A Guide to Hoboken’s Schools 

Choosing a school might be one of the most nerve-wracking decisions for parents. All parents want to give their children the best education by placing them in a caring environment, putting them on a path to academic excellence, and getting them on a path towards a fulfilling career. Yes, it’s stressful. And when it comes to choosing a good local school, parents often find themselves lost in a myriad of data, such as rankings, test scores, and other assessment metrics.

Whether a school is considered “good” or not is highly subjective, dependent on the circumstances, values, and needs of each individual family and child. That said, there are still a few key metrics that every parent should consider when choosing a local school in Hudson County — specifically in Hoboken. Read on for a guide to Hoboken’s schools.

What to Consider 

Two of the most important factors when choosing a school are the learning environment and academic results. To get a better sense of a school’s learning environment, the key measurements include the student to teacher ratio, as well as the percentage of teachers with advanced degrees. And to learn more about a school’s academic results, parents may look into asking questions such as: how students perform in standard English and math assessments {or public schools, this information can be measured by the percentage of students that meet or exceed expectations in the state-wide standardized tests, disclosed by the state government every year}; and what extracurricular activities are available to students. Also, look for other highlights of the school’s academic programs, such as whether there are any programs that help students with high school/college applications, or if the school offers bilingual teaching. And of course, for high schools, additional key metrics may include the Advanced Placement courses the school offers, and what colleges and universities the school’s graduates are admitted into.

Since this can be a lot to research yourself, we’ve rounded up a list of Hoboken schools and collected information on some of their key performance metrics. But before we dig into the details  if each school, here is some basic information about Hoboken schools:

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Public Schools

There are five public schools under the administration of Hoboken Public School District. These schools follow the curriculums and policies established by the school districts, with reference to state and national standards. The school district is held accountable to the performance standards set by the state, and the schools must comply with the state’s reporting requirements. For example, public schools are obliged to participate in the statewide English and math proficiency tests and disclose their results.

Charter schools are free public schools that are mission-specific and operate independently of local school districts. Essentially, a charter school is publicly funded but operates at a higher level of independence. It is governed by an independent board of trustees, draws up its own curriculums and rules of operation, and is held accountable to higher performance standards specified in a contract, i.e. a “charter,” that is granted by the Commissioner of Education Nationally, charter schools have scored better academic results than public schools in the same areas.

There are three charter schools in Hoboken. Admission is based on lotteries, which are open to both local and out-of-district residents. Local residents, students with enrolled siblings, and sometimes low-income families {at the Hoboken Dual Language Charter School only}, are assigned higher weights in the lottery. Unfortunately, the odds of getting in are low for these schools. For example, for the 2018-2019 school year, Hoboken Charter School received 640 applicants for kindergarten through 12th grades, but only 25 spots {22 for the kindergarten class and three for the ninth grade class} were open. Other schools have shown similar statistics in recent years.

Below are the details for the public schools in Hoboken {pulled from the New Jersey School Performance Reports}.

Wallace Elementary School {1100 Willow Avenue, Grades K-5th}

The school has a student–teacher ratio of 8:1, at the lower end of Hoboken schools, with 51% of the teachers having advanced degrees. In general, a low student–teacher ratio means each student would receive more attention from the teachers. Students perform at around state average level in standard math and English assessments {measured by the percentage of meet/exceed expectation in state–wide tests}. The district offers engaging, thoughtful and dynamic extracurricular and enrichment programs via the Passport to Learning Program as well. 

Early Childhood Learning Center at Calabro {524 Park Avenue, Grades, PK3 + PK4}

This school serves three– and four–year-old-students. The school has a student–teacher ratio of 7:1, half of the teachers either have advanced degrees or hold dual certifications. Students‘ performances in standard Math and English Language Arts are aligned to widely held expectations and measured anecdotally and via the GOLD Assessment, a research–based and developmentally–appropriate assessment. For extracurricular and enrichment programs, the school offers these in theater, music, and athletics with the goal of mirroring the offerings in the elementary schools. 

Joseph F. Brandt Elementary School {215 9th Street, Grades PK-5th}

The school has a student–teacher ratio of 7:1, low for local schools, with 50% of the teachers having advanced degrees. In general, students perform slightly higher than the state average in standardized tests. The district offers engaging, thoughtful and dynamic extracurricular and enrichment programs via the Passport to Learning Program. This after school program offer classes in theater, music, fine arts, STEM, world languages, civics, athletics and much more. Dinner is served and homework assistance is provided. During the school day, there are opportunities for differentiated instruction and additional areas of enrichment within a specialized school period known as Individualized Learning Pathways. Gifted and talented students are engaged in the Johns Hopkins CTY Program. Mandarin Chinese and Spanish are offered at the Joseph F. Brandt School. Students may also participate in chorus, band, or orchestra. 

Thomas G. Connors {201 Monroe Street, Grades Pre-K-5th}

The school has a student–teacher ratio of 7:1, low for local schools, with 44% of the teachers having advanced degrees. In general, students perform slightly below the state average in standardized tests. The district offers engaging, thoughtful and dynamic extracurricular and enrichment programs via the aforementioned Passport to Learning Program.

Hoboken High School {800 Clinton Street, Grades, 9th-12th}

The school has a student–teacher ratio of 9:1, with 61% of the teachers having advanced degrees. In general, students perform below the state average in math, while in language tests, the results are about the state average level. Hoboken high school offers AP courses in biology, calculus, chemistry, English language, English literature, environmental science, human geography, macroeconomic, Spanish language, U.S. government and politics, U.S. history, world history, as well as the AP Capstone program. In addition to innovative classes and co–curricular programs, students also have access to the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth online courses and may participate in the dual credit high school + college program via Hudson Community College. Students at Hoboken High School are actively engaged in Project Lead the Way Courses, evening biomedical science courses at Rutgers, and travel the world as enrollees in the Classroom Without Walls Program. Ninety-seven percent of Hoboken High School graduates have been accepted to two or four-year colleges and the most recent academic and merit–based scholarship total for the Class of 2019 was 14.1 million dollars. 

Hoboken Middle School {158 4th Street #2, Grades 6th-8th}

The school has a student–teacher ratio of 8:1, with about half of the teachers having advanced degrees. In statewide Math and English Language Arts standardized tests, the students‘ performances are generally below average. In an effort to increase achievement, students are offered an array of rigorous and relevant classes, including advanced mathematics. French, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, and Sign Language are offered to all students. Gifted and talented students participate in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Program. There is an extensive after school program which offers academic support, fine and performing arts, enrichment courses, and wellness and life-sport activities ranging from rock climbing to stand up paddleboarding 

Hoboken Dual Language Charter School {123 Jefferson Street, Grades K-8th}

Elysian Charter School {1460 Garden Street, Grades K-8th}

The school has a student-teacher ratio of 11:1, which is at the higher end among local schools, with about a third of the teachers having advanced degrees. Students performances are far above the state average in standard math and English tests. It offers a variety of enrichment programs, including cooking, sports, art, and STEM subjects. It also offers year-round sports programs for basketball, track, and rugby.

Hoboken Charter School {713 Washington Street, Grades K-12th}

The school has a student-teacher ratio of 11:1, same as Elysian {local charter schools generally have a higher student-teacher ratio}. Students perform well in standard math and English tests, although in higher-grade language tests the results are somewhat close to state average level. Also, macroeconomics and microeconomics are available as AP classes.

Private Schools

Parents may choose to send their children to private schools for a variety of reasons, including religion or a more flexible curriculum. Since private schools are independently funded, they draw up their own academic programs in line with their core values. Plus,  parents need to pay tuition and sometimes participate in fundraising activities that go to the financing of the school.

Data on private schools are not as complete and standardized as public schools. Because these schools do not receive public funding, they are not subject to the disclosure requirements that public schools comply to. For the same reason, private schools are not required to participate in or disclose results of standardized assessment tests. We have collected similar or comparable information on student body {from Niche} and academic programs {from school websites} when they are available. And we have also listed here other school-specific factors that might affect your decision-making. Below is a roundup of Hoboken private schools and their statistics. 

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All Saints Episcopal Day School {707 Washington Street, Grades, Pre-K-8th}

The student-teacher ratio is 9:1, about local average. Tuitions range from $22,750 to $23,850 depending on the grade. The school provides a structured curriculum in English, math, science, art, and world languages for students of various ages. Students also participate in a wide variety of field trips, community services, and milestone programs that are clearly suggested in the curriculum. What’s also worth mentioning is that the school provides a program that helps students navigate the process of high school admission. Starting from seventh grade, the high school placement team works with students on many aspects of the application process, including placement options, essay writing, and interviews. Students have been admitted into prestigious high schools in the area. The religious affiliation is Episcopal.

Mustard Seed School {422 Willow Avenue, Grades, Pre-K, K-8th}

The student-teacher ratio is 6:1, almost the lowest among local schools. Tuition is about $22,600 a year. The school’s academic results are exceptional. For example, in TerraNova {a series of standardized achievement assessments adopted by certain schools nationwide}, the school has performed well on these tests, scoring at or above the 80th percentile in every grade in language arts, mathematics, and other tested areas. The curriculum also includes the study of the Bible and biblical themes, as well as opportunities to participate in Christian service. The religious affiliation is Christian.

Hoboken Catholic Academy {555 7th Street, GradesPre-K, K-8th}

The student-teacher ratio is 16:1, the highest among local schools. Tuition ranges from $6,500 to about $8,000 a year depending on the grade. The school has been publicly recognized for its strong academic results. In 2017, the school was named by the United States Secretary of Education as a recipient of “National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence”, becoming one of the 50 non-public schools nationwide to be recognized as “Exemplary High Performing.” Also, art, music, language, student council, and athletic programs are offered to students as extracurriculars. The religious affiliation is Roman Catholic.

Stevens Cooperative School {301 Garden Street Pre-K, K-8th}

The student-teacher ratio is 7:1 and the tuition is slightly higher than other local private schools, ranging from $23,875 to $24,590 a year depending on the grade. The school provides structured a curriculum on math, technology, science, arts, and languages for students of various ages. For placement, the school provides a secondary school placement program that helps families navigate the high school admissions requirements and procedures. It is a personalized process beginning in the spring of seventh grade that helps students with various aspects of the application process, such as school selection, test preparation, essay writing, and interview skills. Students have been placed into prestigious high schools in recent years.

The Hudson School {601 Park Avenue, Grades 5th-12th}

The student-teacher ratio is 5:1, the lowest among local schools. Tuition is about $22,990 a year. The school offers AP classes in biology,  calculus, chemistry, English literature and composition, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, government and politics, physics, statistics, and U.S. History. As far as extracurricular programs, performing arts, music, student council, and athletic programs are offered to students.

TESSA International School {702 Monroe Street}

At TESSA, children are introduced to other languages and cultures in order to enhance their cultural awareness. The international educators at TESSA investigate and adapt the school curriculum based on the most successful international models. At TESSA, the students start learning French, Spanish or Mandarin as early as two-years-old with 80% of the communication in the target language. Rather than “teaching the language”, they teach in the language. The schooling programs include nursery, pre-k, kindergarten, and primary.

Have you looked into one of these Hoboken schools? Let us know in the comments!