Millburn School District 

Schools 

Millburn School District is known as one of the top school districts in the country, and is always winning awards for its academic excellence.  

Millburn High School won the highest honor conferred by the US Department of Education when it was named a National Blue Ribbon School in recognition of its outstanding achievements in 2007. It has consistently been named one of the best high schools in New Jersey: ranked #3 in the state by both New Jersey Monthly magazine and Newsweek and it features in the US News and World Report’s top 100 schools in the United States.
Millburn High School offers 140 courses including an astounding 27 Advanced Placement courses, a challenging honors program, specialized electives and unique programs in Special Education, Independent Study, Unified Studies, Marketing Education, Life Skills and Youth Community Service. The school places a high value on volunteerism too. The performance of the students has been exceptional. You can see more details on the full report card for Millburn High School by clicking the link in the table. If you'd like me to email you the NJ Monthly article on NJ's 75 top high schools, just email me. I'll send it in pdf.  

Millburn Middle School has been named a Benchmark School of Excellence for four years running. As well as providing a superb academic grounding, Millburn Middle School has a very active community service program and a great range of elective activities. Former student - and now Hollywood actress - Anne Hathaway (Becoming Anne, Devil Wears Prada, Brokeback Mountain, Princess Diaries) took her first steps on the path to stardom on Millburn Middle School stage. 

There are 5 elementary schools... Deerfield, Glenwood, Hartshorn, South Mountain & Wyoming.  

On a personal note, my daughters have been through Glenwood Elementary, Millburn Middle School, and now my oldest is a senior year at Millburn high school. If you have any questions about the school system, definitely give me a call.  

Shopping 

Millburn and Short Hills boast some of the best shopping outside of Manhattan, whether you are looking for designer labels, household goods or farm fresh produce. 

Short Hills Mall is where New Yorkers in the know come to avoid the city crush. With valet parking, a relaxed atmosphere and 160 upscale stores selling luxury brands, Short Hills Mall is top of the shopping destination lists. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Neiman Marcus and Nordstom to name but a few… and yes, there really are Bentleys, Porches and Range Rovers displayed along the walkways. Important tip: Make reservations for the restaurants in advance because you won't find a food court here. 

Downtown Millburn retains its old-style feel with a good selection of small shops – many of them family-owned – offering everything from 25c hardware to fine furs and jewelry. The Farmers Market in the car park on Main and Essex Streets brings a fresh taste of the country into town every Tuesday morning between June and October. For supermarkets and other day-to-day stores take a trip down the Morris and Essex Turnpike. Kings supermarket has a cooking studio where you can hone your culinary skills. Just along the road, the Wine Library on Morris Avenue is stacked to the rafters with bottles from all over the world and we love the store deli and its knowledgeable staff.  

There is also a convenient row of shops, including a general store, pharmacy, dry cleaner’s and post office opposite Short Hills Railway Station. 

Recreation 

Entertainment
Catch the latest movie releases at Millburn Cinema 4 located in the bustling heart of Millburn, conveniently close to restaurants, bars and cafes.
If live drama is your thing, the Paper Mill Playhouse on Brookside Drive, Millburn, is one of the most highly-acclaimed non-profit regional theatres in the country, attracting red carpet stars including Liza Minnelli, Patrick Swayze, Chita Rivera and Kristin Chenoweth. The community has worked hard in recent years to turn the Paper Mill Playhouse into a thriving facility and today it is the pride of Millburn.  

The Great Outdoors
Newcomers to Millburn and Short Hills often comment on the remarkable lush open spaces we enjoy here. When you hike through the reservation or relax in one of our beautiful parks it is easy to forget that the chaotic streets of NYC are only 15 miles away as the crow flies! 

