Highland Park Public Schools

Last updated

Highland Park Public Schools
Address
435 Mansfield Street
Highland Park
, Middlesex County , New Jersey , 08904
United States
Coordinates 40°29′46″N74°25′21″W / 40.496118°N 74.422631°W / 40.496118; -74.422631
District information
Grades Pre-K to 12
SuperintendentKristina Susca
Business administratorLinda Hoefele
Schools4
Students and staff
Enrollment1,635 (as of 2023–24) [1]
Faculty155.5 FTEs [1]
Student–teacher ratio10.5:1 [1]
Other information
District Factor Group GH
Website www.hpschools.net
Ind.Per pupilDistrict
spending		Rank
(*)		K-12
average		%± vs.
average
1ATotal Spending$20,55841$18,8918.8%
1Budgetary Cost15,0063414,7831.5%
2Classroom Instruction8,825348,7630.7%
6Support Services2,678402,39212.0%
8Administrative Cost1,729301,48516.4%
10Operations & Maintenance1,406131,783−21.1%
13Extracurricular Activities3661426836.6%
16Median Teacher Salary61,5992864,043
Data from NJDoE 2014 Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending. [2]
*Of K-12 districts with up to 1,800 students. Lowest spending=1; Highest=49

The Highland Park Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Highland Park, in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. [3]

Contents

As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,635 students and 155.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.5:1. [1]

History

The original school building was designed by architect Alexander Merchant. Opened in September 1926, the school was named Franklin Junior High School, serving students through tenth grade and constructed at a cost of $360,000 (equivalent to $6.4 million in 2024). After appeals from residents, grades 11 and 12 were added and the building was renamed "Highland Park High School" in 1937, before which students from Highland Park completed their secondary school education at either New Brunswick High School or Metuchen High School. [4]

The district had been classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "GH", the third-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. [5]

Schools

Highland Park High School Hphs hp nj.jpg
Highland Park High School

Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [6] ) are: [7] [8] [9]

Elementary schools
Middle school
High school

Administration

Core members of the district's administration are: [15]

Board of education

The district's board of education is comprised of nine members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district. [18] [19] [20] [21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 District information for Highland Park Boro School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
  2. ↑ Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending April 2013, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2013.
  3. ↑ Highland Park Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Highland Park Public Schools, revised October 19, 2015. Accessed December 8, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades PreK through 12 in the Highland Park School District. Composition: The Highland Park School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Highland Park."
  4. ↑ Kolva, Jeanne; Pisciotta, Joanne. Highland Park: Borough of Homes, p. 119. Accessed December 8, 2025. Arcadia Publishing, 2005. ISBN   9780738524726. "As larger numbers of Highland Park's high school age students traveled out of town to Metuchen or New Brunswick to continue their education as tuition students, demand for a local junior high school began.... The total expenditure was closer to $362,000. Opened in September 1926 for Highland Park's seventh through ninth graders with Alger Maynard as principal, a formal dedication ceremony took place later on October 14 that included placing a cannon donated by American Legion Post 88 on the new school's front yard. The name Franklin Junior High School was chosen one month after dedication day. From 1927 to 1935, the school served children only up to the tenth grade.... The 1936-1937 school year found eleventh graders in the hallways, and the twelfth grade was added the following year. On May 11, 1937, Franklin Junior High was officially renamed 'Highland Park High School.'"
  5. ↑ District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 1, 2024.
  6. ↑ School Data for the Highland Park Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
  7. ↑ HIB Resources, Highland Park Public Schools. Accessed December 8, 2025.
  8. ↑ School Performance Reports for the Highland Park Boro School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2025.
  9. ↑ New Jersey School Directory for the Highland Park Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  10. ↑ Irving Primary School, Highland Park Public Schools. Accessed December 8, 2025.
  11. ↑ Welcome, Irving Primary School. Accessed December 8, 2025.
  12. ↑ Bartle Elementary School, Highland Park Public Schools. Accessed December 8, 2025.
  13. ↑ Highland Park Middle School, Highland Park Public Schools. Accessed December 8, 2025.
  14. ↑ Highland Park High School, Highland Park Public Schools. Accessed December 8, 2025.
  15. ↑ New Jersey School Directory for Middlesex County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  16. ↑ Superintendent, Highland Park Public Schools. Accessed December 8, 2025.
  17. ↑ Business Office, Highland Park Public Schools. Accessed December 8, 2025.
  18. ↑ New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.
  19. ↑ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Highland Park Borough School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2024. Accessed December 8, 2025. "The District is a Type II district located in the County of Middlesex, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The Board is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms. The purpose of the District is to educate students in Grades K to 12." See "Roster of Officials" on page 12.
  20. ↑ Highland Park Board of Education District Policy 0141 - Board Member Number and Term, Highland Park Public Schools, revised October 28, 2024. Accessed December 8, 2025. "The Board of Education shall consist of nine members. The term of a Board member shall be three years..."
  21. ↑ Board Members, Highland Park Public Schools. Accessed December 8, 2025.
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