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Woodbridge Township School District

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Coordinates: 40°33′19″N 74°16′49″W / 40.55521°N 74.280274°W / 40.55521; -74.280274
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Woodbridge Township School District
Address
School Street
Woodbridge Township
, Middlesex County, New Jersey, 07095
United States
Coordinates40°33′19″N 74°16′49″W / 40.55521°N 74.280274°W / 40.55521; -74.280274
District information
GradesPreK-12
SuperintendentJoseph Massimino
Business administratorBrian Wolferman
Schools25
Students and staff
Enrollment13,836 (as of 2022–23)[1]
Faculty1,193.7 FTEs[1]
Student–teacher ratio11.6:1[1]
Other information
District Factor GroupDE
Websitewww.woodbridge.k12.nj.us
Ind. Per pupil District
spending		 Rank
(*)		 K-12
average		 %± vs.
average
1ATotal Spending$15,98914$18,891−15.4%
1Budgetary Cost12,9592314,783−12.3%
2Classroom Instruction8,186288,763−6.6%
6Support Services1,859242,392−22.3%
8Administrative Cost1,453521,485−2.2%
10Operations & Maintenance1,14381,783−35.9%
13Extracurricular Activities20635268−23.1%
16Median Teacher Salary69,2707664,043
Data from NJDoE 2014 Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending.[2]
*Of K-12 districts with more than 3,500 students. Lowest spending=1; Highest=103

The Woodbridge Township School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Woodbridge Township in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. All schools are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprising 25 schools, had an enrollment of 13,836 students and 1,193.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1.[1] The high schools offer more than 150 courses, including Advanced Placement, college preparatory, business, vocational and cooperative work/study programs.

The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "DE", the fifth-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.[3]

History

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Voters approved a referendum in March 2020 that would raise $87 million for renovations that would include the replacement of the 100-year-ol Avenel Street School and the closure of Ford Avenue School, whose students would be shifted to Lafayette Estates School.[4]

Awards and recognition

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During the 2008-09 school year, Kennedy Park School #24 was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,[5] the highest award an American school can receive.[6][7] Lynn Crest School was recognized as a "Blue Ribbon" School during the 2009-10 school year.[8] In 2023, Claremont Avenue Elementary School was one of nine schools in New Jersey that was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School.[9][10]

For the 2005-06 school year, the district was recognized with the "Best Practices Award" by the New Jersey Department of Education for its "Blooming Buddies-The Garden Club" Science program at Matthew Jago Elementary School.[11]

For the 2004-05 school year, Matthew Jago Elementary School was named a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve.[12]

Schools

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Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[13]) are:[14][15][16]

Elementary schools
  • Mawbey Street School #1[17] (350; K-5 - built 1962)
  • Avenel Street School #4&5[18] (427; K-5 - #4 built 1912, #5 built 1948)
  • Port Reading School #9[19] (361; K-5 - built 1962)
  • Ross Street School #11[20] (564; K-5 - Original built 1920, renovated 2019)
  • Indiana Avenue School #18[21] (445; K-5 - built 1955)
  • Menlo Park Terrace #19[22] (360; K-5 - built 1958)
  • Claremont Avenue School #20[23] (319; K-5 - built 1958)
  • Oak Ridge Heights School #21[24] (276; K-5 - built 1959)
  • Lynn Crest School #22[25] (316; K-5 - built 1959)
  • Woodbine Avenue School #23[26] (401; K-5 - built 1960)
  • Kennedy Park School #24[27] (263; PreK-5 - built 1960)
  • Lafayette Estates School #25[28] (410; K-5 - built 1960)
  • Robert Mascenik School #26[29] (321; K-5 - built 1960)
  • Pennsylvania Avenue School #27[30] (402; K-5 - built 1964)
  • Matthew Jago School #28[31] (411; K-5 - built 1969)
  • Oak Tree Road School #29[32] (425; K-5 - built 1952, opened 2018[33])
Middle schools
  • Avenel Middle School[34] (587; 6-8)
    • Thomas Leusen, principal
  • Colonia Middle School[35] (560; 6-8)
    • Joseph Short, principal
  • Fords Middle School[36] (593; 6-8)
    • Jennifer Murphy, principal
  • Iselin Middle School[37] (849; 6-8)
    • Kelly Cilento, principal
  • Woodbridge Middle School[38] (517; 6-8)
    • Kayla Lott, principal
High schools

Administration

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Core members of the district's administration are:[43][44]

  • Joseph Massimino, superintendent
  • Brian Wolferman, business administrator and board secretary

