A Knowing Examination of Local School Districts of Interest to You
 

For nearly everyone, the quality of a town's schools are of unquestionable importance, not just because everyone wants their child to have a first-class education, but because schools translate into added value at resale. Everyone has free school reports available, but I offer more -- my 18 years of experience living, working and raising a family in Essex County, NJ. I consult with people moving here on a daily basis. It's my job to know and to pass my knowledge on to you. (This includes my insight into area private schools and districts especially welcoming of children with learning and/or developmental disabilities.) Listed below, you will find helpful nuggets of information on programs that distinguish various school systems in the area. While the school districts in Essex County are very different from each other in many ways, many of them offer superiod educational possibilties for every type of student.  

Before you rule out a particular district, call me directly to discuss any concerns or worries you may have. Furthermore, I can put you in touch with local parents or school administrators. Or fill out this form to send me a message right now. It's free and without obligation.  

Local School District Nuggets for Montclair-Glen Ridge-West Orange, Maplewood-South Orange and, eventually, more:
(I'm building this page day by day...with more to come!) 

Montclair 

In 2002, the district was named, for a second year in a row, a Recipient of the Governor's Award for Performance Excellence. 

In 2004, 34 students at Montclair High School received National Merit Scholar designation. In 2005, there were 30 candidates. 

In 2005, The Montclair Public School district was awarded a New Jersey Governor's Award for Overall Excellence, Silver rating, following a rigorous evaluation by Quality New Jersey. Quality New Jersey (QNJ) is a systems approach to evaluate performance in businesses, non-profits, health care facilities, school districts andother entities. Tp participate in a QNJ review, organizations must submit a detailed application and, if accepted, host a team site visit. The application and visit are designed to assess practices according to how well QNJ's recommended standards, and the organization's goals, are being met.  

Montclair participated in a QNJ review twice before. Both times, in 2001 and 2002, the district received QNJ's Governor's Award for Performance Excellence (Bronze).  

Montclair was the first K-12 school district ever to win this award.  

For the second year in a row, the Montclair Public Schools in 2005 received a $1 million grant from the state of New Jersey for minority education programs and related projects throughout the district.  

Montclair's nationally-recognized MegaSkills Program has been adapted for use through the district, with emphasis on empowering parents and enriching students through problem solving and communication-skills development. 

The district has launched a program called True Blue Spirit to raise private-sector funds -- with more than $1.3 million pledged to date -- to improve facilities, fields, and academic support for students. A capital drive is also underway to raise significant funds to build an addition to the Woodman Field House. 

The Children's Literature Initiative continues to improve school new-book collections, instituting a summer reading program for incoming freshmen, and offering a new September 11 Remembrance Collection of reading materials in every school in the district. 

A new visual and performing arts initiative was initiated in 2003. 

The district is growing physically. The addition to the George Inness School is about to be completed. The addition at Bradford Academy is in the works. The third of three parcels involved at the old St. Vincent's Home and Hospital site is being completed, for future use as an elementary or middle school.  

The district was awarded a renewable $1.5 million grant to further develop its unique, highly touted Magnet Schools. Seven primary schools, each with a distinct and different educational approach -- including Edgemont Montessori, Watchung Math and Science, and Northeast International School, and Nishuane Gifted and Talented -- are available to students through a freedom of choice program. There are also 3 middle schools that function similarly.  

Comprehensive List of Montclair Preschools
go to: http://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/index.cfm?node=801&parentID=4 

Here's a list of the district's public schools:
» Bradford School (Montclair State University Lab School)
» Developmental Learning Center
» Edgemont Montessori School
» Glenfield Middle School
» Hillside School
» Mt. Hebron Middle School
» Montclair High School
» Nishuane Gifted and Talented School
» Northeast School
» Rand School Page
» Renaissance School
» Watchung School 

Here are some other important links to the town's educational network: 

http://montclairteam.org/index.htm  

Before and After School Programs - go to
http://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/?story=20&node=15&parentID=15&nodetype=2 

Head Start -Developmental Learning Center - go to
http://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/?story=77&node=15&parentID=15&nodetype=2
 

Glen Ridge 

New Jersey Monthly Magazine currently ranks the Glen Ridge District an amazing third in the state for academic excellence. The district's mission statement is as follows: "In partnership with a close-knit community, the Glen Ridge Public Schools will maximize the potential of each individual student through a motivational and highly challening academic program. This will be accomplished in an atmosphere of individual differences so that students can advance their post-secondary education, contribute socially, and compete productively in an ever-changing, increasingly technological society." 

The district offers a half-day preschool program and all-day kindergarten. 

