More Hopatcong Students Consider Leaving

Nine more Hopatcong students have requested applications to join a state program that could allow them to attend Lenape Valley Regional High School in 2012-2013.

That brings the number up to 18—or 14 current eighth-graders, three freshmen and one sophomore—that have requested applications to join the Stanhope school as part of the Interdistrict Public School Choice program, which gives children the opportunity to attend a choice school for free within 20 miles of their sending districts. Any farther and guardians become responsible for transportation.

Eight other students have applied to join Mine Hill's Canfield Avenue School, bringing the total number of Choice applications granted by Hopatcong to 26. One also applied to join the Morris Hills Regional School in Rockaway.

in October, Hopatcong schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano said the number of students interested in Lenape Valley "doesn't concern me" after Monday night's Board of Education meeting at the .

"If they have the choice, they're probably going to take advantage of that opportunity for their own reasons," he said. "It doesn't concern me as a superintendent that someone wants to make a choice and have an experience that suits their individual plans or individual needs.

"I'm not shocked or surprised. The numbers don't indicate to me that there's anything here that's undesirable. It's just a matter of personal choice."

Though the students have requested applications to join other school districts, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll leave.

Dec. 1 is the deadline to file applications. And if the number of students applying to a choice school—a designation for which schools apply to the Department of Education; Hopatcong hasn't applied, Maranzano said—is larger than the number of available seats per grade level, schools choose students via lottery. Unselected students return to their home districts.

In October, Lenape Valley Superintendent Paul Palek said the school joined the program for state aid. He said Lenape Valley could accept 36 students in 2012-2013—12 freshmen, 12 sophomores, seven juniors and five seniors.

Editor's note: Click here for a list of schools participating in the Interscholastic Public School Choice Program.