Hoboken Public Schools Board and Leadership Promise 296 Additional Students for 2020-21- Justifying 10% Tax Increase During Pandemic and Economic Crisis

Observer Highway, Hoboken, NJ (circa 1940's)

As most regular readers of this blog know, the Hoboken Board and Education and Superintendent's Office recently increased the local municipal tax for the Hoboken Public Schools by 9.95% in the middle of a pandemic and economic crisis. This hike in local taxes was explained by "skyrocketing" enrollment in the Hoboken Public Schools. A fair amount of data disagrees with this statement. For instance, using the official "October 15th" report or the ASSA Report which officially documents district enrollment, we see not much different in the Hoboken School District enrollment over the last decade (2010-11 and 2020-21). In fact, when we look at the data we see drops in enrollment between 2010-11 and 2020-21 in Grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. 

The 9.95% increase appears to be primarily justified by an anticipated increase in enrollment of 296 students. “We are talking about adding an additional school on the basis of enrollment numbers,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson, noting that as a result the district has to add additional sections of classes in a May, 2020 Hoboken Reporter article. 

A recent Gallup poll indicated traditional public school enrollment plummeting across the United States as parents seek alternatives such as charter schools, private schools, parochial schools, and home schooling as alternatives. It will be interesting to see how Hoboken transcends that national trend. 

Results of 2020-11 and 2020-21 Hoboken ASSA Reports