The January 29 presentation on demographics was based on a 99-page report prepared by Richard S. Grip, executive director of Statistical Forecasting LLC, a consulting firm specializing in predicting public school enrollment. Among the findings in the report:
Construction of housing is likely to increase in West Windsor during the next 10 years. In West Windsor Gardens/Princeton Terrace, a total of 460 units are planned, which could “potentially yield [an additional] 212 students.” Likewise, the proposed Princeton Junction Transit Village “may consist of 800 residential units, although, due to its location near the train station, there are likely to be few children.” Grip noted that, if the Transit Village follows the pattern of others built in the state, such as in New Brunswick and Morristown, there will be approximately 16-18 additional students. “If, however, the yields from Transit Village were similar to those of the existing townhouse developments in West Windsor, the impact on the school district would be much greater . . . potentially 224-320 children.”
Unlike West Windsor, Grip felt that Plainsboro is “substantially at full residential build-out,” and that future development will likely be age-restricted so would have little impact on schools. He noted that other developments there “being considered would target empty-nesters or young professionals without children. There is the potential for only 16 single-family homes, which could generate between 16-21 students.”
Because of the projected growth in student population, Grip estimates that district-wide, “enrollments will slowly rise. . . All four elementary schools are projected to have an increase in enrollment, the largest occurring at Maurice Hawk [a gain of 53 students] and Wicoff [a gain of 48 students].”
According to the report, Millstone and Village will each gain approximately 70 to 75 students, and Community Middle School and High School North’s enrollments will also increase, by 199 students and 151 students, respectively. Grover and South will see declining enrollments, with a loss of 26 students, and 200 students, respectively. “Currently, Maurice Hawk, Wicoff, and High School South exceed capacity. By 2021-’22 it is projected that Community Middle School, in addition to Maurice Hawk and Wicoff, will exceed capacity.”
The median family income in West Windsor has increased from $127,877 to $151,724 in the period from 2000 to 2010. The median family income in Plainsboro has increased from $88,783 to $112,004 during the same time period.
Grip said that “West Windsor has become more ethnically diverse since 2000. In 2010, the township was 54.9 percent white as compared to 71.5 percent in 2000.” The Asian population has increased from 22.8 percent to 37.7 percent, and the African American population has increased slightly from 2.8 percent to 3.7 percent.
In Plainsboro, the percentage of Caucasians has decreased from 58.2 percent to 41.1 percent, the Asian population has increased from 30.5 percent to 46.2 percent, and the African American population has remained nearly static.
