The Bernards Township School District is a comprehensive community public school district, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Bernards Township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Bernards Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Bernards Township School District, adopted August 26, 2013. Accessed June 8, 2026. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Bernards Township School District. Composition The Bernards Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Bernards Township."
As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 4,874 students and 456.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.7:1.District information for Bernards Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.
The district offers its Integrated Preschool Program for children on the autism spectrum, utilizing the principles of applied behavior analysis.Preschool, Bernards Township School District. Accessed February 6, 2020.
History Paula Grossman was a music teacher who was dismissed from a teaching position at one of the district's elementary schools after her sex reassignment surgery in 1971. She rejected an offer from the district under which she would give up her tenure and transfer to the high school, where the courses she would be allowed to teach would be limited. After she was fired, she sued the school district on the basis of sex discrimination. Her lawsuit, Grossman v. Bernards Township Board of Education received media attention nationwide, but was ultimately unsuccessful.Percy, W. Jacob. "Fifty years ago teacher sex change shocked Bernards Township", New Jersey Hills, October 12, 2021. Accessed September 29, 2024. "No disclosure may have ever rocked the Bernards Township school community more than the one that occurred 50 years ago, when news broke that an elementary school teacher had undergone a sex change. The saga of Paula Miriam Grossman, previously known as Paul Monroe Grossman, would include failed talks for continued employment, termination by the school board, a series of lawsuits that sought reinstatement and equal rights for transsexuals, and national notoriety.... Under the terms, she was to relinquish her tenure and obtain a teaching certificate under her new name. She was to be rehired for the 1971-72 school year at her current salary and transferred from Cedar Hill to Ridge High School to teach vocal music or other assigned topics 'on a strictly elective basis.'"
The district had been classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "J", the 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.District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 1, 2024.
Awards, recognition and rankings During the 2009-10 school year, Ridge High School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.2009 Blue Ribbon Schools: All Public and Private Schools, United States Department of Education. Accessed October 29, 2009. The school had also won the award for the 1986-87 school year.Blue Ribbon Schools Program Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002, United States Department of Education. Accessed May 31, 2013. Mount Prospect Elementary School was one of 11 in the state to be recognized in 2014 by the United States Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.Goldman, Jeff. "Which N.J. schools were named to national 'Blue Ribbon' list?", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, October 2, 2014. Accessed December 31, 2014. "Eleven New Jersey schools have been named to the annual National Blue Ribbon list, the U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday."2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private, United States Department of Education. Accessed December 31, 2014. In 2015, Liberty Corner School was one of 15 schools in New Jersey, and one of nine public schools, recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in the exemplary high performing category by the U.S. Department of Education.2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed November 14, 2016.Mueller, Mark. "Which N.J. schools were named National Blue Ribbon schools?", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 29, 2015. Accessed November 14, 2016. "Fifteen New Jersey schools have been recognized by the federal government as National Blue Ribbon Schools, a designation that celebrates excellence in academics or progress in closing the achievement gap among groups of students.... Each of the 15 New Jersey schools was chosen for the 'exemplary high performing' category, which weighs state or national tests, high school graduation rates and the performance of subgroups of students, such as those who are economically disadvantaged." In 2023, Oak Street School was one of nine schools in New Jersey that was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School."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."2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools: All Public and Non-Public Schools, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed March 6, 2024.
Ridge High School was ranked 37th-best in America and second-best non-magnet high school by Newsweek in 2015,Staff. "America's Top High Schools 2015" , Newsweek. Accessed November 9, 2016. and ranked 71st overall in America (and third-highest ranked non-magnet school in New Jersey) by the magazine in 2016.Staff. "America's Top High Schools 2016", Newsweek. Accessed November 9, 2016.
William Annin Middle School was chosen as a "School To Watch" in 2016, one of three middle schools in the state selected by the Schools To Watch Program.Tarrazi, Alexis. " William Annin Named NJ School to WatchOnly two other schools in New Jersey share this recognition.", Basking Ridge Patch, March 18, 2016. Accessed November 9, 2016. "Only 200 schools nationwide share this recognition. WAMS is among only two other schools in New Jersey with this award including: Carl H. Kumpf Middle School in Clark and Leonia Middle School in Leonia."
Schools Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education StatisticsSchool Data for the Bernards Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.) are:Public Schools Directory 2023–2024, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 1, 2026.School Performance Reports for the Bernards Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.New Jersey School Directory for the Bernards Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Elementary schools Cedar Hill Elementary SchoolCedar Hill Elementary School, Bernards Township School District. Accessed June 8, 2026. with 483 students in grades K–5 Krissy Uhler, principal Liberty Corner Elementary SchoolLiberty Corner Elementary School, Bernards Township School District. Accessed June 8, 2026. with 466 students in grades K–5 James Oliver, principal Mount Prospect Elementary SchoolMount Prospect Elementary School, Bernards Township School District. Accessed June 8, 2026. with 507 students in grades PreK–5 Joanne Hozeny, principal Oak Street Elementary SchoolOak Street Elementary School, Bernards Township School District. Accessed June 8, 2026. with 406 students in grades K–5 Holly Foley, principal Middle school William Annin Middle SchoolWilliam Annin Middle School, Bernards Township School District. Accessed June 8, 2026. with 1,201 students in grades 6–8. The school is one of the few in the United States to have a seismograph, which is part of the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory Cooperative Seismographic Network.About LCSN, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory Cooperative Seismographic Network. Accessed December 31, 2014.Hayes, Edward. , Courier News, January 21, 2001. Accessed December 31, 2014. "There are several colleges and universities that maintain seismology equipment for studying, tracking and monitoring earthquakes. And along with them is William Annin Middle School, which maintains its own seismograph for Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University in New York." Karen Hudock, principal High school Ridge High SchoolRidge High School, Bernards Township School District. Accessed July 3, 2022. with 1,794 students in grades 9–12 Russell Lazovick, principal (until September 1, 2026)Tarrazi, Alexis. "New Ridge High School Principal Approved By Bernards Township Board Of Education Cheryl Howarth will be replacing Russell Lazovick as principal beginning on Sept. 1.", Basking Ridge, NJ, Patch, May 20, 2026. Accessed June 8, 2026. "Cheryl Howarth was approved effective Sept. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with a salary of $202,767, prorated to reflect her start date.... Howarth is replacing current principal Russell Lazovick." Cheryl Howarth, principal (starting September 1, 2026)
Administration Core members of the district's administration are:Staff, Bernards Township School District. Accessed June 8, 2026.New Jersey School Directory for Somerset County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Nick Markarian, superintendent (retiring September 1, 2026) Kristin Fox, superintendent (starting September 1, 2026) James Rollo, business administrator and board secretaryBusiness Office, Bernards Township School District. Accessed June 8, 2026.
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.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 Bernards Township Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2025. Accessed June 8, 2026. See "Roster of Officials" on page 15.Board of Education, Bernards Township School District. Accessed June 8, 2026.
References
External links Bernards Township School District
School Data for the Bernards Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics