Livingston

Livingston has terrific schools, with 48% of teachers with 10+ years of experience and 67% of teachers with 5+ years of experience. Over 70% of the teachers have Masters degrees and 4+% have doctorates. Livingston has a strong AP program with 30 AP courses offered. In 2016/2017, 11 Seniors were named Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program, and 3 seniors received the prestigious distinction of National Merit Scholars.

Below is information compiled from the amazing livingston.org website!

Facts at a Glance

Enrollment

As of September 2017 there are approximately 6,000 students enrolled in Kindergarten through Grade 12, as follows: Burnet Hill – 481; Collins – 453; Harrison – 476; Hillside – 402; Mt. Pleasant Elementary – 436; Riker Hill – 406; Mt. Pleasant Middle – 486; Heritage – 959; Livingston High School 1,932.

Average Class Size

The District’s class size guidelines for grades K-2 is 22 students and for grades 3-12 is 25 students. Class sizes at the middle and high schools vary greatly depending upon the subject.

Transportation

Students living further from school than the following walking distances are eligible for Board of Education-provided transportation: Grades K-8, more than 2 miles; Grades 9-12, more than 2 ½ miles. For further information, please contact the transportation department at (973) 535-8000, x8027.

Staff Preparation

Of the 587 certified instructional staff in the 2017-2018 school year:
4.6% have a doctoral level degree
74.11% have a master’s degree
21.12% have a bachelor’s degree

Years of Service – Certified Staff

2% have 30 or more years of service
11% have from 20-29 years of service
35% have from 10-19 years of service
19% have from 5-9 years of service
33% have 4 or fewer years of service

District Philosophy

Empowering all to learn, create, contribute and grow.

It’s not just a catchy saying at Livingston Public Schools. It’s a promise of great expectations for about 6,000 students. Student achievement is the foundation of educational purpose in Livingston, and the District has a long reputation for academic excellence. Parents and community members share the belief that quality education is a priority and they support that commitment through funding, involvement and social action. Students of all ages and skill levels have opportunities to pursue stimulating academic, extra-curricular and enrichment activities.

Livingston’s schools rank among the best in the state and nation, with the high school among the top 5 percent of schools in the nation. At Livingston High School, the overarching objective is preparing students to be independent thinkers and contributors to their society. The student body boasts published writers, commissioned artists, professional researchers, applauded performers, world-ranked robotics teams, future business leaders, and world-class athletes. It has been listed among the nation’s Blue Ribbon schools, and the state’s Reward Schools, a designation by the N.J. Department of Education, reserved for schools that have demonstrated a level of high overall performance.

Livingston is among the few school Districts with a stand-alone sixth grade, and as the students come together from six different elementary schools, they learn at Mt. Pleasant Middle School how to balance classes and extracurricular activities without the peer pressure of upper classmen. The elementary schools consistently grade well in statewide measures of instructional time, class size, attendance, teacher degree level and computer use.

Student achievement is the foundation of educational purpose in Livingston. Our students achieve very high scores on national assessments, such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Our AP program is exemplary, with about 30 course offerings and the high school has increased access to these advanced placement course work. In the 2016/2017 school year, 11 seniors were named finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program, and three of those students received the prestigious distinction as National Merit Scholars.

Students have won Presidential Scholars awards in the arts, and Governor’s Awards in writing and music. The athletic program includes state champions and world-class athletes. Livingston has improved STEM education and the caliber of science research being conducted by students. Students have been were honored as finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search and U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad. Technology highlights also include the Ecolancers, tech and design students who complete in the International Shell Eco-marathon with their high-mileage vehicle; and a world-champion Robotics team.

The foundation in STEM begins in middle school. The FemGineers from Heritage Middle School have excelled in the NJ Regional Future City Design Challenge. This program is designed to develop the confidence and skills of girls to study science, technology, engineering, and math by designing concepts for how cities may look in the future.LHS

More than 70 percent of the professional staff at Livingston High School holds Master’s degrees and about 4 percent of the staff have received their Doctorates.

The residents of Livingston support this level of educational excellence. The District in 2016 launched a 1:1 computer initiative, providing district-owned devices to all students in Grades 7-12. Grades K-6 will see greater access for tech ed with additional computer carts, with more laptops at Mt. Pleasant Middle and additional Chromebook carts in the elementary schools, creating a two-to-one student-to-device ratio.

Recent school construction included new classrooms and three new media centers at elementary schools. Work also included bringing the high school to full ADA compliance. The Livingston community supported these efforts by passing an $18.2 million bond referendum in March 2013. Livingston High School has also been renovated in recent years with a series of building improvements, including a new science wing, new fine arts studios, a robotics/technology wing, athletic complex featuring fitness and wellness center, a renovated performing arts center, and major classroom renovations.

A large percentage of Livingston’s population is college graduates and there is a strong belief in the importance of education within the community. Many are new residents of the United States, with one in four students in the township speaking a second language in their homes. The total minority enrollment in the high school is 32 percent. This diversity is celebrated throughout the year with events that reflect the rich cultural heritage of students and their families.

The hallmark of a great place to live includes great schools and a community dedicated to its children twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Livingston is that community.