When looking to move to a new town, people with children often look at the school system. How highly is it ranked, what is the graduation rate and more? For Princeton, a repeatedly high ranking as one of the best public school districts has made it an attraction to many. The 2022 rankings by Niche.com – a company that analyzes data to provide comprehensive rankings, places Princeton Public Schools (PPS) as the #3 best school district in NJ (with West Windsor- Plainsboro Regional School district right behind at #4) and the 30th best school district in America. Additionally, US News ranked 17,857 high schools nationwide, placing Princeton High School in the top 4% of schools across the US.
“Princeton Public Schools is both a very good school district and a district working hard to be even better,” explains Kathleen Foster, Interim PPS Superintendent for Curriculum. “In the pre-K classrooms, our youngest learners begin to develop self-regulation skills and autonomy through play. That sense of play continues through the grade levels as staff create rich opportunities for students to imagine, problem solve and explore. As students move through the middle school, PPS continues to offer excellent academics combined with opportunities to participate in athletics, the arts, and a wide variety of clubs and extra-curricular activities. Providing expanded opportunities for all students to excel is part of the PPS mission. By high school, thanks to a strong foundation in middle school, many students are ready to take on challenges that include independent research projects, accelerated and AP courses, and a wide variety of extra curriculars.”
Many of these ideals are what one looks for when defining a school district as one of the best. Niche.com helps people take a closer look at the varying qualities of schools by breaking its analysis down into 6 categories: academics, college prep, diversity, teachers, clubs/activities and health and safety. In a district with 3,842 students, PPS received an A+ in each category.
Academics are a top priority for many in this Ivy League college town, where more than 87% of Princeton High School (PHS) 2020 graduates enrolled in college. 348 teachers work throughout the district, at an 11:1 student/teacher ratio, to help the students get there.
“What I have seen through my child is that there is a high quality of academic excellence expected at PPS schools. The teachers, through elementary and middle school, make sure the fundamentals are mastered, which allows the child to build on these, grow, and achieve in broader areas of study,” shares a current Princeton Middle School Parent.
A measure of how students are learning is calculated by the state each year. Due to the lack of standardized testing for the prior two school years, the latest data is from the 2018-2019 school year, which demonstrates the PPS students exceeded the standard.
The state average SAT score is a 1010, whereas PHS students score an average of 1334. Additionally, to prepare for college, nearly 75% of PHS students take an AP (advanced placement) course and more than 50% of those students score a 3 or better on those AP exams.
“I’ve been hugely impressed by the Princeton Public Schools ever since my oldest, now a freshman at PHS, started as a kindergartener at Littlebrook (Elementary),” notes Jane Manners, parent to current 9th, 5th and 2nd graders throughout PPS. “In particular, my husband and I have been struck by the district’s small class sizes, the caring and dedicated teachers and administrators, the abundance of resources, and — in recent years in particular — the district’s sustained efforts to ensure that its opportunities are available to all children equally.”
This has been a priority for Dr. Carol Kelley, who entered as PPS Superintendent of Schools last summer with a passion for equity, to improve learning and learning conditions for all students. Early on, she had PPS join the BELE Network (Building Equitable Learning Environments), which helps direct this work and incorporates student participation by many at PHS.
“The combination of our passionate and involved students, in conjunction with the ongoing efforts of our staff (who now have opportunities for expanded professional development related to equity), and the support of national organizations such as BELE, the National Equity Project, and Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN), puts Princeton Public Schools in an enviable position to make profound and important changes,” offers Dr. Kelley. “We want to create an outstanding educational environment that supports inclusion and provides opportunities for all students, and we have already made progress.”
For students that need academic supports, Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS) at PPS has seen a major shift. More comprehensive support across the district and a focus on training for the professionals, aims to help ensure educational equity for more students.
With a student population that is neurodiverse, PPS is also comprised of students from varying backgrounds and ethnicities. In our schools this year there are 50.1% White, 20.8% Asian, 15.9% Hispanic, 5.8% Black and 0.1% American Indian or Alaska Native students enrolled. In addition, 12.6% of the students are of more than one race/ethnicity. This diversity, exposing children to different people and cultures, is what attracts many to the area. Venkat Yaddanapudi says it is one of the things that stood out when considering where to move with his children last year, entering 6th and 9th grade.
