As a former Early Childhood teacher for many years at the Red Oaks School and now the After School Coordinator, I consider it to be my home away from home. The staff is very friendly, and nurturing, and supports children in their social, emotional, and developmental growth. The after-school program offers many opportunities for children to socialize and play in a relaxed atmosphere as well as take part in fun and engaging enrichment classes from certified instructors. Furthermore, The Red Oaks School is a family-oriented community offering events throughout the school year for parents and children alike and our door is always open! Come check us out by scheduling a tour.
5 3/8/2024
I am a former school parent. My son attended Red Oaks all the way from Grade 1 to Grade 8. We could not be happier with how the school has helped shape him as a person, a student and a good human being. We chose the school way back in 2013 based on just one visit in fact we did not even bother visiting other schools after that based on that one experience. What struck me was the warm and nurturing nature of the teachers, and how easily our son gravitated towards them and the various items in the classroom. He was so engaged in interacting with them and answering their questions that he probably did not realize that it was an interview! Despite the school being a good half hour away from where we live, we did not mind the drive for all those years because it provided him an excellent academic education, a safe, warm, social, and positive environment where he could learn, bloom and grow at his own pace. The reason we never opted for public school was that he was initially a shy child, and we felt he would get lost in a big classroom. Red Oaks provided the right-sized classroom environment for him, with a good, healthy student-to-teacher ratio. Not only did he learn great writing and math skills, a love for languages (English and Spanish both), history, and science, but he also dabbled in art, music, and sports. I felt like it made him a well-rounded person because he had the space, and the right amount of nudging by the teachers, who took the time and effort to get to know each child well. By the time he left the school, he was very comfortable presenting a paper or slideshow in front of a class, raising his hand and participating in class discussions, and performing in plays before an entire audience all with his own drive and motivation, and gentle encouragement by the teachers. It prepared him for a bigger high school as was evident in how easily he fit into his current school. In addition, the principals and teachers were very approachable and available to talk to the parents if there were any issues of concern. The staff too was very kind and supportive during the very stressful high school application process, and generally through the years. As parents, we found the community quite diverse and tight-knit and over the years we got to know many families, some of whom we are still in touch with. Overall, we have been very happy with every aspect of the school, including how they handled teaching during the pandemic my son had virtual school only for 3 months. After that he had the option to attend in person, which he did since he did not enjoy learning via Zoom. But they continued to offer Zoom as well as in-person teaching, which I thought they managed to set up very quickly and efficiently over the summer. It was a great transition coming from a Montessori preschool to Red Oaks for elementary school, and then adapting to the rigorous IB curriculum for middle school. Both approaches worked well in our case. While we were initially apprehensive about middle school and the level of organization expected, our son grew leaps and bounds through experiences such as Frost Valley weekend, Model UN, the linguistics project, and the 8th-grade capstone project. He learned to use his locker, change classrooms, and become more organized with his time and homework. As parents, our motto has always been to slowly let go, like a kite, gauging the wind and other elements, as opposed to letting a child fly away like a bird, without being prepared. I am glad that we found a school and a community that supports our parenting philosophy and reinforces it, by letting the child lead the way into shaping his own future instead of forcing their beliefs and opinions onto him.
5 9/29/2021
I am the parent of two bi-cultural children currently enrolled in the Elementary program at Red Oaks School. They are exposed to a supportive and enriching environment that challenges them, yet allows them room to flourish at their own pace. The curriculum includes language arts (Teachers College Reading and Writing Project), math (Singapore), science/STEAM program, social studies, history, Spanish, music, and art. The teachers and school administration have been very attentive to student needs, COVID protocols, and clear communication. I am happy and proud to be a parent of Red Oaks, and cannot think of a better place to educate a child.
5 4/1/2021
The Red Oaks School is a dream school for children. The teachers and administration truly care about each child's emotional and educational development. My husband and I have such trust in the school. The teachers are outstanding. Our child is in primary and we could not be happier with our child's experience at Red Oaks.
5 4/6/2019
We first visited Red Oaks when my son was in second grade and were impressed with the quality of education. The dedication and passion of the faculty and administration is truly encouraging. The class size provides an opportunity for greater in- depth learning. The environment is warm and nurturing, yet academically challenging. The structure of the school helps to navigate through the difficult middle school year in a dependable setting. As a parent of a recent 8th grade graduate, I couldn`t be happier to have chosen Red Oaks for my child.
5 9/24/2016
As the Director of Admissions, a parent of Red Oaks Alumni and the mother of three grown children, I can honestly say that investing early-on in their education at Red Oaks (as in, the Early Childhood classroom, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary) was the smartest decision I made for my kids. They were well-grounded in math skills, reading and writing skills, and their own personal development. Their self-confidence, self-motivation, and ability to problem-solve has served them well through high school, college, grad school and law school. Quite simply put, invest on the front-end and your children will do well anywhere they go in life!
5 3/22/2016
I love the Red Oaks School. My children have grown so much there. The academics are excellent. The teachers are extremely involved and caring. The curriculum is very engaging. My children are always talking about what they're doing in school. They look forward to going every day. Plus there is a strong emphasis on social skills: treating others with empathy and negotiating problems with other kids in a constructive way. The head of the school is very knowledgeable about educational research and trends and implements them in a way that makes sense. The administration is very thoughtful about what they do. The student body is very diverse. I couldn't be happier with the school!
5 6/22/2015
Our children have been attending the Red Oaks School for 6 years, starting from pre-school. We have had some of the most outstanding teachers. They are not only very well versed in subjects and methodology, but are extremely dedicated and attentive to the individual needs of the children. Whenever there are any issues at all, the teachers let us know immediately so that we can attend to them before any problems develop.
The curriculum is truly engaging so that my son enjoys learning. He learned to read at age three (without any pressure) and is doing advanced math for his age through the school's Singapore Math curriculum. The math is excellent, well structured so that the children really try to master their lessons. Reading and creative writing are emphasized. In 3rd grade, my son has learned chemistry and electronics. He has taken apart and put together machines and has learned about atoms, etc. The art and music teachers have also been excellent. In art, the children have learned about great artists and their social and historical influences. In music, the children actively learn to play different instruments and to perform together.
Red Oaks is run by the former head of the American Montessori Society, who is genuinely concerned about education and extremely knowledgeable about the latest research in education and child development. While academics are highly focused, the school is devoted to developing the "overall" child - as healthy, creative, inquisitive, and productive individuals. The teachers are the single most important part of a child's education. The School's Head has over the years worked to recruit great teachers. The school also listens to the parents. Unlike other schools - both private and public - communication with the parents is important and welcomed.
We know, because we have had our children enrolled in other schools. We had lived in NYC before. When we moved to NJ we were concerned that we would see a drop in the quality of education. When we found the Red Oaks School, we were thrilled to find a school with such an excellent and devoted staff. In fact, we are more pleased with quality of Red Oaks, which is far less bureaucratic and uncaring than the private school our children attended in the NYC.
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