The vantage points atop South Mountain Reservation afford a breathtaking panorama of the Manhattan skyline to the east. During the Revolutionary War George Washington viewed the movement of British troops in the Newark valley from the spot now known as Washington Rock. Today joggers, hikers, cyclists and nature lovers are drawn to the paths that meander through the 2048 acres of native woodland, preserved in a wild state with creeks, ponds and a 25ft waterfall. The whole area is a haven for deer, chipmunks, squirrels and bird life, and some of my clients have even been wild mushroom picking there. There is also a great Dog Park complete with canine obstacle course and drinking fountains! Most of the reservation lies within Millburn limits with the rest extending through neighboring Maplewood, West Orange and bordering South Orange. You can park your car at the Locust Grove trailhead just across Glen Avenue behind Millburn Railway Station or drive up to the top of South Mountain Reservation along South Orange Avenue and park off Crest Drive. A map of South Mountain Reservation can be purchased for $4 at the Millburn, Maplewood, and South Orange libraries 

Another marvellous space for nature lovers and families is the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and bird sanctuary. This historic woodlands garden, bequeathed by the daughter of Short Hills founder Stewart Hartshorn, is a gem of a place, with a wealth of different trees and wildlife and one of the greatest concentrations of native wild flowers in New Jersey. It is also an environmental educational center, running a varied program of event and field trips for every age. Check out the Bird Cam on the arboretum website. 

There are also some great events and workshops at Greenwood gardens which lies within Old Short Hills Park. This lovely 28-acre public garden is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is described as a time capsule of New Jersey’s gracious past, with formal planting, sweeping vistas, pasture and tea house. 

In the heart of downtown Millburn, there is always something going on in Taylor Park. The gazebo and rose garden is a popular meeting spot. There is a well-equipped kids playground, a walking path popular with workers during lunch break, pond, ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, and the Bauer Community Center. During the summer families love to picnic there, especially on free concert evenings. 

Another hot-spot is Gero Park over in Short Hills, where Millburn Township’s recently refurbished swimming pool, open to all residents, is a popular and inexpensive location for families throughout summer months. Another residents’ facility is the par 27 9-hole Millburn Municipal Golf Course. There are also beautifully kept ball fields, tennis, basketball and roller hockey courts and a playground.  

Sporting Life 

Millburn Township Recreation Department at Millburn Town Hall provides details of sports programs for boys and girls, including basketball, football, soccer, a winter ski program and much more besides. There are also town camp programs in the summer and during school vacation. Online registration forms and schedules can be downloaded from the website. 

I’ve lost count of the number of clients who have moved to this area because they wanted to be close to superb golf courses. Whether you are looking to develop your game, unwind from the stresses of the working week, entertain clients, or relax in the company of fellow golfers at the 19th hole, there is an impressive array of award-winning golf courses within easy striking distance. Baltusrol Golf Club 3 miles away hosted the PGA Championship in 2005. Even closer to home are the hugely popular golf courses at Canoe Brook Country Club and Short Hills Country Club. Check out all the golf courses close to Millburn and Short Hills at golflink.com  

If tennis is your sport, it is game set and match to this part of New Jersey. Tennis is big here in schools, on municipal courts and in private clubs. One of the best loved locally is Racquets Club of Short Hills where members can play racquetball court, tennis court, and enjoy the swimming pool. 

Other amenities and activities in Millburn and Short Hills 

Millburn and Short Hills have a very healthy share of fitness clubs and gyms. Some, such as Can Do Fitness and Motion rival any to be found in New York. The Millburn Short Hills Athletic Club is great for commuters, being just across the road from Millburn train station.  

Kids who like to act and dance will love to strut their stuff at the Stagestruck Performing Arts Center in Short Hills, where you will also find a summer camp program. In fact, there are summer camps to suit every child in this part of New Jersey whether their passion is for sports, cyberactivies, music, or the outdoor life – or even if they want to develop their academic skills. Check out the Camp Channel and the American Camp Association and The Camp Experts for more suggestions. 

Music Together with Kelly runs a range of classes introducing babies and young children to the wonders of sound and rhythm. Millburn Music Centre, a music store in the center of town on Millburn Avenue, has lots of information about music lessons in the area, and if you enjoy fine art then Millburn-Short Hills Art Center is for you. 

Eating Out 

There are some fabulous restaurants, bars and cafes in Millburn and Short Hills that you won’t need to leave town to find what you’re looking for. Two of our favorites for meeting friends are Basilico and Martini’s Bar and Bistro. Kids love La Strada and JP Lee’s Mongolian Barbecue, especially for pre & post Millburn Cinema movie nights with their friends. For a romantic dinner you can’t beat the SoHo hip restaurant MC, or La Campagna for something more traditional. Millburn Deli has achieved cult status for its amazing take-outs and the staff whose quick-fire wit is matched by the super-fast service. All of these eateries are in downtown Millburn. 

