Elizabeth Unified School District Revenue and Competitors

Founded in 1665, Elizabeth was the first English-speaking community in New Jersey and served as the first state capital. During the latter part of the 19th Century, Elizabeth was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. Major companies such as Singer Sewing Machine Company, Bethlehem Steel, and countless other shipbuilding, automobile, ironworks, breweries, machine manufacturers, and oil refining companies built huge factories in Elizabeth and employed tens of thousands of workers. The city’s population was made up primarily of immigrants from various European countries and the city’s neighborhoods reflected the traditions, languages, and cultures of the residents’ homelands. Although a number of industrial and manufacturing companies are still based in Elizabeth, a good deal of the city’s commerce now revolves around transportation. Elizabeth is located in the heart of the metropolitan area and only about 12 miles from New York City. Port Newark/Elizabeth is one of the busiest ports in the world. Portions of Newark International Airport are actually sited in Elizabeth and the airport and related industries also employ many area residents. Today, Elizabeth is the fourth largest city in New Jersey. Its population is extremely diverse with residents representing more than 50 countries and 37 language groups. It is a proud community that faces many of the challenges common to urban environments including: poverty, unemployment, a higher than average crime rate, and a transient population. The city operates under the mayor and city council system of municipal government; elections are held every four years for mayor and three “at-large” council seats, ward-specific council seats are elected the following year for four-year terms of office. The Board of Education is composed of nine-seats, with elections for three seats held every year. Board Trustees hold their seat for three years. They operate independently from the city government. City Demographics Elizabeth's population averages 125,000 residents Of this population, the majority of residents are Hispanic (59.5%), White (26.8%) and Black (20%) (2000 Census data). Almost 45% of the city's population was born outside the United States. Approximately 67% of Elizabeth residents five years of age and over speak a language other than English with Spanish the primary language for almost 50% of the population. The median household income in Elizabeth is $35,175 Almost 20% of Elizabeth households have a female as the head of household. 70% of the population lives in rented apartments, houses, rooms, etc 61% of Elizabeth's residents over the age of 25 have a high school diploma and about 12% have a bachelor's degree or higher. Elizabeth residents who are employed work in production, transportation, and material-moving occupations (28.4%), sales and office occupations (25.9%), and service occupations (17.8%). The Elizabeth Public Schools The Elizabeth Public Schools is the fourth largest district in New Jersey, serving a population of over 23,000 students. It has also been classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as one of the state's Abbott or most needy school districts in terms of a series of population/income demographics. Located at the crossroads of the metropolitan area, the district's population is diverse and this multiculturalism is reflected in its schools. In 2011, Elizabeth Public Schools adopted the Keys to Excellence 2 Strategic Plan, presenting a plan that builds upon the successful work initiated in the 2005-2010 Keys to Excellence Strategic Plan. Our vision is that the Elizabeth Public Schools will be one of the best school districts in the nation. Our mission is to provide excellent educational experiences and services to inspire every one of our students to think, to learn, to achieve, and to care. Our strategic plan has guided the implementation of bold and courageous programs and activities designed to provide students the best educational experiences, so that every student meets their full potential. Such initiatives include: Our high schools have the highest graduation requirements of any school in the state In 2011-2012 every school in EPS will operate on an extended-day schedule, offering every student in the district more academic opportunities Over 22, 000 students wear uniforms Instituted comprehensive leadership learning communities through a cohort program, that combines readings from best practices in business and education, including Good to Great, Change Leadership, 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, and Education Nation Critical to the strategic plan, are the district guiding principles of love, laser-like focus on teaching and learning, and leadership. The EPS believes that creating a high performing district culture, based on high expectations will lead to high student achievement. Our belief system is grounded in a belief that all students can learn, a passion for teaching in an urban setting, and "everything rises and falls on leadership." We are passionate in our belief that every student deserves an excellent educational experience. To do so, we are continually identifying resources to maximize the learning opportunities for adults and students, and effectively utilize every resource to create and support learning so that every student graduates from Elizabeth Public Schools prepared to pursue a post-secondary education. While EPS faces the challenges often associated with urban school districts, its student growth has outpaced other districts, both suburban and urban. In May 2011, Elizabeth High School was nationally recognized by The Washington Post as the second most challenging high school in New Jersey and ranked in the top ten percent of nationally ranked schools. 