Board of education

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The district's board of education, composed of nine members, sets policy and oversees 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.[45][46][47]

Controversy

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Lois Rotella, former assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, left her position in early August 2012. After her departure, "the district has been notoriously tight-lipped about matters since various schools have been under investigation by the State Board of Education's Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance... because of a high number of wrong-to-right erasures on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK) standardized tests."[48]

In 2015, it was found out that Ford Avenue School #14 principal Cathie Bedosky was encouraging students to cheat on the NJASK standardized test. She also poorly trained test proctors, and hired unqualified people to administer the test. She was later suspended by vote at the Woodbridge Board of Education.[49]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d District information for Woodbridge Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending April 2013, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2013.
  3. ^ NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed November 8, 2014.
  4. ^ Chang, Kathy. "Century-old school buildings will be replaced with 21st-century facilities in Woodbridge", CentralJersey.com, March 11, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2024. "Voters approved an $87 million bond referendum on March 10, which addresses the last three oldest school buildings in the district.... Zega said the highlight of the referendum is the replacement of Avenel Street School No. 4/5 with a building on a different location off Rahway Avenue. The school building is the oldest school in the district at more than 100 years old.... In addition, Ford Avenue School No. 14, which is 96 years old, will close. Zega said school No. 14 is the district's 'smallest elementary school and requires so much renovation.' School officials have decided to close the school and move the students to Lafayette Estates School No. 25 on Ford Avenue, which is less than a mile from School No. 14."
  5. ^ U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools Program: 2008 Schools, United States Department of Education. Accessed September 23, 2008.
  6. ^ "CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department", Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
  7. ^ "Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test", The Washington Post. September 29, 2005. "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
  8. ^ 2010 Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 27, 2011.
  9. ^ "These 9 NJ schools were named 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools", Courier News, September 19, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2024. "The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday recognized 353 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023, including nine schools in New Jersey."
  10. ^ 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools: All Public and Non-Public Schools, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  11. ^ New Jersey Department of Education Best Practices Award recipient for 2005-06, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed October 23, 2006.
  12. ^ Star School Award recipients, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 23, 2006.
  13. ^ School Data for the Woodbridge Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  14. ^ Parent / Student Handbook for 2023-2024 School Year, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  15. ^ School Performance Reports for the Woodbridge Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.
  16. ^ New Jersey School Directory for the Woodbridge Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  17. ^ Mawbey Street School #1, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  18. ^ Avenel Street School #4&5, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  19. ^ Port Reading School #9, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Ross Street School #11, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  21. ^ Indiana Avenue School #18, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  22. ^ Menlo Park Terrace #19, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Claremont Avenue School #20, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  24. ^ Oak Ridge Heights School #21, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  25. ^ Lynn Crest School #22, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  26. ^ Woodbine Avenue School #23, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  27. ^ Kennedy Park School #24, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  28. ^ Lafayette Estates School #25, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  29. ^ Robert Mascenik School #26, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  30. ^ Pennsylvania Avenue School #27, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  31. ^ Matthew Jago School #28, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  32. ^ Oak Tree Road School #29, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  33. ^ Makin, Bob. "Woodbridge: Oak Tree Road School unveils $8M renovation", Courier News, September 8, 2018. Accessed March 6, 2024. "Oak Tree Road School No. 29 on Wednesday became the first fully-renovated township school district building to open in nearly 50 years. The school, which cost $8M to renovate, welcomed 520 first- through fifth-grade students."
  34. ^ Avenel Middle School, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  35. ^ Colonia Middle School, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  36. ^ Fords Middle School, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  37. ^ Iselin Middle School, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  38. ^ Woodbridge Middle School, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  39. ^ Colonia High School, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  40. ^ Woodbridge High School, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  41. ^ Reaching Individual Student Excellence, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  42. ^ Woodbridge High School, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  43. ^ Central Administration, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  44. ^ New Jersey School Directory for Middlesex County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Franklin Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2024. "The Woodbridge Township School District (the 'District') is a Type II District located in the County of Middlesex, State of New Jersey. The District functions independently through a nine-member Board of Education. The purpose of the District is to educate students K-12."
  47. ^ About the Board, Woodbridge Township School District. Accessed March 6, 2024.
  48. ^ Mystery Surrounds Woodbridge Assistant School Superintendent's Departure, Woodbridge Patch. August 3, 2012. There was also an accusation of students of Colonia High School developing brain tumors due to the soil in 2022.
  49. ^ "Woodbridge school principal encouraged cheating on standardized test, state says". NJ.com. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
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