December 9,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ in a recent study for the Ridgewood Board of Education , Demographer Ross Haber conducted a population survey that projected that the district’s student population will decrease by a little under 3% or 169 students over the next five years.
The decline in student population is being touted by the BOE as an opportunity ie the necessary facilities to accommodate a much prized full-day kindergarten program and perhaps continue to justify the $100 million plus school budget.
The same declining enrollment numbers are also being used in an attempt to mitigate the possible strain on the school district for the proposed building of high-density housing in four different locations in the central business district.
School Enrollment 2010-11 2015-16 – Percent 2020-21
District Total 5,753 – 5,527 -169 -2.97%
Hawes 408-435 7.14%
Orchard 343 -283 -20 -6.60%
Ridge 496-441 -2.65%
Somerville 524-401 -6.74%
Travell 405 -380 -0.78%
Willard 489 -486 -2.61%