18 of our 28 schools made Annual Yearly Progress, a 29% growth. We are the home of two National Blue Ribbon Schools, a NASA Explorer School, and have been selected for strategic partnerships with the Broad Foundation Reform Governance Association and Panasonic Foundation. District Demographics There are currently 23,374 students attending the Elizabeth Public Schools. The district is comprised of 3 Early Childhood Centers, 24 PK/K- 8 schools, 6 High Schools Approximately 68% of students are classified as Hispanic; 22% Black; 8% White; 2% Asian 13% of our students are enrolled in Bilingual education classes 44 languages are spoken by the student body with the largest percentages of students speaking Spanish, English, Haitian Creole, and Portuguese. 88% of our students are eligible for Free or Reduced-Priced lunches Elizabeth is one of New Jersey's most historical and influential cities. The City served as an important battleground and focal point during the Revolutionary War and the founding of the United States. It has since grown into one of the leading economic centers and transportation hubs of the United States. Elizabeth is home to the one of the nation's great shipping ports and the nation's largest Foreign Trade Zone. It shares one of the nation's great airports with Newark, and it offers the greatest shopping attractions along the East Coast. EARLY DAYS: On October 28, 1664, the Indians of Staten Island sold to John Bailey, Daniel Denton and Luke Watson, a tract of land lying between the Raritan River and the Passaic River, extending westward from Newark Bay. The tract extended about 34 miles between the two rivers and about 17 miles westward from Newark Bay, comprising 500,000 acres. It included what is now the City of Elizabeth. First known as Elizabethtown, Governor Sir Philip Carteret made it the capital of New Jersey and the first legislature met here on May 30, 1668. Home to influential early Americans such as Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, Elizabethtown was the scene of many key revolutionary battles and the hub of colonial political activity during the 1700s. The City was also the site of the first Princeton University (1745). Elizabeth's earliest industries centered around the Port, and major roadways started from here, spreading throughout the area. In the 19th century, the Central Railroad helped to transform Elizabeth from essentially a country town to an industrial center. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: During the later part of the 19th century and into the 20th century, Elizabeth was at the forefront of the industrial revolution, and companies like the Singer Manufacturing Company (sewing machines) built huge factories here and employed tens of thousands of workers. Industries at the time included shipbuilding, automobile plants, iron works, breweries, machinery manufacturers and oil refining. In the mid part of the 20th century, the City was able to transform itself into even more of a transportation hub with the development of Newark Airport, the Goethals Bridge, and the New Jersey Turnpike. Its seaport evolved into one of the world's largest shipping concerns with the development of containerization. Meanwhile, because of its location, Elizabeth grew into a major retail destination. It remains the County seat for Union and home to County government, as well as the state's fourth largest city. A PLACE WHERE HISTORY LIVES: Spend a day in Elizabeth and see the history of the United States come to life. There are numerous historic markers, locations and buildings that are registered with the state and federal governments. Historic Midtown and Elizabeth Avenue districts offer a startling array of historical sites that bring the Colonial history of the City to life. Among the most impressive is Boxwood Hall (C.1760), home of Elias Boudinot, president of the Continental Congress and later of Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer of the Constitution. A few doors down the block on East Jersey Street is the Bonnell House, built in 1682, and Elizabeth's oldest house. Directly across the street is the Georgian-style Belcher Ogden Mansion (1680), residence of the Royal Governor Jonathan Belcher (1751). The First Presbyterian Church on Broad Street was the site of important colonial activities, and the site of the City's first church, built in 1668, and also the site of the first Princeton University. Adjoining the church on Broad Street is the startling Union County Courthouse (1903) and then the Elizabeth Public Library, built in 1912, a gift from Andrew Carnegie. Nearby, the dark, towering masterpiece, St. John's Episcopal Church (current structure) opened in 1860. A church has stood at the site since 1706. Down the block on Elizabeth Avenue in the Union Square area, the Minute Man Statue stands in tribute to another important colonial battle. The Liberty Hall Museum shares a border between Elizabeth and Union, across from Kean University. It is where generations of the Livingston and Kean families lived for 225 years until 1995!