Hilltop Country Day School is a private, nonsectarian

Nonsectarian

Nonsectarian, in its most literal sense, refers to a lack of sectarianism. The term is also more narrowly used to describe secular private educational institutions or other organizations either not affiliated with or not restricted to a particular religious denomination though the organization...

 coeducation

Coeducation

Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...

al day school

Day school

A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...

 located in Sparta, in Sussex County

Sussex County, New Jersey

The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...

, New Jersey

New Jersey

New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The school serves students in preschool through eighth grade. The school is divided into a Lower school (Kindergarten through 4th grade) and Upper School (5th through 8th grade). The teaching philosophy is centered around small class sizes that allow individual attention and a flexible curriculum that can be adapted to individual needs. The school is led by Headmaster Joseph Stefani and by a Board of Trustees composed of members of the community.

Hilltop Country Day School is an accredited member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools

New Jersey Association of Independent Schools

The New Jersey Association of Independent Schools serves independent elementary and secondary schools throughout the state of New Jersey. The Association consists of 70 member schools with a total enrollment of approximately 26,000 students...

 and a member of the National Association of Independent Schools

National Association of Independent Schools

The National Association of Independent Schools is a U.S.-based membership organization for private, nonprofit, K-12 schools. Founded in 1963, NAIS represents independent schools and associations in the United States, including day, boarding, and day/boarding schools; elementary and secondary...

.

Mission statement

"Hilltop Country Day School is committed to providing a family-oriented, nurturing, creative, highly educational environment in which children:

• Discover the excitement of learning;
• Develop good study habits;
• Grow in self-esteem and self-confidence;
• Develop sensitivity and respect for the rights and abilities of others; and
• Learn to accept responsibility and meet personal challenges."

Facilities

Since 1972, Hilltop Country Day School has been located in the center of Sparta between Lafayette Road and Sparta Avenue. In 2002, Hilltop completed a 18500 sq ft (1,718.7 m²) addition that increased the physical size of the school to 35000 sq ft (3,251.6 m²). The addition included several new classrooms and a modern art studio and library and provides a new home for the Upper School and Preschool programs.

Hilltop also has an open field available for Physical Education classes, recess and special events.

Student Body and Curriculum

Hilltop focuses on small classes and a dynamic curriculum as tools in educating students in a wide range of studies. All students attend classes in Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science, as well as supplementary classes in Music, Art, Art History, Physical Education and Computer Technology. Hilltop also provides a strong program in Foreign Language, with students having the option of French or Spanish, beginning in Kindergarten.

Lower School

The Lower School program consists of students in Kindergarten through 4th grade and prides itself on a challenging curriculum that is designed to develop well-rounded individuals that are prepared for the Upper School.

Upper School

The Upper School consists of students in the 5th through 8th grade and uses a curriculum integrated with that of the Lower School. The Upper School curriculum distinguishes itself with an emphasis on critical thinking and independent analysis.

In recent years, graduates have attended competitive local high schools including Blair Academy

Blair Academy

Blair Academy is a private, coeducational, secondary boarding high school with an enrollment of about 448 students for grades nine through twelve. The school has 78 faculty members...

, Newark Academy

Newark Academy

Newark Academy is a coeducational private day school located in Livingston, New Jersey. With both lower and upper schools, this institution comprises grades six through twelve...

 and the Peddie School

Peddie School

The Peddie School is a college preparatory school in Hightstown, New Jersey, United States. It is a nondenominational, coeducational boarding school located on a 280‑acre campus, and serves students in the ninth through twelfth grades, plus a small post-graduate class...

, as well as local public high schools.

PEAKS Program

The PEAKS program pairs younger and older students together to participate together in activities designed to teach students respect for others, teamwork and to smooth the transition between the Lower and Upper Schools. The parings are as follows


Kindergarten-5th grade

1st grade-6th grade

2nd grade-7th grade

3rd grade-8th grade

4th graders have no PEAKS buddies, but become older members in the next year.

AfterSchool

The AfterSchool program provides enrichment activities for students after classes conclude. Offerings include a supervised homework assistance program with faculty and various clubs and activities such as chess club, karate instruction, a robotics program and others.
The Kids' Club Program provides day care before and after school hours to assist families.

Summer programs

Hilltop offers a general Summer Camp for children in Preschool through 3rd grade, as well as a number of specialty programs providing education for children in areas including digital photography, cheerleading and science. These take place in July and August and is generally limited to Hilltop students.

External links

• School website
• There oughta be a law ...Three Jersey boys rally against homework, Township Journal, September 4, 2008
• Data for Hilltop Country Day School, National Center for Education Statistics
  National Center for Education Statistics
  The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...