The Hillside Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Hillside, in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Hillside Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Hillside Public Schools, adopted October 19, 2000. Accessed July 18, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-K through twelve in the Hillside Township School District. Composition: The Hillside Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Hillside Township."
As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of seven schools, had an enrollment of 3,046 students and 257.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1.District information for Hillside Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
History Hillside High School on Liberty Avenue was originally constructed in 1940, replacing the Coe Avenue (A.P. Morris) School which became a grammar school. Additions were later added to accommodate the baby-boomers of the 1950s and 1960s. In the mid-1960s the high school held some 1,500 students.History of Hillside High School, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025. "As both schools in the township were grammar schools, students who wished to have more than a grammar school education went to a high school in Elizabeth. Because of the growing population in 1917 a new school called Central Grammar School was built on Coe Avenue. It would later become the first high school... By 1938 the Coe Avenue School was inadequate to meet the continued needs of the community so a new high school building was completed in 1940 to accommodate sophomores, juniors and seniors."
The district had been classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "CD", the sixth-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.History District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 1, 2024.
Schools Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education StatisticsSchool Data for the Hillside Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.) are:History , Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025.School Performance Reports for the Hillsdale Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 1, 2025.New Jersey School Directory for the Hillside Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
Elementary schools Abram P. Morris Early Childhood CenterAbram P. Morris Early Childhood Center, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025. with 664 students in grades PreK–1 Victoria Palmer-Gilliard, PrincipalPrincipal's Message, Abram P. Morris Early Childhood Center. Accessed July 18, 2025. Ola Edwards Community SchoolOla Edwards Community School, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025. with 394 students in grades 2–6 Kimley Davis, principalWelcome, Ola Edwards Community School. Accessed July 18, 2025. Hurden Looker SchoolHurden Looker School, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025. with 393 students in grades 2–6 Daniella Alvarez, principalMeet the Principal, Hurden Looker School. Accessed July 18, 2025. Deanna G. Taylor AcademyDeanna G. Taylor Academy, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025. with 191 students in grades 2–6 Rahim Graham, principalPrincipal's Message, Deanna G. Taylor Academy. Accessed July 18, 2025. Middle schools Hillside Innovation AcademyHillside Innovation Academy, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025. with 101 students in grades 7–8 Nicole Silva, principalPrincipal's Message, Hillside Innovation Academy. Accessed July 18, 2025. Walter O. Krumbiegel Middle SchoolWalter O. Krumbiegel Middle School, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025. with 309 students in grades 7–8 Roy T. Wilson, principalPrincipal's Message, Walter O. Krumbiegel Middle School. Accessed July 18, 2025.
High school Hillside High SchoolHillside High School, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025. with 927 students in grades 9–12 Terry Woolard, principalPrincipal's Corner, Hillside High School. Accessed July 18, 2025.
Administration Core members of the district's administration are:Staff Directory, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025.New Jersey School Directory for Union County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Erskine R. Glover, superintendentSuperintendent of Schools, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025. Dwayne McNeil, business administrator and board secretaryBusiness Administrator's Office, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025.
Board of education The district's board of education, comprised 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.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.Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Hillside Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2024. Accessed July 18, 2025. "The Township of Hillside School District is a Type ii District located in Union County, New Jersey. The District is an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey, established to function as an educational institution. The District is governed by a nine member board elected to three-year terms and is responsible for the fiscal control of the District. A superintendent is appointed by the Board and is responsible for the administrative control of the District." See "Roster of Officials" on page 14.Board of Education, Hillside Public Schools. Accessed July 18, 2025."
References
External links Hillside Public Schools
School Data for the Hillside Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics