Joseph F. Cappello School

Mercer County Special Services School District

1072 Old Trenton Road
Hamilton, NJ 08690

www.mcsssd.info/joseph-f-cappello-school

88 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 3rd

School Overview

The Joseph F. Cappello School, located in Hamilton, New Jersey, is a specialized public educational facility operated by the Mercer County Special Services School District (MCSSSD). The school is dedicated to providing comprehensive, individualized instruction for students with significant developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities. By maintaining a highly structured environment with small class sizes, the school focuses on functional academics, communication skills, and social development tailored to the unique needs of each learner.

Beyond core academic instruction, the Joseph F. Cappello School places a strong emphasis on therapeutic and transitional support. The facility is equipped with a multidisciplinary team—including speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and behavioral specialists—who integrate their services directly into the students' daily routines. The school’s ultimate goal is to foster independence and improve the quality of life for its students, preparing them for future success within their homes, community settings, and post-secondary environments.

Total Students

16.0

Full-Time Teachers

5.5

Student/Teacher Ratio

26.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Joseph F. Cappello School
Demographic	Student Count
White	7
Hispanic	29
Black	45
Asian	4
Two or More	3

Black
45 (51.1 %)
Hispanic
29 (33.0 %)
White
7 (8.0 %)
Asian
4 (4.5 %)
Two or More
3 (3.4 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Special Education School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Mercer County Special Services School District
Phone:	(609)588-8485
Website:	http://www.mcsssd.info/joseph-f-cappello-school
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 3rd
Total Students:	88
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	16.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	5.5
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	22
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	1

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 2

Kindergarten 2

Grade 1 2

Grade 2 2

Grade 3 1

Ungraded 79