FIT FOR SUCCESS

Redistricting Plan for Hopewell Valley Regional School District

Have a question that you don't see answered here? Email redistricting@hvrsd.org

Strong Growth,
Smart Planning

HVRSD has developed a reputation for high-quality education by providing strong programming, maintaining manageable class sizes and meeting the needs of every student.

To continue the model of instruction that our community values, we need to redraw boundary lines for some of our schools. We are taking a measured approach to manage above-average growth, guided by current conditions and our demographer’s enrollment projections. New neighborhood boundaries will take effect in the 2026-27 school year.

SEE FAQS FOR MORE ON HVRSD REDISTRICTING

Driving factors

The demographer’s most recent report, completed in October 2025, showed why and where enrollment is growing:

Local birth rates from 2021-2023 were at the highest level since 2009.
Home sales in the HVRSD area spiked 20% during the pandemic.
New housing developments have brought more than 200 new students to the district so far, and around 250 more students are expected when construction at those developments is completed.
An analysis of approved housing units awaiting construction shows that 72% are within the boundaries for Bear Tavern and 27% are in the Stony Brook area.

Based on the data and current enrollment, our redistricting plan is focused on easing pressure at Bear Tavern and Stony Brook.

What will change

HVRSD evaluated recent enrollment trends and the demographer’s projections to adjust neighborhood boundaries.

- Students in the area of Lambertville-Hopewell Road and Route 31 who now attend Bear Tavern will shift to Hopewell Elementary.
All Hopewell Parc elementary students will attend Bear Tavern School.

Students living at The Collection at Hopewell will shift from Stony Brook to Toll Gate.

Students will attend their new schools and ride the bus with children from their neighborhood, providing a sense of familiarity as they adapt.

The redistricting plan will ease pressure on Bear Tavern and Stony Brook, which are the schools closest to the new developments.

ROLE OF THE REFERENDUM

Our community supported our schools by passing the 2025 bond referendum. We are now moving forward with voter-approved projects to replace infrastructure and build Bear Tavern and Toll Gate additions that will accommodate district-wide growth and move students out of trailers.

During the referendum process, we discussed that the additions would reduce the level of redistricting, but would not eliminate the need for changes. If not for the building expansions on the horizon, HVRSD would be planning for much more extensive redistricting.

Minimizing the impact

Of course, we understand that any disruption to a student’s school experience can be challenging. Here are some ways we will work with families to mitigate the impact:

Students who are entering fifth grade in the 2026-27 school year can stay at their current school if parents can provide transportation. Siblings who are not entering fifth grade next year will transition to their new school. Please notify your current building principal by May 21 if your fourth-grade student will remain at their current school for their fifth-grade year.
Students with special needs, who have an IEP (individualized education program), and who are accessing special programs (ESL, for example) unique to a particular school can stay at their current school. These conversations will occur with your child’s counselor, Child Study Team and/or the building principal.
Siblings of students with special needs can remain at the same school. These conversations will occur with your child’s counselor, Child Study Team and/or the building principal.

We are planning bus routes to be as efficient as possible, and some students will have shorter bus routes. No bus routes are expected to be longer.

Parents who have registered children for kindergarten will be notified of a change in neighborhood boundaries prior to the start of the school year.

A look ahead

The demographer previously analyzed growth trends in the HVRSD area in 2022. Those enrollment projections have been on target – within around 1% of the actual number of K-12 students.

We commissioned an updated report to ensure our redistricting plan is based on the most updated enrollment data. Adjusting the neighborhood boundaries for those schools, which already are experiencing crowding, will alleviate pressure over the next decade.

The middle school and high school are both well positioned to accommodate enrollment growth as students age into those grades.

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