“First, student diversity was a very important criteria for us to ensure our children are able to interact and learn from students with other backgrounds and interests. Second, the world languages program. PHS was the only public school in Central Jersey that offered Japanese as a world language, and our daughter was keen on continuing that language study from her Michigan middle school. Finally, PPS curriculum, unlike that of other ranked public schools, is geared towards an all-around development of the student population.”
For longtime Princeton resident, Judy Kutin, the diversity of student population leads to a large variety of interests and hobbies, which has been a huge benefit for her children (7th, 11th and a recent PHS graduate).
“Through the public school my children have been able to participate or even be leaders in everything from Broadway Club, Cold-Blooded Animal Club, 3-d Printing Club, Fencing team, and Anime Club. Everyone can discover a new passion, support a friend’s passion, or create their own group accessible to all,” Kutin details.
The clubs and activities throughout PPS are organized differently at each school level. At PHS, they are student directed, which is what makes them so diverse and also so well attended.
“PHS Clubs are at the heart of our school. They are special outlets for our students to follow their passions and explore new things. And of course, they are places to be social and make new friends,” details Diana Lygas, PHS Dean of Students, where more than 100 clubs are offered annually. “When a student is interested in creating a club, they just need an adult advisor and a mission statement to fill out the club form. This is why our clubs range from academic to artistic, athletic to global affairs and everything in between.”
Beyond clubs, many students opt to be part of the athletic opportunities in the district. While the administration enjoys the active and competitive culture for our students, the safety of all is at the forefront.
This starts with the collection of health information, ensuring each student is medically cleared. With the pandemic, that workload multiplied. Submission of vaccination data, combined, utilization of the latest technology and cooperation between departments has really helped the district to move ahead and keep sports on track.
“After the district was able to turn-key Crisis Go and we were able to start collecting those vaccination cards, now this spring we were able to shift all those athletes over to the new PowerSchool district model. We’ve got an extremely high vaccination rate on all of our sports teams, so if anyone tests positive, we can still play our games because we’ve collected all that data,” explains Brian Dzbenski, Director of Athletics and Supervisor of K-12 Health and Physical Education. “Health and safety of our students is an all-encompassing component. Our coaches are now sensitive to the social-emotional aspect of students, too. We’re seeing our children evolve and coming out of their shells a little. It’s good to continue on that path of a return to normal.”
Though Princeton topped the best school charts long before COVID hit, the way the district handled things the past two years has helped to keep A+ ratings for health and safety.
The school principals, working with the upper administrators, the Princeton Health Department and school staff have had to work many additional hours to ensure schools could stay open and safely. And the PPS school nurses were right there for all of it.
“They have worked tirelessly to keep students and staff safe. Our school nurses were trained in contact tracing at the start of the pandemic, and they have worked hand-in-hand with the Princeton Health Department from the very beginning. Our nurses have worked very hard–during the school day, at night, and over weekends–to keep the number of Covid-positive cases as low as possible,” said Micki Crisafulli, Director of Special Services. And with numbers kept low and transmission minimal, these efforts have paid off.
Even with such accomplishments the district is always striving to be better, as Foster stated. This is great news for some, who shared with Princeton Perspectives that PPS may have “rested in their brand for a while” due to its consistently high rankings. As with any large company or organization, there are some areas that get over-looked or are weaker that need to be strengthened.
While data is important to help compare different school districts, it is the practice and experiences of students, staff, parents and families as a whole that validate them. It is a testament to the community and the schools that an average of 96.7% of PPS students graduate, and it is the district’s mission that on their journey to get there they learn the tools to “lead lives of joy and purpose as knowledgeable, creative and compassionate citizens of a global society” (the district’s mission).
Lisa Jacknow spent years working in national and local news in and around New York City before moving to Princeton. Working as both a TV producer and news reporter, Lisa came to this area to focus on the local news of Mercer County at WZBN-TV. In recent years, she got immersed in the Princeton community by serving leadership roles at local schools in addition to volunteering for other local non-profits. In her free time, Lisa loves to spend time with her family, play tennis, sing and play the piano. A graduate of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, Lisa was raised just north of Boston, Massachusetts but has lived in the tri-state area since college. She is excited to be Editor and head writer for Princeton Perspectives!
