The Garfield school district is comprised of approximately five thousand students housed in seven elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. In addition, the district also offers PreK education to three and four-year-old children in various locations in the city.
Our district is proud to represent a culturally diverse population that shares a partnership with the families and school community. Our students learn to collaborate with their peers in a diverse environment that promotes creativity and fosters tolerance, respect, and acceptance.
In an effort to support the individual learning styles and needs of our students, the Garfield District offers a variety of programs. These programs include various Special Education programs, Gifts and Talents, Honors Courses and Advanced Placement courses.
The district is committed to implementing a curriculum based on the NJ Learning Standards. The curriculum is continually revised based on multiple data sources, assessment scores, as well as teacher and student input. Professional development for staff is essential to support instruction and learning in our classrooms. The district strives to provide professional development to staff that is collaborative, job embedded, content focused, models best practices, and provides coaching and expert support.
At the current time, a Readers Workshop initiative is prevalent in the elementary schools and the Middle School. Readers Workshop is a framework for reading instruction that provides students with a supportive environment that allocates time for students to read authentic texts of their choice and involves them in authentic reading experiences that focus on the strengths and needs of each individual student. Literacy and the development of lifelong readers are of the utmost importance and all efforts are being made to seek and implement the best practices that will lead to increased student achievement.
Our district sets goals each year that are aligned with student achievement, school culture and climate, as well as communication and parent involvement. We are committed to believing in each student and strive to work together with parents and the community to make every Garfield student achieve to the fullest potential.
Anna Sciacca
Superintendent of Schools