The West Milford Township Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from West Milford, in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.West Milford Public Schools District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. "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 West Milford School District. Composition: The West Milford School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of West Milford."
As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprising eight schools, had an enrollment of 3,028 students and 279.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.8:1.District information for West Milford Township Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "FG", the fourth-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.NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed October 1, 2014.
The district has six elementary schools (grades K-5), one middle school (grade 6-8), and one high school (grades 9-12), and also supports a Center for Adult/Community Education.New Student Registration Information Grades K-12, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed June 19, 2020. "Welcome to the West Milford Township Public School District. Our District is comprised of, six (6) elementary schools, one (1) middle school and one (1) high school." The school system has 361 certified staff members, over 50% of whom have a master's degree or higher.Home page, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed August 27, 2008.
History The old Newfoundland, two-room schoolhouse is now the Grasshopper Restaurant. The old Hillcrest School is now the township's community center. The few one-room schoolhouses are all gone; the last one was the Hewitt School, destroyed by fire set by vandals (it had been the former Methodist church before a new, larger church was built).
Students from West Milford had attended Butler High School for grades 9-12 as part of a longstanding sending/receiving relationship that existed until September 1962, when West Milford opened its own high school.Fox v. Bd. Of Ed. Of W. Milford Tp., Justia, decided January 19, 1967. Accessed September 13, 2017. "The school system comprises four elementary schools and a new high school which opened in September 1962. Before that date, pupils of secondary grades were sent to Butler High School in Morris County." The Butler Public Schools had served students from large parts of Morris and Passaic counties, until soaring local enrollment led the district to notify feeder communities in 1954 that they would have to find alternative education options for their high school students.Staff. "Enrollments Tax Schools In Bergen; Auxiliary Rooms Are Being Converted for Classes and Construction Is Pushed", The New York Times, September 5, 1954. Accessed September 13, 2017. "Butler, in near-by Morris County, is taking drastic action to relieve congestion in its high school... Four of these 'sending districts' -- Riverdale, Jefferson Township, Kinnelon and Pequannock Township -- are in Morris County. The others -- Wanaque, Ringwood, West Milford and Bloomingdale -- are in Passaic County. Butler has given Pequannock Township and the four districts in Passaic until 1958 to complete withdrawal of their students."
Awards and recognition The NAMM Foundation named the district in its 2009 survey of the "Best Communities for Music Education", which included 124 school districts nationwide."Nationwide Survey Finds the 'Best Communities for Music Education' in U.S." , NAMM, April 16, 2009. Accessed November 13, 2009.
The district was selected as one of the top "100 Best Communities for Music Education in America 2005" by the American Music Conference.Best 100 (101!) Communities for Music Education in America, 2005, Accessed December 12, 2006.
Schools Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education StatisticsSchool Data for the West Milford Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.) are:About Our Schools, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023.2023–24 Public School Directory, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2024.School Performance Reports for the West Milford Township Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.New Jersey School Directory for the West Milford Township Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Elementary schools Apshawa Elementary SchoolApshawa School, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. with 999 students in grades K-5 Dana Swarts, principalSchool Principals, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. Maple Road Elementary SchoolMaple Road Elementary School, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. with 231 students in grades PreK-5 William Kane, principal Marshall Hill Elementary SchoolMarshall Hill Elementary School, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. with 251 students in grades K-5 Patrick O'Donnell, principal Paradise Knoll Elementary SchoolParadise Knoll Elementary School, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. with 192 students in grades K-5 Jennifer Miller, principal Upper Greenwood Lake Elementary SchoolUpper Greenwood Lake Elementary School, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. with 192 students in grades K-5 Jared Fowler, principal Westbrook Elementary School with 238 students in grades K-5 was closed for the start of the 2023-24 school year.Zummo, Mike. "Westbrook School will no longer serve elementary students next fall", West Milford Messenger, November 30, 2022. Accessed October 10, 2023. "The West Milford Township School District Board of Education on Tuesday voted to repurpose the Westbrook Elementary School into Highlander Academy, an inclusive special education program. The Restructuring Committee recommended changing the Westbrook School, starting in 2023-24 school year, into an academy for two separate Emotional Regulation Impairment programs, one for middle schoolers and the other for high schoolers." Middle school Macopin Middle SchoolMacopin Middle School, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. with 777 students in grades 6-8 Gregory Matlosz, principal High school West Milford High SchoolWest Milford High School, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. with 936 students in grades 9-12 Matthew Strianse, principal
Administration Core members of the district's administration are:District Administration, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023.New Jersey School Directory for Passaic County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Lydia Furnari, Interim superintendent of schoolsSuperintendent's Welcome, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. William Scholts, business administrator and board secretaryBusiness Administrator, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023.
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 2013) 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 of the West Milford Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2022. Accessed October 10, 2023. "The Board of Education ('Board') of the Township of West Milford School District ('District') is an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey, established to function as an educational institution. The Township of West Milford School District is a Type II district located in the County of Passaic, 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-12. A superintendent is appointed by the Board and is responsible for the administrative control of the District."About the Board, West Milford Township Public Schools. Accessed October 10, 2023. "There are nine elected Board of Education Trustees, each serving a rotating three-year term. Each Trustee has an equal vote on all issues. The Board President and Vice President are elected by the School Board for one year of service. The Trustees volunteer their time and do not receive financial compensation for their service."
References
External links West Milford Township Public Schools
School Data for the West Milford Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics