A parent looking to move to Tenafly was shocked to learn about the tuition at Dwight-Englewood School nearby.

While it's known that private schools are expensive, calculating the actual costs turned out to be much more burdensome than expected.

Ultimately, this family chose the Tenafly public school district instead of a private school.

I believe that when exploring areas like this, it's important to consider three factors, not just the schools.

You need to compare the quality of the schools, how much tuition would be if you sent your child to a private school, and how much home prices increase when choosing a good public school.

Reasons for the Popularity of Tenafly Public Schools

Tenafly High School received a score of 9 out of 10 on GreatSchools.

According to Niche, it ranks 17th among New Jersey public high schools and 14th in the category of public schools well-prepared for college.

Most importantly, being a public school means there are no additional tuition fees, which is a significant advantage.

They also offer a variety of AP courses. AP allows high school students to take college-level classes and earn college credit based on their exam results.

As a parent considering college for their child, it's hard to overlook these aspects.

This is likely why Tenafly is consistently discussed among Korean parents.

How Much Would It Cost to Choose a Private School?

Right next door in Englewood is the well-known private school, Dwight-Englewood School.

This school serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade and has a strong track record for college admissions.

Recently, 40.58% of graduates were accepted into the top 50 colleges in the U.S., and 9.42% were admitted to one of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, or MIT.

With results like this, it's understandable why parents would be interested. However, the reality of tuition cannot be ignored.

Tuition varies by grade, and when considering other costs, the financial burden on families can be significant. To apply for financial aid, separate documents must be submitted within a specified timeframe.

So, it's not just a matter of saying, "Let's send them to a good school"; you need to first calculate whether you can afford this cost over several years.

What If You Think About Buying an Expensive House Instead of a Good Public School?

Ultimately, this parent's reason for choosing Tenafly was tied to this consideration.

While private schools require annual tuition payments, Tenafly public schools have no tuition fees. Instead, they believed that the value of a good school district is somewhat reflected in home prices.

In reality, home prices in Tenafly are not low. According to Zillow, the median home price is about $897,000, and Redfin's median sale price as of March 2026 has risen to $1.7 million.

Especially in the East Hill area, homes over $3 million are common. In contrast, if you look in downtown or West Hill, you can find listings starting in the $900,000 range.

Even within Tenafly, there seems to be a significant price difference depending on the neighborhood.

Therefore, I believe it's better to first set a budget that our family can handle rather than just searching for homes in Tenafly.

For example, determine whether you're looking within $1 million or if you can go up to $1.5 million, and then narrow down the areas where you can afford to buy.

And if you find a house you like, don't rush to sign a contract.

It's safer to check with the school district about which school the address is assigned to, as school assignment boundaries can change.

Initially Renting is Also an Option

If you're moving to New Jersey from another state, buying a house right away can be overwhelming.

In that case, living in Tenafly for 1-2 years as a renter to experience the neighborhood and schools might be a good approach.

However, Tenafly has many single-family homes, so it's not a neighborhood with an abundance of rental listings.

If a decent house comes up, there may be competition, so it's good to keep this in mind.

Don't Forget to Calculate Property Taxes

The reason you can't just look at home prices when considering homes in New Jersey is due to property taxes.

New Jersey is known for having a high property tax burden in the U.S. If you buy a $1 million home and only calculate the mortgage, you might be shocked by the actual monthly expenses.

It's important to calculate how much you'll actually be paying each month, including mortgage, property taxes, and homeowners insurance.

You also need to consider car insurance costs. New Jersey tends to have relatively high car insurance rates, and the differences can be significant depending on ZIP code and driver conditions.

Ultimately, raising a child in Tenafly isn't just about sending them to a "good public school for free."

You need to weigh whether to pay high private school tuition every year while living in another area, or whether to enter a good public school district like Tenafly, even if home prices and property taxes are high.

The GreatSchools score of 9 for Tenafly High School is certainly attractive.

However, rather than deciding based solely on the school score, you need to calculate everything, including home prices, property taxes, car insurance, and commuting distances.

In the end, what matters is not just the school ranking, but whether our family can comfortably manage those costs over the next 5 or 10 years.