To the Editor:
As residents of Hopewell Township, Pennington Borough, and Hopewell Borough, many of us have heard concerns about how high our school taxes are. It’s a fair question, especially as our community prepares to consider a potential school referendum that could shape the future of education in our district. We owe it to ourselves and our kids to look at the facts and understand how our investment compares to other towns.
In 2024, the average school taxes in our three municipalities were:
- Hopewell Township: $8,873
- Pennington Borough: $9,088
- Hopewell Borough: $7,563
While these figures may seem high, they are in the middle range compared to surrounding Central Jersey towns. More than 35 nearby municipalities have average school taxes that are equal to or higher than ours, including:
- Rumson (Monmouth County): $13,215
- Montgomery (Somerset County): $11,749
- West Windsor (Mercer County): $9,144
- Princeton (Mercer County): $10,772
- Plainsboro (Middlesex County): $7,773
These communities have made deliberate choices to invest in strong public education, and it shows in academic performance, extracurricular offerings, and their ability to attract and retain families.
One number that often gets attention in conversations like this is cost per pupil—how much a district spends to educate each student. While this is one lens through which to view school funding, it doesn’t tell the whole story.
First, the cost per pupil doesn’t reflect what each household is actually contributing. Two districts could spend the same amount per student, but that cost might be spread across more households in one community, meaning less financial impact per resident. That’s why the average school tax per household is valuable and relevant. It gives a more accurate picture of how school funding is shared across a community.
Second—and equally important—cost per pupil assumes that all students have the exact educational needs. They don’t. Some students require additional services: special education support, English language instruction, mental health counseling, or individualized interventions. Public schools are tasked with meeting each child’s unique needs, whether that means gifted enrichment or more intensive academic support. A higher cost per pupil can reflect a district’s commitment to equity and its legal and moral obligation to serve all learners well.
Hopewell Valley has long valued strong public schools. But we are now at a crossroads. With aging school buildings, rising operational costs, and increasing demands on teachers and student support services, we face important decisions ahead. A potential school referendum may ask us to invest not just in physical infrastructure but also in the future of our children and in the well-being of future generations in Hopewell Valley.
Let’s approach this moment with transparency, compassion, and a shared commitment to facts. Our schools reflect our priorities. Let’s make sure they reflect our values, too.
Our kids are worth it.
– Amanda M. Stylianou, PhD, LCSW
This commentary was written as a community member and was not authorized by or written on behalf of the School Board.
Data from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs |
