The Bayonne School District is a comprehensive public school district serving students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Bayonne in Hudson County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
As of the 2022âÂÂ23 school year, the district, comprising 13 schools, had an enrollment of 10,276 students and 785.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâÂÂteacher ratio of 13.2:1.
Pursuant to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 6A:30, during the 2023âÂÂ2024 school year, the Bayonne School District underwent the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) review. As a result of that review, the Bayonne School District was designated as a high performing district. This determination was made based on the five indicators which include Instruction and Program, Fiscal Management, Governance, Operations and Personnel.
In the 2021âÂÂ2022 school year, Woodrow Wilson Community School received the National ESEA Distinguished School for its academic excellence, receiving an award from the U.S. Federal Government and the New Jersey Department of Education.
During the 2008âÂÂ09 school year, Public School #14 Gifted & Talented was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.
In 2009âÂÂ2010, Washington Community School, Public School #9 was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.
For the 2004âÂÂ05 school year, Mary J. Donohoe No. 4 School was named a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve. It is the fourth school in Bayonne to receive this honor. The other three are Bayonne High School in 1995âÂÂ96, Midtown Community School in 1996-97 and P.S. #14 in the 1998âÂÂ99 school year.
During the 2008âÂÂ09 school year, Washington Community School was awarded the ASCA Honor Council Excellence Award, which is given to school's Student Councils who have met the requirements and completed projects in the areas of in leadership, citizenship, and community service.
Schools in the district (with 2020âÂÂ21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are:
The Bayonne Board of Education has implemented a dress code that took effect in the 2006âÂÂ2007 school year for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. The plan was intended to "increase student identification with their schools and the district, Eliminate many of the distractions associated with differences in social or economic status, Allow the children, their teachers and the Board of Education to concentrate on shared pursuit of educational excellence and Instill a sense of belonging and school pride".
Core members of the district's administration are:
The district's board of education is composed of nine members who set policy and oversee 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 2015) 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.
In a November 2015 referendum, voters approved by a 3âÂÂ1 margin a change from a Type I (appointed) to Type II (elected) school board.