With Princeton University and other renowned institutions in town, world-leading scientific and pharmaceutical companies all around and a top-rated school system, it’s no wonder the Princeton area has the best of the best. Some of the things that make it so great are best kept secrets…but others have been highlighted with awards and recognition that are worth noting. From books to food & beverages, outdoor experiences and more, there are a great deal of “best of” opportunities in our area.
Last year, 
The unique flavors and quality products have been noted not just in the press but by locals and visitors alike. It’s common to see a line from their storefront down the sidewalk in Palmer Square, with people vying for their ice cream. Amongst its accolades, The Bent Spoon has also been cited for 15 years as the best NJ ice cream in NJ Monthly. Travel & Leisure and AAA Magazine highlighted the spot in 2021.
“Folks who get to know our store well know that it’s a place where you can often find books that have disappeared from the shelves elsewhere and about 70% of our inventory is discounted 20-80%.”
Less than one mile north, also on Nassau Street, sits Princeton’s other local bookstore 
Founded by Aline Lenaz in 2001, the retail space resembles an English reading room, and the shelves are lined with books from authors worldwide including political thrillers from Princeton-based 
The first, sitting on the border of Robbinsville and East Windsor, is 
Now with a 100 acre-property (25 vine-planted) and a production of more than 4,000 cases a year, Working Dog Winery welcomes thousands of visitors annually. A typical, sunny day could see over 500 people enjoying tastings or sitting out amongst the 6-acres of maintained grass area, and there’s live music every weekend.
“With these grapes we produce Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Vidal Blank, Dolce Vita, a late harvest Vidal Blank dessert wine, Stony Brook Blush, based mostly on Vidal & minimally on Chambourcin, Rosso Della Valle, our Chambourcin, Barbera and three Port dessert wines, Red, White & Chocolate. In addition, we buy grapes from CA for our Cabernet Sauvignon & White Merlot. We also offer Italian Wines, such as Sangiovese, which are cellared in our winery & a variety of sparkling wines,” adds Neri.
“Now we have 18 varieties we make. We grow all our own grapes and use our homemade apple cider to make our apple wine. It’s been a great addition for us,” notes Tannwen Mount, who developed the idea of adding a winery when she returned from California to work the farm with her parents.
“It is an honor to be recognized by NJRPA and other park professionals throughout the state for our exemplary facilities and programs.” says Aaron T. Watson, Executive Director of Mercer County Park Commission. “The Park Commission is proud to offer a variety of passive and active recreation opportunities to the people of Mercer County, and we’re also responsible for the stewardship and restoration of the natural areas in our park system. With five golf courses, athletic fields, picnic areas, a nature center, an equestrian center, a historic farm, many miles of hiking trails, and even a wildlife rehabilitation center, there is something for everyone in our park system.”
Awards were also granted to 
This street is closed…can’t turn there…traffic, traffic, everywhere! No matter where you try to go in Princeton these days, it seems more cars are on the road and road closures don’t make things any easier. Multiple construction projects are underway in and around downtown, with long term goals of creating better environments and infrastructures for enjoying town. Unfortunately, the projects, road closures and reduced parking, in the short term, can make life stressful and complicated. To provide you with a full understanding of what to expect, how you will be affected and what you can look forward to, Princeton Perspectives has the 4-1-1 on all of the changes.
For pedestrians, the biggest change to come will be at the Nassau/Witherspoon traffic light. A project of the 
The goal here? To create a more walkable and comfortable outdoor/dining space by widening sidewalks to 18 feet, permanently changing Witherspoon to one-way vehicle traffic from Nassau to Spring Street, with one 12 ft. travel lane and a 10 ft. service lane on the western side of Witherspoon. Several, if not all, of the metered parking spots are likely to be removed.
