The Trenton Public Schools is a community public school district, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Trenton, in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Trenton Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Trenton Public Schools, adopted October 16, 2023. Accessed December 11, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Trenton School District. Composition: The Trenton School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the City of Trenton." The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Abbott v. BurkeWhat We Do: History, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the Abbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'." which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.What We Do, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.SDA Districts, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of 25 schools, had an enrollment of 15,459 students and 976.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.8:1.District information for Trenton Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024. The district was the sixth-largest in the state in 2025.Largest School Districts in New Jersey, Niche. Accessed December 11, 2025.
History In the 1944 case Hedgepeth and Williams v. Board of Education, where two Black students were not permitted to attend their nearest junior high school that was only open to white students, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation was outlawed by the New Jersey State Constitution and that it was unlawful for schools to segregate or refuse admission to students on the basis of race.Hedgepeth and Williams v. Board of Education, Trenton Public Library. Accessed December 11, 2025.
The district had been classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "A", the lowest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 1, 2024.
Awards and recognition Washington Elementary School was recognized by Governor Jim McGreevey in 2003 as one of 25 schools selected statewide for the First Annual Governor's School of Excellence award.McGreevey Celebrates Schools that are "Getting it Right": Schools of Excellence Winners Demonstrate Effectiveness of Governor's Education Priorities , New Jersey Department of Education press release dated November 211, 2003. Accessed December 15, 2009.
Schools Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education StatisticsSchool Data for the Trenton Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.) are:Schools, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025.School Performance Reports for the Trenton Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2025.New Jersey School Directory for the Trenton Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
Preschool Early Childhood Learning CenterEarly Childhood Learning Center, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (PreK)
Elementary schools Cadwalader Elementary SchoolCadwalader Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (185; K–3) Dr. Crosby Copeland Elementary SchoolDr. Crosby Copeland Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (with 309 students; in grades K–3; formerly Columbus Elementary SchoolRodas, Steven. "N.J. district renames Woodrow Wilson, Christopher Columbus schools", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 1, 2022. Accessed December 11, 2025. "Two schools in Trenton named after Christopher Columbus and Woodrow Wilson will soon be known by new names. Starting July 1, Columbus Elementary School will become Dr. Crosby Copeland Jr. Elementary School and Wilson Elementary School will be known as Darlene C. McKnight Elementary School.") Benjamin Franklin Elementary SchoolBenjamin Franklin Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (410; K–3) Benjamin C. Gregory Elementary SchoolBenjamin C. Gregory Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (295; K–3) William Harrison Elementary SchoolWilliam Harrison Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools, Accessed December 11, 2025. (251; K–3) Patton J. Hill Elementary SchoolPatton J. Hill Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (542; K–3) Darlene C. McKnight Elementary SchoolDarlene C. McKnight Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (341; K–3; formerly Wilson Elementary School) Gershom Mott Elementary SchoolGershom Mott Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (366; K–3) Luis Muñoz-Rivera Elementary SchoolLuis Muñoz-Rivera Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (456; K–3) Carroll Robbins Elementary SchoolCarroll Robbins Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (460; K–3) Paul Robeson Elementary SchoolPaul Robeson Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (367; K–3) Joseph Stokes Elementary SchoolJoseph Stokes Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (344; K–3) George Washington Elementary SchoolWashington Elementary School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (316; K–3)
Intermediate schools Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate SchoolUlysses S. Grant Intermediate School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (572; 4–6) Hedgepeth-Williams Intermediate SchoolIntermediate School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (639; 4–6) Thomas Jefferson Intermediate SchoolThomas Jefferson Intermediate School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (342; 4–6) Joyce Kilmer Intermediate SchoolJoyce Kilmer Intermediate School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (530; 4–6) Battle Monument Intermediate School Battle Monument Intermediate School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (490; 4–6) Clara Parker Intermediate SchoolIntermediate School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (565; 4–6)
Middle schools Grace A. Dunn Middle SchoolGrace A. Dunn Middle School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (681; 7–8) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle SchoolDr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (610; 7–8) Arthur J. Holland Middle SchoolArthur J. Holland Middle School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (445; 7–8)
High schools Trenton's Ninth Grade AcademyTrenton's Ninth Grade Academy, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (837; 9) Capital City High SchoolCapital City High School, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (617; 9–12) Trenton Central High SchoolTrenton Central High School Chambers Campus, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. (2,138; 10–12)
Administration Core members of the district's administration are:New Jersey School Directory for Mercer County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. James Earle, superintendent of schoolsSuperintendent, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025. Jayne S. Howard, business administrator and board secretaryBusiness Office, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025.
Board of education The district's board of education is comprised of nine members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2023) as part of the April school election. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district.New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Trenton Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2024. Accessed December 11, 2025. "In prior years, the Trenton School District has been operating as a Type I School District. In fiscal year 2023 the City voted to change the District to a Type II School District. " See "Roster of Officials" on page 16.Board of Education Member, Trenton Public Schools. Accessed December 11, 2025.
The Trenton Public Schools had been a Type I school district, a system under which the board's seven trustees were appointed by the mayor to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three members up for reappointment each year. Of the more than 600 school districts statewide, Trenton was one of about a dozen districts with appointed school boards.Roll, Erin. "Montclair Parents Debate Appointed Vs. Elected School Board", Montclair Local, April 4, 2019. Accessed May 9, 2020. "Montclair is one of 11 school districts in New Jersey in which the board of education is appointed by the mayor, rather than elected.... As of 2018, Montclair was one of only 11 Type I school districts in New Jersey. The other 10 are Ventnor, Port Republic, Rockleigh, Pine Valley, East Orange, East Newark, Union City, Harrison, Trenton and Summit.... In 2009, Montclair had a debate over whether to continue with an appointed board or switch to an elected board. The question was put to a vote in October of that year. Voters opted to continue with an appointed board." This was the case until the passage of a November 2022 referendum, which changed the district to a Type II district with nine elected members."Unofficial Results Show Voters in Trenton Approve Changing to a Type II District", New Jersey School Boards Association, November 14, 2022. Accessed December 11, 2025. "While election results are not yet certified, unofficial results on the county clerk’s website show that in Trenton, voters approved changing from a Type I district appointed by the mayor to a Type II district with its members elected by the voters. If those results hold and a change is made, the Board of School Estimate would be eliminated, future bonding for capital projects would have to be approved by public referendum, future bonding for capital projects would be based on the credit of the district as opposed to the city, the size of the board of education would increase from seven members to nine, and the first election of members of the board of education would take place in April 2023."
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