Fact Checking PREK Enrollment Growth and Hoboken Population Growth Based on Hoboken Board of Education Meeting December 14, 2021

News12 New Jersey reported on the Hoboken Board of Education meeting on Tuesday December 14, 2021. Full details of their coverage along with a video can be found by clicking HERE. Present below are inconsistencies with statements by Dr. Johnson and the Board of Education concerning population and enrollment growth in Hoboken and in the school district. 

Since the argument and justification for the new $241 million bond is predicated on population and enrollment numbers and projections, this is an important issue.

Based on reporting from News 12 New Jersey, Superintendent Johnson and the Hoboken Board claim there was a 154% increase enrollment in PreK enrollment from 2010-11 to present. 

In 2011-12 there were 624 PreK students. In 2021-22 there were 905 PreK students. This represents a 45.03% enrollment increase not a 154% enrollment increase. Since the argument being forwarded for a new high school is based on population and enrollment growth, this is a non-trivial issue. 

Below are screenshots of 1) the 2011-12 ASSA Report and 2021-22 ASSA Report for Hoboken, 2) the Superintendents claim of a 154% increase, 3) a calculation of the percent change in PreK enrollment 2010-11 to 2021-22.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

According to US Census numbers, the population is Hoboken in 1990 was 33,397. The population in 2020 was 60,419. That is an 80.9% population growth NOT a 180% population growth as Superintendent Johnson and the Board asserts. Below are screenshots of 1) the district's claim, 2) US Census Data for Hoboken, 3) a calculation of the percent change in population growth 1990 to 2020.

CLICK TO ENLARGE 

Since the argument being forwarded for a new high school is based on population and enrollment growth, this is a non-trivial issue.

Click to Enlarge 

  

Former Hoboken Board of 

Education trustee Ms. Maureen Sullivan also commented on social media about the erroneous numbers that were presented to the public by the Board of Education and Superintendent Johnson. Either someone did not review the presentation beforehand, someone is deliberately trying to deceive the public or there is gross incompetence within the Board.