The Plainfield Public School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from Plainfield, in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Abbott v. BurkeWhat We Do: History, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the Abbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'." which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.What We Do, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.SDA Districts, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.
As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of 14 schools, had an enrollment of 10,097 students and 628.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 16.1:1.District information for Plainfield Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "B", the second lowest 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 September 19, 2014.
History In August 2017, the district received approval from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority to construct a new elementary school that will replace the Cook and Woodland Avenue schools, which will both be demolished when the new school is completed.Giannantonio, Christina. "District receives OK for new school", The Star-Ledger, August 20, 2017. Accessed November 5, 2018. "The Plainfield Public School District has announced that the New Jersey Schools Development Authority has given the green light for the construction of a new elementary school which will replace Woodland Avenue and Cook Elementary schools. The new K to 5 elementary school will be located on Central Avenue and East 7th Street on a 13.28-acre parcel owned by the Plainfield Public School District and will house approximately 756 students. Once construction is complete, Woodland Avenue School will be razed and Cook Elementary School will be put to another use by the district." The new facility, which would accommodate 750 students in grades K-5, is expected to be completed in 2022 at a cost of $57 million.Muscavage, Nick. "The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) hosted a community open house in the Plainfield High School cafeteria for residents to discuss the construction of the new Woodland Elementary School.", Courier News, January 25, 2019. May 14, 2020. "The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) hosted a community open house in the Plainfield High School cafeteria for residents to discuss the construction of the new Woodland Elementary School.... The new Woodland Elementary School will be a two-story, 121,000-square-foot facility designed to educate 756 students from kindergarten to fifth grade.... The projected cost for the project is $57 million, according to Wyatt, and the estimated completion date is 2022."
In July 2023, ceremonies were held for the new Charles and Anna Booker Elementary School, a facility constructed with the assistance of the Schools Development Authority at a cost of $59.4 million.Makin, Cheryl. "Plainfield's new $60 million school ready to welcome students", Courier News, July 24, 2023. Accessed October 9, 2024. "School district leaders, students, state and local officials and members of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority helped cut the ribbon Wednesday on Charles and Anna Booker Elementary School which will open in September. The $59.4 million three-story, 120,000-square-foot school will house up to 840 students in grades K-5. The school, which replaces Woodland Elementary School, had its opening delayed by a year because of supply chain issues."
Schools Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education StatisticsSchool Data for the Plainfield Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.) are:School Performance Reports for the Plainfield Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.New Jersey School Directory for the Plainfield Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
Elementary schools DeWitt D. Barlow Elementary SchoolDeWitt D. Barlow Elementary School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (417 students; in grades K–5) Wilson Aponte, principalPrincipal's Corner, DeWitt D. Barlow Elementary School. Accessed October 9, 2024. Charles and Anna Booker Elementary SchoolCharles and Anna Booker Elementary School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (NA; PreK–5) Juanpablo Jimenez, principalPrincipal's Corner, Charles and Anna Booker Elementary School. Accessed October 9, 2024. Cedarbrook K-8 CenterCedarbrook K-8 Center, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (623; K–8) Tenisha L. Fort, principalPrincipal's Corner, Cedarbrook K-8 Center. Accessed October 9, 2024. Clinton Elementary SchoolClinton Elementary School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (413; K–5) Aurora J. Hill, principalPrincipal's Corner, Clinton Elementary School. Accessed October 9, 2024. Frederic W. Cook Elementary SchoolFrederic W. Cook Elementary School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (389; K–5) Caryn Cooper, principalPrincipal's Corner, Frederick W. Cook Elementary School. Accessed October 9, 2024. Emerson Community SchoolEmerson Community School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (509; K–5) Dion A. Roach, principalPrincipal's Corner, Emerson Community School. Accessed October 9, 2024. Evergreen Elementary SchoolEvergreen Elementary School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (602; K–5) Johan Manuel Rojas, principalPrincipal's Corner, Evergreen Elementary School. Accessed October 9, 2024. Jefferson Elementary SchoolJefferson Elementary School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (441; K–5) Telaya L. Parham, principalPrincipal's Corner, Jefferson Elementary School. Accessed October 9, 2024. Charles H. Stillman Elementary SchoolCharles H. Stillman Elementary School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (354; K–5) Brenda Noble, principalStaff Roster, Charles H. Stillman Elementary School. Accessed October 9, 2024. Washington Community SchoolWashington Community School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (649; K–5) Natasha M. De Jesus-Boston, principalPrincipal's Corner, Washington Community School. Accessed October 9, 2024. Middle schools Frank J. Hubbard Middle SchoolFrank J. Hubbard Middle School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (775; 6–8) Olivia Rodríguez-Calderon, principalPrincipal's Corner, Frank J. Hubbard Middle School. Accessed October 9, 2024. Maxson Middle SchoolMaxson Middle School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (818; 6–8) April Morgan, principalPrincipal's Corner, Maxson Middle School. Accessed October 9, 2024. High schools / academies Pinnacle Academy High SchoolPinnacle Academy High School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (90; 9–12) Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced StudiesPlainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (356; 7–12) Gregory K. Sneed, principalPrincipal's Corner, Plainfield Academy for the Arts and Advanced Studies. Accessed October 9, 2024. Plainfield High SchoolPlainfield High School, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. (1,925; 9–12) Shadin Belal, principalPrincipal's Corner, Plainfield High School. Accessed October 9, 2024.
Administration Core members of the district's administration are:Executive Leadership Team, Plainfield Public Schools. Accessed October 9, 2024.New Jersey School Directory for Union County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Rashon K. Hasan, Superintendent of SchoolsSuperintendent, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024. Cameron E. Cox, Business Administrator and Board SecretaryBusiness Operations, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024.
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 2017) 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 Plainfield City School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed May 7, 2024. "The Plainfield Board of Education (the 'Board' or the 'District') is an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey, established to function as an education institution. The Board consists of nine elected officials 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. A Business Administrator/Board Secretary is also appointed by the Board and oversees the business functions of the District." See "Roster of Officials" on page 17.Board of Education, Plainfield Public School District. Accessed October 9, 2024.
References
External links
School Data for the Plainfield Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics