Abram P. Morris Early Childhood Center

www.hillsidek12.org

650 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 1st

School Overview

The A.P. Morris Early Childhood Center, located at 143 Coe Avenue in Hillside, New Jersey, serves as the primary educational hub for the district’s youngest learners. As an early childhood facility, the school is dedicated to establishing a strong foundational base for children during their most formative developmental years. The center focuses on creating a nurturing and supportive classroom environment designed to foster academic readiness, social-emotional growth, and a lifelong curiosity for learning.

The curriculum at A.P. Morris is tailored specifically to meet the unique needs of preschool and early-grade students, emphasizing play-based learning, cognitive development, and the acquisition of essential motor and communication skills. By prioritizing small-group instruction and interactive activities, the center aims to prepare students for a seamless transition into elementary education. Through its commitment to early intervention and inclusive practices, the school plays a vital role in the Hillside community, ensuring that all local children have equitable access to a quality start in their educational journey.

650

Total Students

54.6

Full-Time Teachers

11.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

66.6%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Abram P. Morris Early Childhood Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	93
Hispanic	234
Black	301
Asian	7
Two or More	12
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	1

Black
301 (46.3 %)
Hispanic
234 (36.0 %)
White
93 (14.3 %)
Two or More
12 (1.8 %)
Asian
7 (1.1 %)
American Indian
2 (0.3 %)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Hillside Public School District
Phone:	(908)352-7664
Website:	http://www.hillsidek12.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 1st
Total Students:	650
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	54.6
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	11.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	397
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	36

* 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 205

Kindergarten 194

Grade 1 177

Ungraded 74