Paper or plastic? Venti or grande? Local or express? These are the questions that face West Windsor-Plainsboro residents every day.##M:[more]## But none seems to cause more angst for some parents and students than public or private — school, that is.
Those faced with the decision, and even those aren’t, know the basic pros and cons of each side. Private schools offer smaller class size resulting in more individualized attention. Private education is thought to offer more specialized or varied curriculum choices. And last but not least, a sense of community is considered to be easier to foster in a private setting.
To those who choose public education for their prodigy, the justifications range from, “public school was good enough for me, it’s good enough for him” variety; wanting one’s children to go to school with neighbors and friends; and expecting to reap the benefit of stellar schools supported by the high tax rate.
As Euna Kwon Brossman writes in her column in this issue of the WW-P News (page 4), “We live next door, quite literally, to a high school that’s been named one of the top two in the state, High School North. So why did we pull Katie out of the district to enroll her in Princeton Day School for high school? And why have we done the same with Molly to send her to Stuart Country Day School in Princeton where she will begin seventh grade the week after next?”
“We simply felt that our kids were very small fish in a very large pond. In her 6th grade at CMS, only one of the two middle schools in town, Molly had four teams of about 100 students each. Her science class had 50 kids because two teachers, each with a class of 25, decided to team-teach two classes together.
“Some classes are just better taught in a smaller environment. In her freshman algebra class at Princeton Day School this past year, Katie had seven kids in her class. It was a tremendous year for her in terms of growth and understanding in a subject that’s traditionally not been so friendly to her.
“We worried about the large class sizes in the high school. We worried about the fierce competition for honors and AP courses. We wanted them driven not so much by competition and external pressure but by a love of learning and internal passion. We wanted a smaller environment where that spirit would be nurtured.”
Another WW-P parent, a West Windsor resident who asked to remain anonymous, said she and her husband enrolled their three children in the Princeton Academy, a boys-only Catholic school, for — in addition to the obvious value-based environment — the smaller class size. Her son’s fourth-grade classroom has a total of 10 students, a teacher, plus an aide. In such a setting, where each student is known intimately by their instructors, students are more likely to develop a complete personal relationship with their teacher.
According to this mother, any concern a parent might have can be discussed at length with teachers who can have time and attention to devote. “I felt that our first two sons received an education at Maurice Hawk that was terrific, and I would add that overall, the public schools here are academically on par with the private schools.” She finds, however, that in terms of discipline, private schools can be more particular, to the point of not accepting students with a history of disrupting the classroom — making it easier for everyone to learn.
In trying to determine what sets the private high schools apart from each other, WW-P News contacted five private institutions in the greater Princeton area, including one all-girls school, and a Catholic school. Their responses, while very similar in some regards, illuminate each school’s effort to differentiate itself in an effort to close the deal with WW-P parents in search of the best return on investment for their most valuable possession — their children.
Notre Dame is a Catholic college preparatory high school in Ewing, affiliated with order of the Sisters of Mercy, serving 1,”280 students in grades nine through twelve. School principal Mary Ivins says that, in addition to offering an excellent academic and co-curricular program that encourages students to develop their talents, the school also offers the added dimension that the students can grow spiritually — overtly.
“Adolescents, in particular, need to search for an understanding of God,” says Ivins. “Here they can discuss ethics in math, history, or chemistry class, as well as the daily religion classes that are part of their schedule.”
In a similar vein, Stuart Country Day School, also a Catholic school, albeit K-12, is set apart from other private schools in Princeton by being one of the only all-girls in the area. All-girl schools are renowned for enabling women to pursue excellence in the sciences, math, and computers — areas in which public schools might not encourage them to pursue as strongly.
While officially part of the network of the order of Sacred Heart schools, Stuart accepts students of every nationality, religious, and cultural background. The goal is to educate the whole child by providing an environment in which faith, intelligent curiosity, self-esteem, responsibility for self and others, and leadership are highly valued.
Because of the small class size at Stuart (there are only about 40 rising seniors), students receive individual attention, and more importantly, almost one-on-one support in an extensive number of advanced placement courses.
“One detail that really sets us apart,” says Laura Novia, director of public relations for Stuart, “is our connection to the other 21 Sacred Heart schools in this country, as well as those around the world. Each school ascribes to the same five goals: a personal and active faith in God; deep respect for intellectual values; social awareness which impels to action; the building of community as a Christian value; and personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.
“We try to create a place where those values can take root and really grow,” Novia says.
At the Hun School the 580 students end each day with a 45-minute period in which teachers are available to help anyone who needs additional assistance or clarification. Says Laura Leming, director of public relations: “We have high expectations academically, and provide a uniquely supportive environment to help our students succeed.
“We have a mentoring program that helps hand-down the culture that John Gale Hun established with the school in 1914,” says Leming. Hun, who was a professor of math at Princeton, founded the private school because he witnessed students arriving at the university without having mastered the required basics.
“Because we were founded as a tutoring school, Hun focuses on serving the average to above-average student, regardless of whether they have learning disabilities, or are extremely gifted in one area or another,” says Leming. “Families come to us because of the tendency of public schools to focus significant resources on the weak students and the above average.”
“Each faculty member is charged with developing an individual relationship with each student they teach. We foster an environment where the faculty are expected to teach students core values like dignity, respect, and the worth of every student.”
At Princeton Day School the school’s website (www.pds.org) emphasizes a tradition of independence and creativity throughout the curriculum, especially in the visual and performing arts. Students work in small groups — the average high school class size is 13 — within a balance of freedom and direction, that enables each child to find his or her own pace and pathway to success.
The common element from junior kindergarten to the 12th grade is a commitment to the following core values: 1.) integrity; 2.) an independence of thought that includes and goes beyond academic excellence; 3.) respect and compassion for others, expressed through service; and 4.) a delight in learning that evokes creativity, risk-taking, and an abiding curiosity about the human story and the natural world.
As with most other private schools in the Princeton area, the school’s facilities are similar to those found at any first-rate college campus, including new science and new campus centers, an indoor skating rink, separate school computer centers for elementary, middle, and high school students, art studios, gymnasiums, libraries, science labs; a greenhouse, planetarium, and woodworking shop; music studios, a photo lab and two dark rooms; an architectural drafting room, art gallery, and 400-seat performing arts theater; and numerous athletic fields, including an artificial turf field.
“One of the differentiators of the Peddie School,” according to Ray Cabot, director of admissions for the Hightstown-based school, “is our ability, with a $4.5 million budget, to make private education affordable to middle class Americans. Need-based financial aid offers a range of financial assistance for families with some level of money for education at a place like Peddie. Some receive more than others, but by trying to meet the gap between the cost of tuition and the amount of financial need, we enable lots of different kinds of folks to come to Peddie.
“I think our strength grows out of our sense of community,” says Cabot, who has been employed at Peddie for 20 years.
Additionally, he counts off the following advantages. “One, we have only 515 students, as opposed to a large public high school. So based on the average class size, the level of attention that an individual receives is much higher. Two, the people who come here, live here, and teach here, all want to be in this community and strive for academic challenge. Three, the faculty who live on campus are available beyond the academic day, to have breakfast with a student, and in the evening — if need be. Four, the values of this community make it an attractive place to grow up.
“And finally Peddie is the kind of place that’s attractive for lots of different people who are passionate about something and contribute to our community whether it’s in music, our strong athletic program, the arts, or the school newspaper.”
Adds Cabot: “I’m pleased to have my own son grow up in this environment with diverse individuals from all over the world and all over New Jersey, with varying degrees of ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic diversity.”
At the Lawrenceville school, Greg Maloberti, dean of admissions, believes that one of the school’s benefits is the fact that its 750-acre campus is the defining feature of the historic village of Lawrenceville. Lawrenceville has invested over $200 million in new construction and renovations in the past 10 years.
“Our size is a benefit,” says Maloberti. “We educate approximately 800 students, 550 of whom hail from someplace other than here, so we get an interesting cross-section of kids.
“The reality is that financial aid plays an important part in how parents pick a private school. Thirty five percent of our students received financial aid, allowing for racial, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity. But it’s really in the curriculum, and the course work options that we stand out. Being on a trimester basis allows the students to pick 15 classes a year, as opposed to 10. In addition, we’re able to attract interesting, well-qualified and experienced faculty members. Another factor is that a residential school offer a predominately different experience. And the final point is that our students get opportunities to compete on the national level in somewhat unusual sports like rowing, squash, and fencing.”
Of course, proponents of the public high schools can point out that rowing and fencing can both be pursued on a club basis, along with the full complement of other varsity sports, including volleyball. Paper or plastic, private or public? Tough choices
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Private High Schools & Open Houses
George School, 1690 Langhorn-Newtown Road, Newtown. 215-579-6500; fax, 215-579-6604. www.georgeschool.org. Coeducational, Quaker, boarding and day, for grades 9 to 12.
Holy Ghost Preparatory School, 2429 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, Pennsylvania, 215-639-0811. www.holyghostprep.org. Catholic high school for boys. Open house. Entrance exam on Saturday, November 5. Register. Open house: Sunday, October 30, 11 a.m.
The Hun School of Princeton, 176 Edgerstoune Road, Princeton. 609-921-7600; fax, 609-683-4410. www.hunschool.org. College preparatory school for 575 boys and girls in grades 6 through post graduate, boarding and day students. Open house: Sunday, October 9, 1 to 4 p.m.
Notre Dame High School, 601 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville. 609-882-7900; fax, 609-882-5723. www.ndnj.org. Catholic, college preparatory, coeducational high school, accredited by Middle States Association of Secondary Schools, with 1,”270 students from a 30-mile radius.
The Lawrenceville School, Route 206, Box 6008, Lawrenceville. 609-896-0400; fax, 609-895-2217. www.lawrenceville.org. Private day and boarding school with 750 students grades 9 to 12 and post graduate year.
The Lewis School of Princeton, 53 Bayard Lane, Princeton. 609-924-8120; fax, 609-924-5512. www.lewisschool.org. Independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian educational institution for students of all ages with dyslexia, ADD, and related learning disabilities.
The Newgrange School, 526 South Olden Avenue, Hamilton. 609-584-1800; fax, 609-430-3030. www.thenewgrange.org. Independent full curriculum day school for ages 7 to 18, suitable for bright learning disabled students, dyslexics, and those not reaching potential.
Notre Dame High School, 601 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, 609-882-7900. Application deadline is Monday, November 28. Open house: Thursday, October 27, 7 p.m.
The Pennington School, 112 West Delaware Avenue, Pennington. 609-737-1838; fax, 609-737-2851. www.pennington.org. Private, coeducational, college preparatory school for day and boarding students, grades 6 to 12. Open house for grades 6 to 8: Sunday, October 16, 2 p.m. Open house for grades 9 to 12: Sunday, November 13, 2 p.m.
The Peddie School, South Main Street, Hightstown. 609-490-7500; fax, 609-944-7901. www.peddie.org. Ninth grade through postgraduate year, 500 students, boarding and day. Open house with admission panel presentation and campus tours at the co-ed boarding and day school for grades 8 through 12, plus post-graduate: Sundays, October 2, and November 6, 1 p.m.
Princeton Day School, The Great Road, Princeton. 609-924-6700; fax, 609-924-8944. www.pds.org. Co-educational, college preparatory day school on 92 acres with 890 students from junior kindergarten through 12th grade. Open house for kindergarten to fourth grades. Register. Wednesday, October 5, 8:30 a.m., Saturday, November 5, 8:30 a.m. Open house for fifth through twelfth grades. Register. Sunday, November 6, 2 p.m.
Princeton Latin Academy & Princeton Science Academy, Route 518, Rambling Pine, Princeton. 609-924-2206; fax, 609-466-5365. www.princetonlatinacademy.com. Register for open house: Sunday, September 18.
SciCore Academy for Science and the Humanities, 120 Main Street, Suite C, Hightstown. 609-426-8900; fax, 609-426-0012. www.scicore.org. Private school for grades 9 to 12, focusing on science, math, history,and literature.
Solebury School, 6820 Phillips Mill Road, Box 249, New Hope. 215-862-5261. www.solebury.org. Grades 7 to post graduate, coeducational, day and boarding, 220 students. Register for open house: Sundays, October 2 and November 6, 2 p.m.
Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, 1200 Stuart Road, Princeton. 609-921-2330; fax, 609-497-0784. www.stuartschool.org. Independent college preparatory school for girls preschool through 12th grade (boys, preschool only), enrollment 538. Open house: Sunday, October 16, 1 p.m.; and Saturday, November 5, 10 a.m.
Trenton Catholic Academy, 175 Leonard Avenue, Hamilton. www.trentoncatholic.org. Replaces McCorristin High School and elementary schools, which closed in 2005.
Villa Victoria Academy, 376 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing. 609-882-1700; fax, 609-882-8421. www.villavictoria.org. Private school for children pre-K to grade 12, girls only grades 7 to 12. Open houses: Thursdays, October 13 and November 10, 6:30 p.m. SSAT entrance exam. Saturdays, October 22, and December 3, 9 a.m.
Other Private Schools
American Boychoir School, 19 Lambert Drive, Princeton. 609-924-5858; fax, 609-924-5812. www.americanboychoir.org. Professional choir and school for grades 5 through 8. Touring choral ensembles present more than 150 performances annually.
