Two Hoboken Schools Announce Plans To Merge

HOBOKEN, NJ — Two Hoboken private schools — one an independent 5-12 school and one a Christian preK-through-8 school — announced Monday night that they "are in the process of merging."

By September of 2024, the Mustard Seed School, located at 422 Willow Ave., and the Hudson School, which has locations at 422 Willow Ave. and at 601 Park Ave., will be "the only preK through grade 12 independent school in Hudson County," they said in a joint press release.

The Hudson School is a secular private school founded in 1978 by educator and Hoboken resident Suellen Newman. It has both a high school at 601 Park Ave. and a "lower school" or middle school that currently shares a building with Mustard Seed at 422 Willow Ave.

Mustard Seed is a preK-through-8 Christian school founded in 1979 after "a group of pastors, inspired by a documentary on the Dawn Treader School (Paterson, NJ), decide to address the education crisis in Hudson County by opening a Christian School in Hoboken."

The new school will be called the Hudson School and will remain secular, said a spokesperson for the Hudson School.

Students at both schools who are "in good academic standing" will be able to continue in those schools without re-applying, the schools said in a FAQ. Both schools offer financial aid.

Mustard Seed School posted an announcement on its website Monday. They said the merger will be complete in fall 2024.

"Announcing at the beginning of the admissions season allows families the most amount of time to evaluate the many new opportunities the expanded Hudson School will offer," they noted. "The fall is when families decide on where to send their children for Lower, Middle, and High School."

You can read more of the FAQ here or here.

Read the press release below:

Hudson School release:

Hoboken’s Mustard Seed School announced today that they are in the process of merging with The Hudson School, a neighboring Hoboken school. The two schools have signed an agreement to create the only independent PreK through Grade 12 educational offering in Hudson County beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.

The Pre-K to 8 Mustard Seed School will merge with TheHudson School (currently grades 5-12) to create the only independent pre-K through Grade 12 School in Hudson County. The merged schools will be known as The Hudson School. Both schools believe the change will allow The Hudson School to strengthen its position in the community with additional students, resources and facilities. Located only three blocks apart, both schools are known for providing a rigorous, student-centered school, encouraging intellectual curiosity and academic innovation within an inclusive and compassionate community. This merger would expand The Hudson School’sofferings to include a Lower School to complement its current Middle School and High School.

Through this agreement, the Mustard Seed School campus at 422 Willow Avenue will house the Lower and Middle School divisions of The Hudson School. The Hudson School’s 601 Park Avenue campus will become a dedicated High School space. “The two schools share very similar histories and educational philosophies, as well as a strong sense of community,” states Scott Rostan, Board Chair of Mustard Seed School.

“Partnering with The Hudson School ensures the continuation of Mustard Seed’s history,
educational philosophy, and spirit.”

“The Hudson School eagerly welcomes the voices and the contributions that Mustard Seed students will bring to our merged school. This is an amazing opportunity to strengthen the educational experience of young scholars in Hoboken, Hudson County, and all of northern New Jersey,” said Daniel Gans, Board Chair of the Hudson School.

The proposed collaboration between these two respected educational institutions of Hoboken will ensure a long-lasting, impactful academic opportunity for the students and families of northern New Jersey.

Both schools have rich historical footprints in Hoboken. Mustard Seed School was founded in 1979 and has occupied their current campus at 422 Willow Avenue campus since 1999. The Hudson School was founded in 1978 by dedicated Hoboken educator Suellen Newman. Hudson’s Upper School was added in 1991 by student petition and has been located at 601 Park Avenue campus since 2002.