By: centraljersey.com
The state report cards released last week offered Princeton Regional Schools no surprises.
"This is all lagging data," said Judy Wilson, superintendent for Princeton Regional Schools. "We look for trends and pay attention to some points for comparative purposes, but none of this is news."
"We are always very pleased and proud of our record of extraordinary student achievement," said Ms. Wilson, "all the while setting new, clear goals for the future."
The comparative cost-per-pupil in Princeton is higher than in surrounding districts at $17,421, while Montgomery Township is $11,628.
Ms. Wilson listed the factors driving the higher figures as follows: opportunities for children PK-12; full-day kindergarten; two dozen advanced placement courses add to the mix; science labs, instrument lessons and world language programs at the elementary levels are certainly far above the state’s adequacy level of education.
"At every grade level the depth and excellence of our educational experiences for children speaks for itself," Ms. Wilson said.
Specific needs of pupils also impacts costs. For instance, Princeton has a English Language Learner population where students from international guest families associated with the Institute for Advance Study or Princeton University and children of recent immigrants are all taught in the ELL programs.
"Also, within our high wealth community is poverty, also, with 13 percent of our students receiving free or reduced lunch," said Ms. Wilson. "One other factor that does impact costs is our basic structure of small neighborhood elementary schools.
"We love the climate and culture of our four elementary schools, and very few people would trade that configuration, but they do not gain economy of scale that one school of 1,200 pupils might have."