The Bridge Academy, 1958 B Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. 609-844-0770; fax, 609-844-0773. www.banj.org. Orton-Gillingham based program for students ages 8 to 18 with language-based learning disabilities, state approved. Open houses: Tuesdays, November 8, December 6, and January 10, 9:30 a.m.
Cambridge School, 100 Straube Center Boulevard, Pennington. 609-730-9553; fax, 609-730-9584. www.thecambridgeschool.org. For children, ages five through eighth grade, with language-based learning differences. Curriculum based on the Orton-Gillingham method and Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes.
Chapin School, 4101 Princeton Pike, Princeton. 609-924-2449; fax, 609-924-2364. www.chapinschool.org. Private school for grades preschool through 8. Register for open houses: Wednesday, October 26, 9 a.m.; and Tuesday, November 15, 9 a.m.
Ecole Francaise de Princeton (Princeton French School), 16 All Saints Road, Princeton. 609-430-3001; fax, 609-430-0370. www.ecoleprinceton.org. School for children ages 3 to 15 with bilingual instruction and French immersion programs. 65 students.
Montessori Corner Country Day, 72 Grovers Mill Road, Plainsboro 609-799-7990. www.MontessoriCorner.org. American Montessori Society accredited school for toddlers through elementary students, with a field house, indoor pool, separate classroom buildings, also summer camp.
New Horizons Montessori, 59 Cranbury Road, West Windsor, 609-275-8666. www.nhmontessori.org. 18 months to kindergarten with kindergarten enrichment program available.
Newtown Friends School, 1450 Newtown-Langhorne Road, Langhorne, PA, 215-968-2225. www.newtownfriends.org. Kindergarten to grade 9. Open house: Sunday, October 30, 2 p.m.
Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, 101 Drake’s Corner Road, Princeton. 609-921-6499; fax, 609-921-9198. www.princetonacademy.org. Independent Catholic school for boys in kindegarten through eighth grade. Register for open houses: Saturday, October 15, 9 a.m.; Sunday, November 6, 1 p.m.; Wednesdays, January 11 and May 3, 9 a.m.
Princeton Charter School, 575 Ewing Street, Princeton. 609-924-0575; fax, 609-924-7183. www.pcs.k12.nj.us. Kindergarten to grade 8. Open houses: Monday, December 5, 3 p.m.; Sunday, January 8, 1 to 3 p.m.
Princeton Friends School, 470 Quaker Road, Princeton. 609-683-1194; fax, 609-252-0686. www.princetonfriendsschool.org. Non-profit school, K through 8. Open house: Saturdays, November 12, and January 7, 1 p.m.
Princeton Junior School, 90 Fackler Road, Lawrence, 609-924-8126; fax, 609-924-7456. www.pjs.org. Preschool through grade 5.
Princeton Montessori School, 487 Cherry Valley Road, Princeton. 609-924-4594; fax, 609-924-2216. www.princetonmontessori.org. Programs for children birth through 8th grade, before and after school care, summer programs. Register for open house and tour: Thursdays, September 1 and 8, 9 a.m.
Rock Brook School, 109 Orchard Road, Skillman. 908-431-9500; fax, 908-431-9503. www.rock-brook.org. School for communication impaired and disabled children, ages 3 to 14.
Saint Ann School, 34 Rossa Avenue, Lawrenceville. 609-882-8077. Coeducational Catholic school for grades pre-K to eight. www.st-ann-school.org.
St. Gregory the Great School, 4680 Nottingham Way, Trenton. 609-587-1131. Catholic education for grades K to 8.
St. Paul’s School, 218 Nassau Street, Princeton. 609-921-7587; fax, 609-921-0264. Catholic education for Pre-K to grade 8.
Shalom Torah Academy, 3059 Englishtown Road, Jamesburg. 732-446-2121. www.shalom-torah.org. Coeducational Jewish school for grades pre-K to eight.
Solomon Schechter Day School, Ryders Lane, East Brunswick, 732-238-7971. www.ssdsrv.org. Coeducation Jewish day school for pre-K to grade 8.
The Titusville Academy, 86 River Drive, Titusville. 609-737-7733; fax, 609-737-3343. www.titusac.org. State approved private school for students with learning and/or behavioral disabilities, ages 5 to 21, enrollment 84.
Trinity Cathedral Academy, 801 West State Street, Trinity Cathedral, Trenton. 609-396-1484; fax, 609-396-5706. Pre-K through 6th grade, coeducational, before and after school program.
