Hillsborough board starts redistricting process after capacity review

The Hillsborough Township Board of Education on Aug. 25 confirmed the district is beginning redistricting for the 2026–27 school year after a comprehensive room-utilization review found some elementary schools at or above capacity.

Assistant Superintendent Joel Handler, who the superintendent identified as the district’s point person on redistricting, said staff completed a room analysis across six elementary schools and identified differences in available capacity. "We've completed a comprehensive room analysis across all six elementary schools," Handler said, adding that the study accounted for dedicated special-education, self-contained spaces.

Handler said the district is now working with transportation staff to redraw attendance zones with the goal of "equalized student populations across each school that prevents overcrowding." He said the district expects to present more detailed options this fall and plans to notify families "around spring break" if students will be assigned to different schools in 2026–27.

Board members were told the process is a team effort; the superintendent said monthly updates will go to the community as the district develops proposals. No formal boundary map or timetable for adoption was presented during the meeting, and the district said further options will be shared with the administration in the coming weeks.

The board did not take final action on any redistricting plan at the Aug. 25 meeting; the presentation was informational and set the schedule for follow-up reports to the board and community.