Over at Short Hills the 5-star Hilton Hotel’s Sunday brunch is consistently voted the best in New Jersey.  

Community Events 

Events & activities
The busy events calendar in Millburn and Short Hills means there’s always a welcoming activity for newcomers to the area. Perennials include the Easter Egg Hunt, the 5k run, Fourth of July celebrations, classic car show, arts and crafts fair, the Halloween Parade and the Snowflake Parade. Many of the latest details are posted on Millburn Township website or on the website of Millburn-Short Hills Chamber of Commerce.  

History  

In 2007 Millburn celebrated 150 years as an incorporated town with festivities and a grand parade. Of course, the first recorded inhabitants, the Lenape Indians, were here long before, beating trails through the small or ‘short’ hills carved by the last glacier in North America. In 1664 the area became part of the Elizabethtown and Newark settlements created by Charles II to his brother James. Mills sprang up fuelled by the streams cascading through the hills. After the Revolution the Rahway River was dammed in five places to form mill ponds. The first paper mill was opened by Samuel Campbell in 1790 and manufactured banknotes. (Aptly, many of today’s residents still work in banking and finance in the city.) In 1835 the Morris and Essex Railroad was opened linking Millburn to the big cities in the east and the coal regions in the northwest. Over the years the town had many names, among them Rum Brook, Vauxhall, Milltown, and Millville. In 1857 it was fixed as Millburn partly because many residents were from Scotland, where ‘burn’ means a river or stream. One of the first areas to be developed for housing was the Wyoming District, 100 acres along the railway line, bought by the Wyoming Land and Improvement Company in 1872. The Victorian, Italianate, Tudor and Colonial homes in this historic part of town set to tone for the comfortable suburb of modern day Millburn. 

Around the same time that Wyoming was being created, Stewart Hartshorn acquired 1552 acres to build his ideal village called Short Hills, the first planned commuter suburb in America. Hartshorn, who had made his fortune in spring roller blinds, was wanted to create “a harmonious community for people who appreciate nature” and a place "where natural beauty would not be destroyed by real estate developments, and where people of congenial tastes could dwell together." He closely supervised the early development and in 1879 built Short Hills Railroad Station at his own expense along the line running through Millburn. With great foresight preserved corridors of land along the track to keep them from development and to this day the only structure that has stood adjacent to the line is the railroad station. Hartshorn also established the Short Hills Park directly across Hobart Avenue from the station. In 1944, his estate donated Short Hills Park to Millburn Township, with the proviso that it remains open to the public.
It was his philanthropy and vision that make the community and its leafy lanes, rolling hills and grassy knolls the attractive and desirable place it is now. Today Short Hills is an affluent area renowned for some truly amazing and distinctive homes. It is one of the USA’s most affluent areas – ranked #5 in New Jersey in Forbes' 500 Most Expensive Zip Codes 2006. Short Hills includes the sections of Brookhaven, Country Club, Deerfield-Crossroads, Glenwood, Knollwood, Merrywood, Mountaintop, Old Short Hills and White Oak Ridge.

Millburn and Short Hills Historical Society has a small museum housed at Short Hills train station. 

Community Info & Links 

The link below will take you to all of the local restaurants in Millburn/Short Hills. Our 2 favorites for meeting friends is Basilico & Martinis Bar & Grill. Kids love La Strada, especially for pre & post Millburn Cinema movie nights with their friends.
Millburn Chamber of Commerce  

For links to town shopping, restaurants & events, click below....
Downtown Millburn 

A New York City style Health Club in Short Hills 

This famous "high end" mall boasts Neimann Marcus, Sachs Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Nordstram & Macys & has a great selection of trendy stores (basically the stores for every catalogue you get in the mail!) and restaurants. IMPORTANT TIP....Make reservations for the restaurants in advance because you won't find a food court here. Yes, there really are Bentleys, Porches & Range Rovers in the center of the mall!
The Mall at Short Hills  

Millburn/Short Hills Newcomers Encore Club has about 300 families in its Membership. Sue is on the Board & would be happy to answer any questions & send you the current monthly activities calendar so you can try out an event. There are couples & women's winetastings, playgroups, working mom's groups, walking groups, running groups, family picnics,book groups,& more! And the best is... there are Newcomers & working moms broadcast email systems, so if you need a contractor, decorator, housekeeper, doctor, etc.... you'll get flooded with responses. Its awesome! Even if you've been living in Millburn or Short Hills for years, join us. Many members of the group are "encore". 

