Woodbridge Township To Open First New Elementary School in Four Decades

Woodbridge Township will debut a new elementary school in September 2028. This ends marathon bus rides stretching past 30 minutes for kids in Hopelawn and Keasbey. The building marks the first new elementary structure in town in over 40 years.

K-5 students from Hopelawn and Keasbey now attend Lafayette Estates School No. 25 in Fords, School No. 19 in Menlo Park Terrace, or School No. 9 in Port Reading. Hopelawn School No. 10 will serve these children instead.

"Students now travel on buses over a half hour each way to three different schools which negatively impacts their education and which prevents them and even their parents from being involved in after-school activities," Mayor John E. McCormac said in a press release, per NJ.com.

The original School No. 10 in Hopelawn shuttered about 30 years ago. McCormac said officials weighed reusing that building but dismissed it. Converting it back would've cost too much.

The project became possible through a land swap. The township gave the board property at Clyde Avenue Park for construction. In return, the board handed over the site where the nearly 100-year-old School No. 14 in Fords once stood, which closed in 2023.

That former site will transform into an accessible playground for people with disabilities. Unused land north and south of Lynn Crest School No. 22 in Colonia will stay as open space.

McCormac said in the 2026 State of the Township address on March 30 that the town needs a new building. He stressed that property taxpayers won't fund construction.

By the time workers finish, the Board of Education will have borrowed nearly $200 million. The town will cover bond payments using revenue from payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs.

The new Hopelawn School No. 10 is expected to rise multiple stories. McCormac pointed out that the project will benefit district operating budgets, which allows for academic and curriculum improvements.

"New buildings and turf fields need little or no maintenance and township services eliminate outside contractors which all leads to more funds being made available for academics and curriculum advancements," said McCormac.

The mayor also said the town is planning on installing at least one piece of accessible playground equipment at each municipal park.