West Milford Schools in Crisis: Paradise Knoll Closing as State Aid Plummets $9M
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
West Milford NJ, The “Highland Pride” is facing a harsh financial reality. For the second time in less than four years, the West Milford Board of Education has voted to shutter an elementary school, leaving parents reeling and the community questioning the future of the district.
On April 28, in a tense 5-3 vote, the Board finalized the closure of Paradise Knoll Elementary School for the 2026-27 school year.
Why Paradise Knoll? The Numbers Behind the Move
While the decision was met with fierce public pushback, district officials pointed to a “perfect storm” of demographic and financial data that made the status quo unsustainable.
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Declining Enrollment: Paradise Knoll currently houses 211 students in a building meant for 370. District-wide, enrollment is projected to drop to 2,600 by 2030.
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Infrastructure Costs: Built in 1955, Paradise Knoll is the district’s oldest elementary facility. It has the highest operational costs and the most expensive list of pending capital projects.
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The “S2” Impact: Since the 2018-19 school year, West Milford has seen its state aid slashed from $15 million to just $5.8 million—a staggering $9.2 million loss.
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Skyrocketing Benefits: Health benefit costs for staff surged by 21%, adding a $3.4 million burden to the budget.
“People vs. Buildings”: A District Divided
The debate in the boardroom reflected the pain of a community caught between its history and its ledger. Board member William Cytowicz, who voted for the closure, framed it as a choice of survival: “We have to close this building because it’s either a building or it’s people.”
However, parents and dissenting board members argued the move was a “band-aid” fix. Many residents expressed frustration over the speed of the decision, noting that the closure plan only became public 20 days before the final vote.
The Highlands Trap
Unlike other New Jersey suburbs, West Milford faces a unique hurdle: its geography. As part of the Highlands preservation area, strict development limits prevent the township from building new housing or commercial hubs. This creates a fixed tax base with no way to attract new families or revenue, leading Cytowicz to bluntly state, “We will never grow this town.”
What Happens Next for Students?
For the 2026-27 school year, students from Paradise Knoll will be redistributed among the remaining elementary schools. District administrators claim:
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Average class sizes will remain stable at approximately 21 students.
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Current grade configurations (K-5) will stay intact for now.
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The move avoids more drastic shifts, such as moving 5th graders to the middle school.
The Warning: This May Not Be the Last Closure
The resolution passed by the board was clear—this may be a recurring headline. If state aid continues to dwindle and the tax levy remains capped, the district’s long-term plan includes the possibility of further school closures, staff reductions, and cuts to sports and extracurricular programs.
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