New Schools

New Schools

Paterson School Facilities

In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Abbott V decision directed the state of New Jersey to replace decrepit buildings with new schools so that our children can learn effectively...

• Leaky roofs
• Broken science labs
• Classrooms without heat
• Classrooms with too much heat
• Overcrowded classrooms with more than 30 kids

That was then.

Unfortunately, that is also now. Since 1998, the State has only built 3 new schools in Paterson-PANTHER Academy, Roberto Clemente and International High School.

Paterson’s Children Need New Schools. Now.

We need to reduce overcrowding in our high schools. Eastside and John F. Kennedy High Schools each have 500 more students that they were built to serve.

And as we are successful at keeping students to graduation, the schools become even more crowded. In fact, if Eastside and Kennedy kept all their freshman through to graduation, we need 1,000 more seats or more than 40 regular classrooms, not counting more gym and cafeteria space.

Consider as well that the new high school reforms call for all students to take three years of science. Neither school has sufficient lab capacity to meet that goal.

All of this and more is detailed in Paterson’s Long Range Facility Plan.
Click here for Paterson’s 2005 Long Range Facility Plan.
Click here for Paterson’s current school construction priorities.

Why Paterson Needs New Schools 2008.  Unfortunately these are still relevant!

For New Video, Click here

Listen to our podcast. Click here.

What Can You Do?

Take action. Click here to write Governor Christie, our state legislators or the newspaper about your concern. Become part of the NJ Education Organizing project. Our children will only get new schools if we demand it.

Want to learn more?

For the history of Abbott School construction, go to www.edlawcenter.org