The town is so compact that most children are able to walk to school in the primary grades. 

The Glen Ridge graduating class is rarely as large as those of the area's two leading private schools, Montclair-Kimberly and Newark Academy. The district characterizes itself as being more similar to private school than public. With many young families moving to the district, K-12 enrollment is topped 1800 in the 2004 school year, up from less than 1500 in 1999. 

Graduates of the Class of 2002 -- of which 96 percent pursued higher education -- are attending Columbia, Bryn Mawr, Cornell, Wesleyan, Johns Hopkins, Michigan, Villanova, Skidmore, Tufts, Maryland, Boston University, and Villanova, among other schools. 

The average combined SAT scores for 2002 were 1125, higher than Ridgewood, Verona, Livingston, Millburn, Kinnelon and Mountain Lakes. 

Construction of an addition to the high school building is underway. The new wing and gymnasium is expected to be in use by Sept. 2004. Renovations (wing extensions and upgrades) at the Forest anad Linden Ave. primary schools begins in the summer of 2003. 

In the New Jersey Proficiency Test Results (2003-2004), Glen Ridge students again scored consistently among the highest in the state, as follows:  

Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards 

3rd Grade - NJ ASK Math
Glen Ridge - 90% (2004)
The state average for math was 77% in 2004. 

Language Arts Literacy
Glen Ridge -- 94% (2004)
The state average for language arts literacy was 79% in 2004.
4th Grade - NJ ASK 

Math
Glen Ridge -- 86% (2004)
The state average for math was 72% in 2004. 

Language Arts Literacy
Glen Ridge -- 89% (2004)
The state average for language arts literacy was 82% in 2004.
8th Grade - GEPA 

Math
Glen Ridge -- 86% (2004)
The state average for math was 62% in 2004. 

Language Arts Literacy
Glen Ridge -- 89% (2004)
The state average for language arts literacy was 72% in 2004. 

11th Grade - HSPA
Math
Glen Ridge -- 91% (2004)
The state average for math was 70% in 2004. 

Language Arts Literacy
Glen Ridge -- 98% (2004)
The state average for language arts literacy was 82% in 2004.
 

West Orange 

West Orange High School has been singled out as one of America's premiere schools in the book "Class Struggle: What's Wrong and Right With America's Best Public High Schools," by Washington Post journalist Jay Matthews. 

The district was recognized for its exemplary public high school in the recent PBS documentary, "Talk to Me: Americans in Conversation." 

West Orange Mayor McKeon's State of the Township address last January discussed the successful passage of a town referendum "to meet our obligation to our children" by enlarging the district's schools, constructing a synthetic track, bleachers, and playing fields. 

West Orange High School has developed a cluster of academically rigorous programs -- Advanced Academic Study, Mathematics and Science, Arts and Humanities, Advanced Technology and Practical Arts -- under the rubrick of "A School Within A School." Students in the program must must take algebra, biology, chemistry, physics, fine arts, practical arts, public speaking, and a world language. 

West Orange has more than 300 students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses -- among the highese in the state -- in 9 subject areas. Some 70 percent (versus 50 percent nationally) take Advanced Placement College Exams. 

This district is one of 7 recently chosen to participate in the "Resolving Conflicts Creatively" program. 

The district's Partnerships in Education Program, dedicated to putting high schoolers in touch with industries and businesses that call West Orange home, added the premiere NJ law firm of Wolff and Samson, to the program. Members of the firm will serve as mentors and trainers of conflict resolution programs as a mock trial coaches. 

West Orange High School students who took the College Board SAT II tests scored higher than the national average in English and Math. 

West Orange High School offers more than 50 extra-curricular clubs and activities. There are 12 interscholastic sports teams, as well as marching, jazz and concert bands that have taken first place in national competitions. 

On the primary level: West Orange is one of the few school districts in the metropolitan area to offer full-day kindergarten -- and with early studies in science and computers. 

As housing prices in West Orange have risen about $150,000 in the last 4 years to a new average sale price of $326,000, first-time buyers in the town have found that the town's higher-achieving primary schools may be out of reach. The town has obtained a $50,000 grant for a new playground adjacent to the Hazel School, where test scores may not be as high, but parent and district support is growing.
 

Maplewood-South Orange 

Maplewood and South Orange share a spawling high school, Columbia -- a National Blue Ribbon award school in 1993 -- which is located in Maplewood and takes as its mission the educating of students "to become independent learners, thinkers, problem solvers, quality producers, collaborative workers, and responsible contributors to society." 

The district has 6 neighborhood elementary and 2 middle/junior high schools. Kindergarten is offered as a half-day program. 

