Rafael De M Cordero/PS 37 in Jersey City

Interview with Principal Derek Stanton of Rafael De J Cordero/PS 37 in Jersey City

Rafael De J Cordero/PS 37 in Jersey City is a public school near Hamilton Park that serves students from Pre-K 3 to 8th Grade. The student body is comprised of 820 students, 700 of whom come from the local neighborhood. The school is 100 years old and very community-driven.

Cordero/PS 37 has programs for special needs students and a gifted program (HOPE). There is no dual language program. Families get before and after care for a nominal fee.

Class student: teacher ratios vary depending on the age group. For Pre-K K, the ratio is 15:1. For older kids, the ratio is 20-25:1.

Pre-K program at Cordero/PS 37 in Jersey City

Cordero/PS 37  has a vibrant Pre-K program. It offers Pre-K 3 and 4 programs serving students aged 3 and 4. Currently, we have 60 spaces for Pre-K 3 and 105 spaces for Pre-K 4 (Including an inclusion room that serves general education students and some students with special needs. This does not include our Pre-K disabled classes, which mix 3 and 4-year-olds with disabilities as determined by their IEPs.

What is the capacity for Pre-K 3 & 4 at Cordero?

Some children get bused to other schools when the Pre-K program is at capacity. This is determined by a lottery overseen by the Early Childhood Department. For Pre-K 3, all spaces are chosen by lottery. Once students are in Pre-K 3, they automatically are enrolled in Pre-K 4. The remaining spaces are determined by lottery if there are more students registered than spaces and those not selected are bused to other schools with capacity until spaces open up in the school. The Early Childhood Department decides which children get bused and this year, Cordero will bus 32 students to another school due to over-capacity.

Discounted Lunches at Cordero

The school offers discounted lunches for students who qualify. Families must complete an application to determine if they meet the financial requirements. Approximately 40% of students are eligible for free lunch.

Sports at Cordero

Rafael De J Cordero/PS 37 in Jersey City has a full-service gym and an auditorium. Sports such as soccer, basketball, and flag football are offered to middle school students after school. After-school activities include enrichment programs such as music, wood carving, and other classes. There is a nominal fee for these programs.

PS 37  is just two blocks from Hamilton Park. Pre-K classes regularly use this park.

The school is very diverse. Overall, our percentages are below.

Parents Involvement in PS 37

Parents are very involved in Cordero/PS 37. When they see a need, they try to fill it. For example, many parents were dismayed that there were no A/Cs in the classrooms. The PTA took it upon itself to raise funds, and now classes have A/C units.

Safety at Cordero/PS 37

Many safety measures are adopted at the school. Once a month, staff and students practice active shooter and fire drills. Each exterior door has an inside and outside camera. Visitors, as well as parents, have a sign-in requirement and have to go through security measures. The school has a rigorous drug policy and will address anything suspicious.

About the Principal Derek Stanton: PS 37 in Jersey City is his 4th school as an educator in the Jersey City Public Schools and his first as a principal. He believes it is an extraordinary place with a robust community. He welcomes all parents to get involved and have a voice in the direction of the school. Principal Stanton envisions a future where Rafael De J Cordero/PS 37 in Jersey City is the school of choice for Jersey City parents.

Enrollment in Pre-K 3 & 4 Rafael De J Cordero/PS 37 in Jersey City is lottery-based but enrollment in all other grades is subject to address, and the school does accept students outside their zone through the District Open Enrollment Process given there is space available. The minimum enrollment age is Pre-K 3. Beginning in December 2018, parents can receive information on enrolling their children via the JCBOE website (www.jcboe.org). To start the enrollment process, you can contact Ms. Mimi at the main office number: 201-714-4390