Waldorf School of Princeton, 1062 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton. 609-466-1970; fax, 609-333-9991. www.princetonwaldorf.org. A Rudolf Steiner school, parent-child programs, nursery/kindergarten through grade 8. Rregister for early childhood program information session: Tuesday, October 11, 7 p.m. Open house for early childhood program. Saturday, October 15, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Open house for grade school. Saturday, October 15, 1 p.m.
Dance and Performing Schools
Allstar Dance Academy, Marketplace Mall, South Brunswick, 732-297-9100. Classes begin September 8. Open house and registration: Wednesday and Thursday, August 31 and September 1, 5 p.m.
Ballet Technique, 2103 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Hamilton, 609-587-2345. Open house: Wednesday, August 31, 5 to 8:30 p.m.
The Dance Corner, West Windsor and Plainsboro studios, 609-799-9677. Auditions for The New Age Nutcracker are Saturday, September 24, at The Dance Corner II studio in Plainsboro. Visit www.thedancecorner.org or call 609-799-9677 for specific audition times. Open house to meet the teachers and register: Saturday, September 10, 9 a.m. to noon.
Dance Spectrums, Everett Drive, West Windsor, 609-799-9165. Open house and registration for jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, modern, lyrical, preschool, pilates, and competition team: Saturday, September 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dance Stars, Lawrence Shopping Center, Lawrenceville, 609-883-9220. Open house for ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, musical theater, competition, and kinderdance: Monday, August 29, 6 to 8 p.m.; Sunday, September 11, noon to 4 p.m.
Danceworks, 109 Titus Mill Road, Pennington, 609-737-7338. Open house: Friday, September 9, 6 p.m.; Saturday, September 10, 10 a.m.
Just Dance, 4437 Route 27, Princeton, 609-924-5446. Open house and registration: Saturday, August 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Monday, August 29, 4 to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, August 30, 5 to 7 p.m.
Mill Ballet School, Canal Studios, 243 North Union Street, Lambertville, 609-397-7244. Classes begin Monday, September 12. Register for open house: Saturday, September 10, 1 p.m.
Pennington Dance, Cyrus Lodge, 131 Burd Street, Pennington, 609-737-7596. Open house to meet instructors, register for classes, swap used jazz and tap shoes: Wednesday, August 31, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Princeton Dance and Theater Studio, 116 Rockingham Row, Forrestal Village, Plainsboro, 609-514-1600. Ballet, salsa, flamenco, Middle Eastern, Pilates, jazz, tap, hip-hop, for adults and children. A new 36-week acting program affiliated with George Street Playhouse for ages eight through adult, $540. All classes begin Sunday, September 11. Open house: Sunday, August 28, noon.
Professional Center for the Arts, 4 Tennis Court, Hamilton, 609-586-3008. www.professionalcenterforthearts.com. Open house fordance, voice, piano, and acting lessons for ages 3 to adult: Tuesday, August 30, 6 to 9 p.m.
Talk of the Town, 3133 Quakerbridge Road, 609-890-0086. Registration day: Wednesday and Thursday, September 7 and 8, 6 p.m.
Preschools
Cranbury Presbyterian Nursery School, 22 Main Street, Cranbury, 609-655-8663. Open house: Thursday, October 20, 7 p.m.
Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church Cooperative Nursery School, 154 South Mill Road, West Windsor, 609-799-9490. Classes for ages 2 1/2 to 4. Open house: Saturday, October 22, 9:30 a.m.
University League Nursery School, 171 Broadmead Street, 609-924-3137. Wednesday, September 28, 4 p.m.
Other Schools
Keyboard Kids, Hidden Lake Towne Center, North Brunswick, 732-821-1400. Open house: Saturday, September 10, 10 a.m. to noon.
Princeton Center for NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), 4599 Main Street, Kingston, 609-689-3748. Register: Friday, August 26, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Schafer School of Gymnastics, 1880 Princeton Avenue, Lawrenceville, 609-393-5855. Open house. Monday, August 29, and Thursday, September 1, 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Sebastiani Fencing Academy, Princeton Day School, 609-419-1700. Open house: Thursday, September 1, 4 to 7 p.m.
The Studio for Experiential Learning, 2 Fiddler’s Creek Road, Titusville. 609-737-0440; fax, 609-737-3960. www.studioforlearning.org. Holistic, relational educational environment for K through high school, study skills, tutorial and small group format, peaceful community building, leadership training, formerly Learning Studio.
YingHua Language School, Princeton. 609-530-0399. www.yinghua.org. Nonprofit school for children of all classes, classes on Chinese language and culture on Sundays at Rider University and during the summer in Beijing, China.
