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Elizabeth Public Schools announces Joseph Batten school groundbreaking, AVID designation and student honors
Summary
District leaders highlighted a Joseph Batten School No. 4 groundbreaking, Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy’s AVID National Demonstration designation, two National Schools of Character awards, county honors for a teacher and counselor, a first-place jazz-band finish and a college‑and‑career fair that drew more than 1,500 juniors.
At its April 23 meeting the Elizabeth Board of Education highlighted several district accomplishments and upcoming events.
District officials reported a groundbreaking with the New Jersey School Development Authority for the new Joseph Batten School No. 4, a preK–8 facility designed for up to 1,680 students and expected to open in 2028. The district said the building will include science labs, music and art rooms, a media center, cafeteria and gymnasium.
Officials also announced that Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy was selected as an AVID National Demonstration School, joining other district schools with the designation. Two district schools — the Donald Stewart Center for Early Childhood (School No. 51) and Katherine Johnson Darthy Von Mary Jackson STEM Academy (JBJ Academy) — were named 2026 National Schools of Character.
The board celebrated district honorees: Dr. Alice Dowski was named Union County Teacher of the Year and Dana Ferrer was recognized as Union County Counselor of the Year. The Elizabeth High School advanced jazz band won first place at state preliminaries and earned multiple section awards.
District staff also promoted family engagement events: a Panorama family survey (closing April 24), financial‑aid/FAFSA support night on May 12, and a college & career fair held April 16 that hosted more than 110 institutions and roughly 1,500 juniors.
Parents who appeared during the meeting also shared personal testimonials about special‑education supports; in one video a parent, Kesha Henry, described how the child‑study team and special‑education services helped her children progress to independence.
