Middletown May Change School Boundaries, Superintendent Announces

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — In a surprise announcement Monday afternoon, Middletown schools superintendent Dr. Bill George said that the school district is looking into changing some of the boundary alignments for schools in the Township (i.e., which streets and ZIP codes send students to which schools).

Because the boundary realignment plan was just announced Monday, no further details were available. However, a public presentation will be held next Monday, October 30 at 6 p.m. at the North auditorium to explain the proposed changes. You can find current boundary maps for Middletown schools here: https://www.middletownk12.org/... Read the official announcement sent by Dr. George Oct. 23 here: https://www.middletownk12.org/...

While many details still have to be established, one thing for certain is driving the changes: The overall decreased enrollment in Middletown public schools, a well-known fact in the area. However, in some schools enrollment has actually increased, and those facilities are overcrowded, Dr. George said.

"Nut Swamp Elementary School, Thompson Middle School and Middletown High School South currently have student populations significantly in excess of building capacity," said Dr. George in a press release. "Over the past few years, the community, Board of Education, and administration have discussed concerns regarding capacity issues at these schools. Use of educational spaces to deliver instruction, scheduling of classes, and co-curricular activities are all negatively impacted by the overcrowding at these schools."

"As a result, there is a compelling need for our district to explore changes to student assignment," he said.

The Oct. 30 public meeting will be held prior to the BOE meeting that night. The BOE and administration will hear community input following this presentation until 9 p.m. No official Board action will be taken on October 30.

Middletown North High School is located at 63 Tindall Road, Middletown, NJ 07748.