Pascack Hills High School Ranking: Local Guide

How does Pascack Hills High School rank in Bergen County? This local guide reviews academics, programs, school culture, and what families in Montvale and Woodcliff Lake should know about this Pascack Valley school.

Pascack Hills NJ High School at a Glance

* All figures are “as of” the most recent data published in sources above.

From a pure data standpoint, Pascack Hills is solidly in the upper tier among New Jersey public high schools, especially in its home region.

Strengths & Academic Profile

Academic Performance & Rigor

• Around 62% proficiency in both math and reading is strong relative to many NJ averages. Niche+2Niche+2
• The school offers a meaningful AP / honors curriculum: Niche notes a 30% AP enrollment, and many reviews highlight the strength of honors & AP courses. Niche+2Homes.com+2
• In Schooldigger’s 2023–24 metrics, the school ranks well across subgroups (e.g. female, male, Hispanic, students with special needs) and shows extremely high achievement in geometry proficiency (94.7%) in some reporting. SchoolDigger
• Low student-teacher ratio (~10:1) supports more personalized attention. Wikipedia+1

Extracurriculars & Programs

• Pascack Hills participates in districtwide activities such as Pascack Pi-oneers Robotics (Team 1676) along with its sister school. Wikipedia
• The school has an active theater / performing arts program (“Pascack Hills Players”) with recognition (e.g. a student receiving a Rising Star award). Wikipedia
• Sports are robust: e.g. baseball has won state championships (Group II) in recent years. Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2
• The school changed its athletic team name to “Broncos” (from “Cowboys”) in 2021, following district policy changes. Wikipedia

Reputation & Local Standing

• Niche gives PHHS a 4.09 / 5 rating (grade A), based on 149 reviews. Niche
• In those reviews, ~ 76% of students/parents agree that “teachers genuinely care about students” and ~ 76% say “teachers give engaging lessons.” Niche
• In student polls on Niche: ~ 90% say they feel safe at school. Niche
• PHHS is rated #13 in Bergen County among public high schools by some Niche rankings. Niche+1

What People Are Saying: Reviews & Voices

Here are samples of what students, parents, and community members say about Pascack Hills — both praise and criticisms.

Positive Feedback

• “I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Pascack Hills … I have been treated wonderfully all three years by the teachers … never felt unsupported.” — Senior student review (Niche) Niche
• “The most supportive staff I’ve ever encountered and a very safe and encouraging environment for the students. Also the teachers are exceptional at engaging the students!” — Parent review on Trulia / GreatSchools Trulia Real Estate Search+1
• “Excellent courses, teachers and administration — particularly for Honors and AP courses. Great balance of academics and extra-curricula activities. Excellent for college prep.” — Community review (Movoto / GreatSchools) Movoto Real Estate
• On Niche’s review section: of 149 reviews, many 4- or 5-star entries; 52 gave 5 stars, 73 gave 4 stars. Niche

How Pascack Hills Compares Locally & vs. Pascack Valley

• In the Pascack Valley Regional district, PHHS often ranks slightly higher on Niche in terms of state rankings. Niche+1
• In direct comparisons: PublicSchoolReview notes PHHS ranks in the top 20% in NJ for overall test scores, math proficiency, reading proficiency, and graduation. PVHS also ranks well, but often in the top 30% bracket in some categories. Public School Review
• Differences are usually marginal — both schools maintain strong performance, but PHHS tends to edge ahead in some ranking lists.

Things to Watch & Questions to Ask

When using rankings + reviews to evaluate PHHS, keep these caveats in mind:

• Ranking methodology matters. Differences between U.S. News, Niche, Schooldigger, etc., lead to shifts in where PHHS lands.
• Experience varies. Not every student or parent will have the same journey. Some praise the school’s support, others flag concerns around discipline or support for special needs.
• Recency matters. Reviews older than 5–10 years (e.g. from 2008) are less relevant today. Focus on recent feedback.
• Visit and talk. Tour the school, meet staff, ask about discipline policies, inclusion, support services, diversity efforts.

Conclusion

Pascack Hills High School stands out as a high-performing, well-regarded public high school in the Montvale / Woodcliff Lake area. With strong academic metrics, honors/AP course rigor, favorable student/parent reviews, and a culture that many describe as caring and supportive, PHHS is a key attraction for families in the region. That said, it’s not flawless: concerns about equity, discipline consistency, and differing experiences underline the importance of a school visit and conversations with current families.