You send your kids to school every day and you assume, sometimes falsely, that they are being well taken care of.

And while New Jersey's schools typically rank as some of the best in the country, not every school in the Garden State offers a welcoming, supportive learning environment for children.

For many kids, instead of worrying about passing the next test, going to school every day is an awful experience.

From rampant bullying to widespread violence, some schools in the Garden State are downright brutal.

Classroom - Photo by MChe Lee on Unsplash

Forget the Stereotypes

A recent analysis by Townsquare Media determined the 30 schools in New Jersey with the highest rates of violence and the 30 schools with the most reported cases of bullying.

And if you think that high schools in cities in Camden, Trenton, Newark, and Atlantic City are automatically at the top of these lists, think again.

Shocking Results

Among the top ten most violent schools in New Jersey are some middle schools — some in rural areas — and several charter schools.

As for bullying, you'll likely be shocked at how many elementary and middle schools made this list.

Top 30 schools most violent schools in New Jersey

These are the schools in New Jersey with the highest rates of violence. The rankings are based on the annual School Performance Reports for the 2021-22 school year. New Jersey 101.5 ranked the schools based on the rate of reported violent incidents per 100 students. Schools with enrolment less than 100 are excluded.

Gallery Credit: New Jersey 101.5

Top 30 schools in NJ with the biggest bullying problem

These are the schools in New Jersey with the highest rates of bullying. The rankings are based on the annual School Performance Reports for the 2021-22 school year. New Jersey 101.5 ranked the schools based on the rate of reported bullying incidents per 100 students. Schools with enrolment less than 100 are excluded.

Gallery Credit: New Jersey 101.5

Most violent schools in New Jersey - Hope Community Charter School, Highland Park Middle School, James A Cotten Intermediate School Willingboro NJ, Peoples Prep Charter School, Benjamin Franklin School Number 13 Elizabeth NJ, Helen A Fort Middle School Pemberton Township NJ, Lakeside Middle School Millville NJ, Luis Munoz-Rivera Middle School Trenton NJ, George Washington Carver Elementary School Newark NJ, Dominick Pilla Middle School Vineland NJ

Schools with most bullying in New Jersey - Bergen County NJ Special Services District, Newcomb Middle School Pemberton Township NJ, Pine Hill Middle School NJ, New Egypt Middle School Plumsted Township NJ, New York Avenue School Atlantic City NJ, Winslow Township Middle School NJ, Columbia Middle School Berkeley Heights NJ, Lloyd Road Elementary School Matawan-Aberdeen NJ, School 7 Paterson NJ, Sussex County Technology Charter School NJ