Montclair Public Schools
Encyclopedia
The Montclair Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district
that serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from the Township of Montclair
, in Essex County
, New Jersey
, United States. The district consists of seven elementary school
s, three middle school
s and one high school.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the district's 11 schools had an enrollment of 6,766 students and 573 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.81.
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education
as being in District Factor Group "I", the second highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.
Each school has a magnet
theme, which becomes the focus of the school's teaching style. Students have "freedom of choice" as to which school they want to attend. School selection is not dictated based on location of residence within Montclair. When registering in the district, parents rank their school preferences from highest to lowest, with preferences given for siblings of existing students and special needs. School preferences are accommodated as long as space is available.
at all grade levels and who are able to contribute meaningfully to the ever-changing global society.
from the United States Department of Education
, the highest honor that an American school can achieve. Hillside
School was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School for the 1987-88 school year.
The district was awarded the New Jersey Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence – Silver, was commended by the United States Department of Education
as one of six exemplary magnet school programs in the nation, was recognized by The Wall Street Journal
for its public schools, and was certified by the New Jersey Department of Education
during the 2004-05 school year.
Montclair Public Schools was cited for its magnet school program, as one of six school districts nationwide selected as the focus of Innovations in Education: Creating Successful Magnet School Programs, describing those schools whose "successful magnet programs offer a range of contexts, experiences, and perspectives".
Nishuane School was named as a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education
, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve, in the 1993-94 school year. Watchung School was also named a Star School for 1993-94.
) are:
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
that serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from the Township of Montclair
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
, in Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
, 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. The district consists of seven elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s, three middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s and one high school.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the district's 11 schools had an enrollment of 6,766 students and 573 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.81.
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education
New Jersey Department of Education
The New Jersey Department of Education administers state and federal aid programs affecting more than 1.4 million public and non-public elementary and secondary school children in the state of New Jersey. The department is headquartered in Trenton.The Department is responsible for ensuring that...
as being in District Factor Group "I", the second highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.
Each school has a magnet
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
theme, which becomes the focus of the school's teaching style. Students have "freedom of choice" as to which school they want to attend. School selection is not dictated based on location of residence within Montclair. When registering in the district, parents rank their school preferences from highest to lowest, with preferences given for siblings of existing students and special needs. School preferences are accommodated as long as space is available.
District mission
The Montclair School District is dedicated to educational excellence for each and every child. In partnership with parents and the community, the schools will maximize academic and artistic achievement, and develop confident students who are accountable for their ongoing learning, who value initiative and diversity, who achieve the requirements of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content StandardsNew Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards
The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards were created by the New Jersey State Board of Education in 1996 as the framework for education in New Jersey's public schools and clearly define what all students should know and be able to accomplish at the end of thirteen years of public education....
at all grade levels and who are able to contribute meaningfully to the ever-changing global society.
Awards and recognition
In both the 1989-90 and 1993-94 school years, Watchung School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon AwardBlue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
from the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
, the highest honor that an American school can achieve. Hillside
The district was awarded the New Jersey Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence – Silver, was commended by the United States Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
as one of six exemplary magnet school programs in the nation, was recognized by The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
for its public schools, and was certified by the New Jersey Department of Education
New Jersey Department of Education
The New Jersey Department of Education administers state and federal aid programs affecting more than 1.4 million public and non-public elementary and secondary school children in the state of New Jersey. The department is headquartered in Trenton.The Department is responsible for ensuring that...
during the 2004-05 school year.
Montclair Public Schools was cited for its magnet school program, as one of six school districts nationwide selected as the focus of Innovations in Education: Creating Successful Magnet School Programs, describing those schools whose "successful magnet programs offer a range of contexts, experiences, and perspectives".
Nishuane School was named as a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education
New Jersey Department of Education
The New Jersey Department of Education administers state and federal aid programs affecting more than 1.4 million public and non-public elementary and secondary school children in the state of New Jersey. The department is headquartered in Trenton.The Department is responsible for ensuring that...
, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve, in the 1993-94 school year. Watchung School was also named a Star School for 1993-94.
Schools
Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education StatisticsNational 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...
) are:
Elementary schools
Grades K-5, except as noted- Bradford (489 students, Magnet Theme: The University Magnet)
- Naomi Kirkman, Principal
- Bullock (353, Environmental Science; was Rand)
- Dr. Barbara Elder Weller, Principal
- Edgemont (294, Montessori)
- Dr. Adunni S. Anderson, Principal
- Hillside (3-5; 629, Gifted and Talented)
- Michael Chiles, Principal
- Anthony Grosso, Assistant Principal
- Nishuane (K-2; 525, Gifted and Talented)
- Gail Clarke, Principal
- Jill McLaughlin, Assistant Principal
- Northeast (426, Global Studies)
- Dr. Joseph Putrino, Acting Principal
- Watchung (466, Science and Technology)
- Peter Turnamian, Principal
Middle schools
Grades 6-8- Glenfield (686, Visual and Performing Arts)
- Charles Miller, Principal
- Cenithia Bilal, Assistant Principal
- Mount Hebron (581, The University STEM Magnet)
- Guy Whitlock, Principal
- Samantha Morra, Assistant Principal
- Renaissance at Rand (353, Liberal Arts)
- Dr. Jill Sack
High school
Grades 9-12- Montclair High School (1,981)
- James N. Earle, Principal
- Eileen Gilbert, Principal of ninth grade academy (George Inness annex)
Former schools
- Grove Street Elementary School
- Southwest Elementary School
- George Inness Middle School
Administration
Core members of the district's administration are:- Dr. Frank Alvarez, Superintendent of Schools
- Dana Sullivan, Board Secretary / School Business Administrator
External links
- Montclair Public Schools
- Data for the Montclair Public Schools, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe 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...