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Princeton Public Schools Facilities Bond Referendum
Princeton Public Schools Facilities Bond Referendum
Princeton Public Schools has already started to welcome students from new housing. The current wave of development is expected to bring around 1,000 housing units to Princeton over the next 5 years, with more anticipated with the fourth round of affordable housing mandates and the Tenant Roberts/Seminary site.
Building expansions are proposed at Community Park Elementary School, Littlebrook Elementary School, and Princeton Middle School to help accommodate additional students from new and existing housing.
The district’s strategy would reduce the scope of elementary redistricting from enrollment growth. The new elementary classrooms and expanded student spaces also would help balance elementary class sizes and maintain the depth of programming district-wide.
PMS and PHS would also gain additional classrooms. The middle school would receive an expanded cafeteria, vocal music and band rooms, a new multipurpose room and a new corridor to better serve current and future students.
Developments underway or coming soon
Developments underway or coming soon
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT NEW HOUSING
Why hold a referendum now instead of waiting to see how many more students enroll?
Students from new housing units have already started to attend district schools.
If the referendum is approved in January 2025, the construction timeline would stretch through 2028, by which time schools will feel nearly the full impact of anticipated growth.
The Board of Education and district leaders are using information from demographic data and confirmed development projects to prepare for growth, rather than risk the likelihood of extensive redistricting and larger class sizes if no action is taken.
Why does the district only project growth for the next 5 years instead of 10 or 20 years?
Why does the district only project growth for the next 5 years instead of 10 or 20 years?
The NJ Department of Education requires school districts to use projections of no more than five years when planning for enrollment.
Princeton Public Schools used the latest demographic data in creating a plan to manage moderate growth over the next five years. New building space would be designed for flexibility to handle temporary population surges, which the district has previously experienced.
Projections do not include the Tenant Roberts/Seminary site, which has a redevelopment plan allowing up to approximately 250 apartments, with a requirement for 20% affordable units.
The proposed projects are consistent with the Board of Education’s previous use of bond referendums as a phased approach to fund building maintenance and improvements - with the help of state debt service aid.
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