Leonia Board of Education

Q: When are School Board meetings held?
A: Meetings are held the third and fourth Monday of each month at Anna C. Scott School cafeteria (entrance from Broad Avenue) at 8 p.m. Agendas are posted at each school.
   

Q: How can I register my child for school?
A: Children must register at the school they will be attending. Parents must provide a birth certificate, immunization/medical records, and recent transcripts. Parents must provide proof of residency at the Board of Education office at 570 Grand Avenue. Please bring a copy of a lease/deed, a driver's license and one of the following: a phone bill or utility bill prior to school.
 

Q: How old must my child be to register for kindergarten?
A: Children must be five years old on or before October 1. All children will be developmentally screened for the full-day kindergarten program.
 

Q: Is there a Parent Organization in the schools?
A: Each school has an active Home and Schools Association. The Joint Home and School Association sponsors an annual dinner/dance to raise funds for all three schools. All parents are invited to participate. Meetings are held regularly at each school. The organization raises money for class trips, educational assemblies, scholarships, teacher wish lists and much more.
  

Q: How do I know if schools are closed for inclement weather?
A: Information will be provided on this website, www.leoniaschools.org. Radio station WINS (1010 am) will broadcast school closings between 6:45 and 8:30 a.m. In addition, Channel 2, Channel 4, Fox 5 News and News 12 New Jersey will announce Leonia school closings.
  

Q: How often must students receive physical exams?
A: Physical exams are required by the Board of Education before kindergarten, 3rd, 6th and 9th grades. Students participating in sports need an annual physical. The Hepatitis B vaccine is required for all students in grades 8-12.
 

Q: What is the average class size?
A: The average class size in all three schools is 21 students.
  

Q: What is the enrollment in Leonia schools?
A: The district currently has 1730 students enrolled in three schools. Leonia is a receiving district for Edgewater students beginning in Grade 7.
  

Q: What is required to graduate from Leonia High School?
A: Leonia High School has among the most stringest graduation requirements in the state. 140 credits are required for graduation including 4 years of English, 4 years of Physical Education and Health, 3 years of Social Studies, 3 years of Mathematics, 3 years of Science, 2 years of World Language, 1 year of Fine or Performing Arts and passage of all parts of the High School Proficiency Assessment Test.
  

Q: Does Leonia offer fine arts as part of its curriculum?
A: Leonia prides itself on its exceptional art and music programs. Art is offered as part of the curriculum beginning in kindergarten. Over ten fine arts classes are taught at LHS and student's work is regularly included in highly competitive juried art shows. Choral music is offered in grades K and up. Instrumental music (band and orchestra) is offered from grade 3 and up. Art shows are held in all three schools. Music concerts are held throughout the year. Music students at both the middle school and high school compete in regional competitions and do exceptionally well. Theatrical productions are done in 5th grade, at LMS and at the high school.
  

Q: Does Leonia offer programs for students with special needs?
A: A full-time Supervisor of Special Services oversees the district's Special Education programs. Education and related services are provided by 38 professional staff members: teachers, school psychologists, school social workers, learning consultants, speech language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists. The Child Study Team evaluates students based on presenting needs. An Individual Education Program (I.E.P.) is developed, implemented and monitored for students found eligible. Special instruction is provided for students with learning, emotional, developmental and/or physical disabilities. Resource centers in each school provide replacement instruction and/or assistance with academic subjects and the development of organization and study skills. Self-contained classrooms at all three schools provide individualized instruction for students with learning and multiple disabilities.
  

Q: Does Leonia offer programs for students with special talents?
A: All three schools offer programs that supplement the regular education. At ACS, the Gifted and Talented teachers supplement classroom activities in grades K-2 with enrichment programs that focus on high-level critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students in grades 3-5, who are identified as gifted learners, can take part in a program for Gifted Learners outside the regular classroom. At the Middle School, students gifted in Art, Music, Science, Math, Social Studies and Language Arts can apply for Portfolio Programs, which are under the guidance of teacher specialists. At the High School, qualified students can take Advanced Placement and Honors courses in a number of subjects and qualify for college credits.
  

Q: Does Leonia have a bilingual program?
A: Leonia is a diverse district with over 40 languages spoken in its homes. Instead of bilingual education, Leonia provides an English as a Second Language (ESL) program that serves students who are limited in their ability to speak English. Courses are taught in English, are available at each grade level, and help students to develop and improve oral communication and reading and writing skills in English.
   

Q: Does Leonia have an orientation program for children entering kindergarten?
A: An evening orientation program for parents is offered in April. A visitation day for students is provided in May. Additionally, fifth grade students are provided an orientation day to the Middle School, and eighth grade students are given an orientation to the high school. Students from Edgewater's EVG School are also given an orientation to LMS.
  

Q: Does Leonia provide pre-school education?
A: Leonia provides an Early Childhood Center for 4-year olds. This full-day tuition-based program will prepare children for kindergarten. For more information, call 201-302-5200.
  

Q: Does Leonia provide child care before and after school?
A: A parent-run independent organization called SACC (School Aged Child Care) provides child care services for grades K-8 at ACS School. Students can be dropped off as early as 7 a.m. and picked up no later than 6 p.m. For more information call 201-944-6715.
  

Q: Does Leonia provide summer school?
A: A summer enrichment program is offered for four weeks each summer for elementary and middle school students. Information on the programs is sent home in March. Courses are offered in two morning sessions at the air-conditioned ACS School. A nominal fee is charged for each course.
  

Q: How do parents arrange a meeting with a teacher?
A: Conferences are regularly scheduled with parents at least once a year at ACS School. At the middle school and high school, conferences can be scheduled with teachers via the child's guidance counselor  

Q: What state-mandated tests do students have to take?
A: All 3rd and 4th graders take the NJ ASK test in March. 8th graders take the GEPA test in March. 11th graders take the HSPA test in March, which must be passed in order to graduate.
   

Q: How many sports are offered at Leonia High School?
A: 19 sports are offered at LHS. Varsity and junior varsity sports include volleyball, baseball, softball, track, cross-country, tennis, bowling, golf, basketball, soccer, football and wrestling. 40% of the student body participates in sports. An interscholastic sports program is also offered at the middle school. Nine sports are currently offered.
  

Q: Do students utilize computers in the classroom?
A: The district has over 500 computers that are used for instruction. The ratio is one computer for every 2.5 students. All classrooms have Internet access. District-wide there are six computer labs with Internet access: 1 at ACS, 2 at LMS and 3 at LHS. We also have two portable computer labs, one at LMS and one at LHS.