The district has 6400 students and more than 550 teachers. According to district superintendent Dr. Peter Horoschak, The district's goals for the current school year are to enhance literacy for every student, enhance professional opportunities for all teachers and thereby narrow the achievement gap for students, and develop a comprehensive master plan for facilities that will result ina safe environment, conducive to learning.  

Columbia High School's new principal, Renee Pollack, worked in the NYC school system for 28 years as a language teacher, assistant principal for guidance in Manhattan, and principal at Bushwick High School in Brooklyn for 5 years. "I am the principal who makes house calls," she says, often meeting parents and community members for coffee in their homes. 

There are 19 advanced placement courses taught at Columbia High School. The district's nationally recognized, 4-year, sequential math program is considered highly innovative and individualized. 

Columbia High School claims 7 full-time art teachers, with studies in photography, commercial art, fiber arts, film making, studio art and art history. Every district arts teacher -- and there are 37 in all -- is a practicing artist or musician. Columbia High also has an art gallery and history museum. 

The high school has a Writing Center to provide individualized assistance to students, as well as an ESL program.  

Columbia High School's student newspaper, The Columbian, has won the coveted gold Scholastic Press Association Award presented by Columbia University two years running. The paper is an outgrowth of a school journalism class and graphic arts program that works with students to write and produce the paper. Cover stories on such bold topics as date rape and transgender bisexuality, uncensored by the school administration, are student generated. 

The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation has awarded individual grants to several district teachers. 

The district has implemented a "Resolving Conflict Creatively" program in all schools. Columbia High students work as Peer Counselors in all the schools. 

Spanish language studies begin in the third grade. 

The Seth Boyden primary school reopened in 1999 to stress teaching innovation. 

The district has had many distinguished alumni: Dr. Alfred Kinsey, musicians Max Weinberg and Lauryn Hill, actors Roy Scheider, Elizabeth and Andrew Shue and Zach Braff, TV writer and theater lyricist David Javerbaum, and humorist Judith Viorst, to name a few. 

The Maplewood-SO schools are as follows -- 

In Maplewood -- Tuscan Elementary(K-5), Seth Boyden Demonstration School (K-5), Jefferson Elementary (3-5), Maplewood Middle School (6-8); Clinton Elemtary (K-5) Marshall Elementary School (pre-K-2); in South Orange -- South Mountain Elementary (2-5) and Annex (K-1, South Orange Middle School (6-8); 

and Columbia High School (9-12). 

Parochial School Info:
for the Archdiocese of Newark, covering
Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union Counties
171 Clifton Avenue
P.O. Box 9500
Newark, NJ 07104-0500
Phone: 973.497.4258
Fax: 973.497.4249
Brother Ralph Darmento
Deputy Superintendent of Schools 

Bloomfield Schools:  

The Bloomfield system has several highly regarded primary schools, including Brookdale, Oakview, and Demarest. Infrastructure work is now being done at Bloomfield's high school building, located at the tip of the town's historic district. BHS is not yet competitive academically with districts discussed above. 

BERKELEY (Students: 510; Location: 351 BLOOMFIELD AVE; Grades: PK - 06)
FAIRVIEW (Students: 480; Location: 376 BERKELEY AVE; Grades: KG - 06)
DEMAREST (Students: 444; Location: 465 BROUGHTON AVE; Grades: KG - 06)
CARTERET (Students: 428; Location: 158 GROVE ST; Grades: KG - 06)
WATSESSING (Students: 355; Location: 71 PROSPECT ST; Grades: KG - 06)
OAKVIEW (Students: 350; Location: 150 GARRABRANT AVE; Grades: PK - 06)
FRANKLIN (Students: 336; Location: 85 CURTIS ST; Grades: KG - 06)
BROOKDALE (Students: 264; Location: 1230 BROAD ST; Grades: KG - 06)
BLOOMFIELD MIDDLE (Students: 1,012; Location: 60 HUCK RD; Grades: 07 - 08)
MEMORIAL HALL (Students: 66; Location: 236 HOOVER AVENUE; Grades: 06 - 12)  

Private primary/middle schools in Bloomfield: 

SACRED HEART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 333; Location: 683 BLOOMFIELD AVENUE; Grades: PK - 8)

BROOKDALE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 307; Location: 1350 BROAD STREET; Grades: PK - 8)  

THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER (Students: 90; Location: 60 WEST ST; Grades: UG - UG)  

RAINBOW MONTESSORI SCHOOL (Students: 54; Location: 1255 BROAD STREET; Grades: PK - KG)