Hoboken High School

The testing statistics of the past do not demonstrate the accomplishment of the past three years. Students in the honors and AP program at the high school are top notch. Students regular get 4s and 5s on some of the most challenging tests, including Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, and World History. And, this isn't one or two students, it is most that complete the course taught by Hoboken High teachers. The theater program competes and wins at the highest level in the state and nationally. Second to none, best in Hudson County. The competition debate team has won the county Mock Trial competition and made it to the quarter finals of regionals. In Model United Nations and at the Harvard Model Congress in Spain, they are among the strongest competitors, bringing home regularly the most awards per school. Again, from Freshman to Senior competitors. All of these program are ethnically and economically diverse. Ms. Piccapietra, the principal strives to make HHS a family, with kids across its very diverse population taking care of one another. I think it is the one high school in the county, where the guidance counselors have the time and make the effort to individually make plans for the future for each student and ensure that they accomplish it in the class room and in extracurricular activities. Student at the school face a range of economic challenges and somehow, the school works to make a difference. The way they have responded to COVID has really been the best I have heard about in the county. We had multiple choices and took what we thought was "a risk" by choosing Hoboken High School. That was stupid, we have friends with kids who have been in other high schools and finished at Hoboken. All agree that going here was not a risk. It should have been our first choice.

Many great teachers and an excellent guidance department along with a principal focused on just the right areas makes HHS a hidden treasure. Public schools, by design, must serve and accept all, across the income and performance spectrum. Hoboken High does a great job meeting all student needs, whether kids from at-risk homes or with special needs or high-achieving students in need of a challenging environment (and those in between).

Our kids thrived with the rigorous AP and Honors classes and engaging teachers. Having fully funded arts, sports and extra-curricular programs is also key for us. The school often competes and wins at the state-wide level (in sports, arts, debate, etc). Student safety and discipline are also taken very seriously (contrary to reputation). The culture of togetherness within this diverse student community is obvious (take a walk through the hallways of this small school and see). If you dismiss HHS because it reflects this urban community or reduce its varied student body to a simple test score, you are ignoring a great educational option. We have been there for three years now and haven't regretted it once.