A spin off to Newcomers Club is the Millburn/ Short Hills Working Mom's group, of which I'm also a member. We have nights out for dinner or listen to a speaker, or get together to discuss different topics. Seriously a great group of women!
Millburn Short Hills Newcomers Encore Club 

Thinking of relocating to Millburn/Short Hills? Take the tour of our awesome town, and if you want the REAL tour, give Sue a call.
Click here for Virtual Town Tour of Millburn and Short Hills 

Summit School District 

In Summit School district, There are five elementary schools for children kindergarten through to grade 5 - Brayton, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln Hubbard, and Washington . 

Summit after school programs are free and open to children in grades 6-12. They run all year with expanded programs during the summer. There’s plenty to keep the kids occupied during the summer vacation too, with a good selection of local summer camps, including the Academic Institute at Oak Knoll School , Kent Place School, creative camps at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, sporting activities sponsored by The City of Summit Recreation Department, and Summit YMCA’s camp program.  

The Summit Area Community School (SACS) is a non-profit organization for residents of Summit, and surrounding communities offering classes ranging from languages, art and literature to music and career development and even tutorials with Princeton professors. Adult classes run during the day, evening and on Saturdays for people high school age plus. For children in grades 1-4, Saturday morning classes are available through the Summit Area Community Kids (SACK) program. 

GoodSchools.net rating
Summit High School
9-12 9/10

Lawton C Johnson Middle School
6-8 9/10

Brayton Elementary
K-5 8/10
Franklin Elementary
PK-5 9/10
Jefferson Elementary
K-5 7/10
Lincoln Hubbard Elementary
PK 9/10
Washington Elementary
PK 8/10

Private Schools
Kent Place School
K-12

Oak Knoll School
K-12
Oratory Preparatory School
7-12

Bilingual Buds

Central Presbyterian Church Nursery
PK-K
Cooperative Nursery School
561 Springfield Ave, Summit
908 277 1464 Pre K-K  

Jewish Community Center Nursery
 

Shopping 

There’s a relaxed and timeless feel to shopping in downtown Summit along Springfield Ave and its side streets, thanks largely to the profusion of family-owned businesses. Chic boutiques, interior design shops, florists, gifts shops, jewellers, book sellers and sports stores mingle with hardware stores, drugstores, galleries and outlets selling fine wines and gourmet food. And if you desire a little pampering you’ve got plenty of choices amongst the myriad salons, spas and nail salons. Whatever you are looking for you are sure to be rewarded.  

In Union Place, just across from the Summit train station is one of the town’s retail gems – the Summit Cheese Shop. The tiny space is a pungent treasure trove of dairy delights, and they do sandwiches too. The Wine List of Summit on Springfield Avenue is steeped in the proprietor’s passion for the noble grape, with thousands of bottles from all over the world stretching down the aisles. A short stroll along the road and over the rail bridge is the car connoisseur’s dream: Small boys and grown men have been known to spend hours drooling over the slick cars and one-off motorcycles in the Performance Auto Group window.  

You will find Natale’s Bakery a little out of Summit center on Broad Street. Don’t be fooled by the unprepossessing brick building. It turns out the most delectable pastries, breads and pies. The donuts are known as the best in New Jersey and the angel cake is amazing. Over on the other side of town is Summit Antiques Centre, a veritable Aladdin’s cave of collectables and furniture from a bygone age. And don’t forget that the designer labels and big store names are just a five minute drive away at Short Hills Mall. 

The Farmers Market comes to town every Sunday from 9am-2pm between June and October, in the Summit Bank parking lot. 

There is ample free customer parking in Summit. Check out the useful map drawn up by Summit Downtown, where you will also find a store directory and information about forthcoming events.
 

First of all, don't be fooled by the MLS calling Summit "Summit City". It is NOT a city. Summit is known for having one of the best upscale town centers in the area surrounded by absolutely exquisite estate homes. Trust me, being able to live walking distance from town is AMAZING! Need a quick child's birthday gift? "Zoom" has it all. My favorite for trendy upscale dining is Fiorino, where I had my annual client party this year, and for the best family breakfast- go to Broadway Diner on River Rd. Meeting friends for drinks after work? Head on over to Winberries, across from our office, and you'll be sure to see a few Keller Williams agents there for our weekly Thursday night Happy Hour. Jill, from our office, is "Chairman of the Bored" and makes sure its always a fun time for all. In the mood for a movie? Visit the Summit Movie Theatre & grab a qick bite at La Pastaria! Excellent food in a casual environment. I had my daughter's sweet 16 there and we all walked away very stuffed!
Summit 24/7! 

Official website of Summit NJ  

Summit Chamber of Commerce 

A very happening place! Visit our office across from Winberries!
Downtown Summit!  

Summit YMCA  

I'd be happy to take you on the REAL town tour, but for now, here's the virtual town tour...
Click here for a Virtual Town Tour of Summit 

Great interactive website for everything from finding babysitters to local happenings, restaurants, shopping, Newcomers Club & more!
Plus the message boards are always interesting. They will give you a true flavor of the town's passion and politics.
Maplewood Online 

South Mountain Reservation Hiking Trails can be accessed from South Orange, West Orange, & Short Hills in our area. Definitely fun for a family picnic!
South Mountain Reservation Hiking Trails 

Maplewood/South Orange public schools.
Maplewood/South Orange  

Click here for Sue's Virtual Town Tour of Maplewood/South Orange... This town feels like its right out of a movie!
Virtual Tour of Maplewood & South Orange 

Livingston School District  

If you are familiar with Livingston from years back, come back and visit because this does not look like the same town. The new town center is really awesome, new restaurants are opening everywhere, and the crazy thing is, Livingston is often overlooked because its not on the direct train line into NYC. However, just drive down South Orange Ave, and hop on the train from there and its an easy commute. Plus, the bus is an option as well. Easy access to NYC, reasonable prices ( well...compared to some of the train-line towns), & wonderful schools, make Livingston great place to live! 

The official Livingston Township site 

OK, so the Livingston Mall doesn't have Rolls Royces inside like the Short Hills Mall, but if you're looking for regular every day things, this is the place you will find it.
The Livingston Mall  

Madison public schools  

Madison has the most quaint & trendy town center around. For such a small town, its restaurants attract locals from all over.. Shanghai Jazz has 2 dinner seatings for their performances, Il Mondo Vecchio is one of my favorie casual italian restaurants. Its also a great town if you like the arts... see the links below.
Madison Community Website 

Private Schools, Colleges & Universities 

Madison YMCA, another option for fitness 

Playwrights Theatre of NJ 

Shakespeare Theatre of NJ 

Chatham Borough Website  

Chatham Township Website 

Chatham Chamber of Commerce 

Parking 

School Websites 

Chatham Recreation 

Fitness Club in Chatham 

Chatham Community 

2006 School Report Cards 

New York City  

Great Guide To NYC 

Broadway is only 35 minutes away!  

All kinds of information about New Jersey.
New Jersey.com 

The Star Ledger & The Item are good local papers to subscribe to.
The Star Ledger & The Item 

Their theatre school is amazing!
Papermill.org 

Community theatre in Morristown
Community Theatre NJ 

Upcoming performances and events.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center 

New Jersey Center for Visual Arts
NJCVA.Com 

Local Golf Courses
1 Stop 4 Golf.Com 

Personal training and many other options.
Can Do  

Summit YMCA
Summit Area YMCA.Org 

You should also check out South Mountain Reservation, Cora Hartshorn Arboretum, the local town pools & recreation centers, and Memorial Park.
Motion Fitness Club  

You should put these links in your “favorites” if you have kids…
Proud Mommy.com 

Kids’ Guide.
Kids Guide.Com 

Yankees 

Mets 

NJ Jets 

NJ Devils  

Giants 

Rangers 

Knicks 

To find your sports team schedules!
Digital City 

NY Red Bulls  

The Mall at Short Hills
Shop Short Hills.Com 

The Livingston Mall
Simon.Com 

The “in” place to shop for preteen or teenage girls’ latest fashions.
Gotham City Clothing 

This link will tell you where all of New Jersey's shopping is.. from discount shopping to designer boutiques!
Shopping in New Jersey 

New Jersey has some of the best diners in the country. Follow this link to check them out!
Directory of New Jersey Diners 

Great site for choosing a restaurant in New Jersey, by location, cuisine or style of dining etc...
Guide to New Jersey Dining