The Princeton Public Schools district provides education to students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district comprises six schools, serving a total enrollment of 3,740 students with 341 classroom teachers, resulting in a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11:1. This robust educational framework includes various institutions:

• Community Park School: 332 students in grades K-5
• Johnson Park School: 329 students in grades PreK-5
• Littlebrook School: 342 students in grades K-5
• Riverside School: 289 students in grades PreK-5
• Princeton Middle School: 803 students in grades 6-8
• Princeton High School: 1,555 students in grades 9-12

Princeton High School has received recognition for its academic excellence, ranking 20th among New Jersey high schools according to New Jersey Monthly magazine in 2018. Furthermore, U.S. News & World Report placed it as the 10th best school in the state, while Niche ranked it as the 47th best public high school in America in its 2021 rankings.

In the early 1990s, redistricting occurred between Community Park and Johnson Park School districts, addressing concerns over demographic disparities and increased residential development. The adjustments aimed to create a more balanced student population, redistributing portions of the affluent Western Section neighborhood to Community Park and portions of the racially and economically diverse John Witherspoon neighborhood to Johnson Park.

Additionally, the Princeton Charter School serves grades K–8 and operates independently under a charter from the New Jersey Department of Education, funded through locally raised tax revenues.

For high school students, Mercer County Technical Schools offers vocational programs, allowing eighth graders from all of Mercer County to apply for specialized education in areas such as Health Sciences, STEM, and Culinary Arts, with no tuition costs for attendance.

Overall, Princeton's public education system is characterized by its commitment to academic excellence, diversity, and vocational training, providing a solid foundation for students in the community.