The Wayne Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Wayne, in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, in the New York City metropolitan area.Wayne Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the Wayne Township Public Schools. Composition: The Wayne Township Public School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Wayne."
As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of 15 schools, had an enrollment of 7,746 students and 677.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1.District information for Wayne Township Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "GH", the third-highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed January 28, 2015.
History Before the district opened its own secondary school in 1952, students from Wayne had attended Pompton Lakes High School.Gantaifis, Nick. "Football: Legendary high school football coach Fred Keil passes away",Wayne Today, January 19, 2016. Accessed August 30, 2020. "Wayne Valley High School did not open until 1952 and prior to that Wayne students attended nearby Pompton Lakes High School." The school was called "Wayne High School" until Wayne Hills High School opened in September 1966,"School Enrollment Hits 11,000 and Still Growing", Paterson Evening News, September 13, 1966. Accessed November 18, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The district opened a new secondary school, Wayne Hills High School, last Wednesday, and has begun construction on a third junior high school." at which time the word "Valley" was added to the original school's name in order to differentiate between the two."The Hills are Alive With the Sound of Football...", The News, September 7, 1966. Accessed October 8, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "The 'old' in this case is the 'old' Wayne High School, which is now known as Wayne Valley. The 'new' is the new school, christened Wayne Hills.""Wayne Cuts Contractor's Bill", Paterson Evening News, November 9, 1965. Accessed November 18, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "In other business, the board adopted names for the new high school on Berdan Avenue and the existing Wayne High school on Valley Road. The new building, completion due in September 1966, was named 'Wayne Hills Senior High School' and the existing one, 'Wayne Valley Senior High School.'"
Awards and recognition John F. Kennedy School was recognized by Governor Jim McGreevey in 2003 as one of 25 schools selected statewide for the First Annual Governor's School of Excellence award.McGreevey Celebrates Schools that are "Getting it Right": Schools of Excellence Winners Demonstrate Effectiveness of Governor's Education Priorities , New Jersey Department of Education press release dated November 211, 2003. Accessed December 15, 2009.
Schools Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education StatisticsSchool Data for the Wayne Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.) are:2023–24 Public School Directory, Passaic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2024.School Performance Reports for the Wayne Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.New Jersey School Directory for the Wayne Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
Preschools Preakness Early Childhood CenterPreakness Early Childhood Center, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (198 students; in PreK) Patricia Monaco, principalAdministration and School Offices, Preakness Early Childhood Center. Accessed October 7, 2024. Elementary schools Randall Carter Elementary SchoolRandall Carter Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (309; K–5) Kimberly Thompson, principalAdministration and School Offices, Randall Carter Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2024. Theunis Dey Elementary SchoolTheunis Dey Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (435; K–5) Jacob Cavins, interim principalAdministration and School Offices, Theunis Day Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2024. James Fallon Elementary SchoolJames Fallon Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (373; K–5) Ethan Maayan, principalAdministration and School Offices, James Fallon Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2024. John F. Kennedy Elementary SchoolJohn F. Kennedy Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (377; K–5) Kolleen Myers, principalAdministration and School Offices, John F. Kennedy Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2024. Lafayette Elementary SchoolLafayette Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (311; K–5) Melissa Avgerinos, principalAdministration and School Offices, Lafayette Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2024. Packanack Elementary SchoolPackanack Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (406; K–5) Kenneth Doolittle, principalAdministration and School Offices, Packanack Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2024. Pines Lake Elementary SchoolPines Lake Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (387; K–5) Lydia Cooper, principalAdministration and School Offices, Pines Lake Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2024. Ryerson Elementary SchoolRyerson Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (237; K–5) Debbie Foti, principalAdministration and School Offices, Ryerson Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2024. Albert P. Terhune Elementary SchoolAlbert P. Terhune Elementary School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (373; K–5) Melissa Coleman, principalAdministration and School Offices, Alfred P. Terhune Elementary School. Accessed October 7, 2024. Middle schools Schuyler-Colfax Middle SchoolSchuyler-Colfax Middle School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (621; 6–8) Heather Weinstein, principalStaff Directory, Schuyler-Colfax Middle School. Accessed October 7, 2024. George Washington Middle SchoolGeorge Washington Middle School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (508; 6–8) Jack E. Leonard, principalAdministration and School Offices, George Washington Middle School. Accessed October 7, 2024. Anthony Wayne Middle SchoolAnthony Wayne Middle School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (665; 6–8) Courtney Duin-Savastano, principalAdministration and School Offices, Anthony Wayne Middle School. Accessed October 7, 2024. High schools (grades 9–12) Wayne Hills High SchoolWayne Hills High School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (1,182; 9-12 - serving students living on and north of Ratzer Road) Michael Rewick, principalAdministration and School Offices, Wayne Hills High School. Accessed October 7, 2024. Wayne Valley High SchoolWayne Valley High School, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024. (1,241; 9–12 - serving students living south of Ratzer Road) Kenneth J. Palczewski, principalAdministration and School Offices, Wayne Valley High School. Accessed October 7, 2024.
Administration Core members of the district's administration are:District Administrators, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.New Jersey School Directory for Passaic County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Mark Toback, superintendent William Moffitt, business administrator and board secretary
Board of education The district's board of education, comprised of nine members, sets policy and oversees the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district.New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Wayne Township Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed October 7, 2024. "The Board is an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey, established to function as an educational institution. The Board consists of elected officials and is responsible for the fiscal control of the District. A superintendent is appointed by the Board and is responsible for the administrative control of the district." See "Roster of Officials" on page 12.Board of Education, Wayne Public Schools. Accessed October 7, 2024.
References
External links Wayne Schools Site
School Data for the Wayne Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics