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{SOMSD Logo} {SOMSD Facts At-A-Glance}

District Summary

 

The School District of South Orange and Maplewood serves more than 6,600 students in nine schools, including six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. The community and its schools are racially and economically diverse with more than 90 percent of Columbia High School graduates planning to attend college each year.

 

The district’s vision is to be the top-performing diverse suburban school district in the nation. Its mission is to provide an excellent education for each and every student by providing them with rigorous academic opportunities to reach their personal college and career aspirations, including providing supports for struggling students to succeed. The district will provide an equitable education that breaks the links between demographics and academic achievement. The district will educate its students to be responsible and productive members of society at large: caring, collaborative and ethical people; critical thinkers and problem solvers; effective writers and speakers; and lifelong learners.

Enrollment

 

As of September 2011 there are a total of 6,625 students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 as follows:

 

Columbia High School – 1888;

Maplewood Middle School – 755;

South Orange Middle School – 700;

Clinton Elementary School – 508;

Jefferson Elementary School - 507;

Marshall Elementary School - 493;

Seth Boyden Elementary School - 508;

South Mountain Elementary School - 643;

Tuscan Elementary School - 627.

Points of Interest

 

Columbia High School

Observatory

Clock Tower

TV Studio

Graphic Arts Studio

Swimming Pool

Black Box Theatre

Hall of Fame

Auditorium

Maplewood Middle School

Ceramic Mural (Front Building Entrance)

South Orange Middle School

Mosaic Art Project (Cafeteria)

Clinton Elementary School

Sculpture (Front Lawn)

4th Grade Murals (Cafeteria)

Jefferson Elementary School

Garden (Courtyard)

Marshall Elementary School

Secret Garden (Media Center)

Seth Boyden Elementary School

Garden (Strawberry Fields)

South Mountain Elementary School

Garden (Kinder-garden)

Tuscan Elementary School

Dells (Garden)

Underhill Sporting Facility

 

Average Class Size

Elementary Class Size Maximum/Minimum:

kindergarten and first grade: 22/15

second grade: 23/16

third grade: 24/17

fourth and fifth grade: 26/19

Secondary Class Size:

The average class size in most classes range from 20-25.

 

Faculty and Administrative Credentials

PhD/EdD – 4.9 %

MA/MS – 64.14 %

BA/BS – 32.4 %

Nine staff members have received National Board Certification 

 

Faculty/Student Ratio

There is approximately one faculty member for each 10.6 students. The state average is 1/11.1. This includes faculty specializing in art, music, health, physical education, enrichment, media, reading, guidance, resource room, special education and those making up the child study teams.

 

Kindergarten Entrance Age

Age 5 on or before October 1

 

 

Columbia High School Accomplishments (2010-2011)

·         2 students named National Merit Scholar Finalists

·         18 students received Merit Letters of Commendation

·         4 students named National Achievement Finalists

·         5 students named National Achievement Outstanding Participants

·         121 students received Advance Placement (AP) Scholar Awards

·         3 students named National AP Scholars

·         CHS Student named one of 141 high school Presidential Scholars

·         The Columbian (student newspaper) received 2 top national awards of excellence

·         Guildscript, (literary magazine) received 2 top national awards for excellence

·         5 students accepted to Harvard

·         4 students won national writing awards

·         4 students won world language awards

·         CHS student awarded Prudential Spirit of Community Award

 

 

·         Students invited to present organic gardening project to Jane Goodall     

·         Students selected for regional and state orchestra, band and choral groups

·         CHS All-School Musical won top state awards

·         Students win national, state and regional filmmaking awards

·         Students win TV-production, claymation, animation and photography awards

·         CHS Robotics Team won state title and placed 2nd in world competition

·         CHS Chess Team won state title

·         CHS Math Teams received top rankings in American Mathematics Competition

·         CHS Student Council won achievement awards from State Student Council

·         CHS Boys Fencing Team won state title for 2nd year with undefeated season

·         CHS Girls Fencing Team placed 3rd in the state

·         CHS Girls Track Team won conference, county and state sectional titles

·         CHS Football Team had most wins in CHS history

·         CHS Girls Soccer, Boys Tennis, Field Hockey and Softball Teams qualified for state tournaments

·         CHS Boys Soccer Team reached the semifinals of the county tournament for the 15th season

·         5 members of Girls Track Team named high school All-Americans

·         6 CHS students honored as Essex County Scholar Athletes

·         CHS student won Gold Medal in Jr. Fencing World Championship in Amman, Jordan

·         CHS Girls’ Track Coach named Distance Coach for the 2011 World Youth Championship

·         CHS  Football Coach named Worrall Coach of the Year

·         9 district teachers received National Board Certification
·         Doctorates received: World Language Teacher/City University, NY; Assistant Superintendent/ Fordham University; and Superintendent/ Harvard University
 
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NOTICE: The School District of South Orange and Maplewood does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectual or sexual orientation or sex, gender identity and expression, socio or economic status, or disability in its programs and activities. For further information, call the Office of Civil Rights at (800) 421-3481