Chambers Street will soon be the crew’s work zone, with traffic shifting, sometimes going down to one lane and possibly times of full closure. The sidewalk at 2-4 Chambers St. and half of the roadway there will be primarily affected. Stores along Nassau St, including 
While 20 Nassau stays, the building portion at 2-4 Chambers St. is being torn down. The two will become one and turned into an approximately 180-room hotel with a lobby, grab-and-go café, eatery as well as an 80-space underground parking area for hotel use. The hotel is environmentally designed to a LEED Silver standard. Free bicycle rental is also expected for guests, as many are expected to be in town for the university.
The downtown area is expected to get even busier this year with construction at the lot next to 
With the expansion of 5G, to accommodate increased usage by customers and a desire to enable download of larger files, its estimated 10 small cell sites will be added in Princeton by Verizon that, in conjunction with its other technologies, intend to improve experiences for everyone.
There’s a reason people choose to live in Princeton as opposed to some of the neighboring towns. Besides its highly rated schools, the walkability and vibrancy of town is another strong attraction. Therefore, many would argue that keeping the business community strong and providing opportunities for it to be even stronger and more vibrant would benefit both businesses and residents alike. However, there has been much debate about how to best make this happen.
For decades, there have been talks amongst the business community, and under the guidance of the all-volunteer 
“That’s been an old aspiration of many local entrepreneurs and city leaders. The pandemic has accelerated the need of forming a private corporation with the participation of local authorities to accomplish many tasks oriented to have a better Princeton, for both property and business owners, as well as for residents,” shares Omar Delgado, owner of 
“Perhaps downtown Princeton is not dilapidated, but it certainly needs improvement, and the current methods are not doing the job,” believes Bill Hare, owner of a property at Nassau & Witherspoon that currently houses 
But the community has not all been in agreement. Nearly a dozen property and business owners also called in on Feb. 28th and shared a desire to postpone or stop the vote, citing concerns of how the benefits would outweigh the cost, notably with how far reaching the SID is with regards to some of the businesses it’s chosen to include.
Palmer Square tenants, because they already pay into promotional funding provided by 
Love can spark when two people are at the right place at the right time. When that occurs in Princeton, a town where people often come and stay forever, it is the perfect recipe for a lifetime romance. Such is the case in the following three Princeton-made love stories:
Though official statistics have not been recorded, it’s been said that 50% or more of Princeton University undergraduates marry each other. Heather Harnly and Greg Hughes contribute to this beautiful statistic.
“Growing up out west, I loved it because it is so beautiful, but I’ve never felt a sense of community like I feel here,” Greg explains. “On the west coast, everyone is outwardly nice, they smile and wave, but you don’t get to know them. Here, there’s a gruff exterior, but people will drop everything to help you out. It’s really sucked me in. It’s a pretty special town.”
And the middle school in Princeton is where our next love story began. Of the 336 teachers working at Princeton Public Schools, only two fell in love after bonding over 7th grade Social Studies. It’s true! Andrea first met Jonathan Hunt when she came for an interview and was asked to teach a lesson to his World Cultures and Geography class at John Witherspoon Middle School (now, Princeton Middle School).
“Life is mostly focused on the kids and caring for them. Any down time we have is spent playing with the kids, building castles, running around outside, or figuring out a fun craft they can make and display around the house,” Andrea adds.
Laughter, an important key to long-term relationships. That’s what Rhona says has kept her in love with Allen over nearly 54 years of marriage. Well, laugher and so much more.
Rhona and Allen dated for the next several months and were engaged by the end of 1967. They married near Rhona’s hometown in northern NJ in June 1968 and then returned to and remained in Princeton. By 1970 they had their first of two daughters and were entrenched in the local community. Allen had joined a local law practice and became the Princeton Planning Board attorney for over 40 years. During that time, he also joined the boards of several local nonprofits including at the Library, Princeton Area Community Foundation and The Jewish Center. Rhona returned to school and got her MSW, which led to her working at Princeton Family Service and then at Elm Court. She worked for Princeton University admissions, joined The Jewish Center Board and performs with OnStage around the community. The Porters bought an apartment in New York City 12 years ago, but their primary home remains here.
The pandemic has certainly affected every facet of our lives…and there’s no doubt that it has taken a toll on romanticism. Whether it’s the fact that many couples are spending so much time together at home (working from home, etc.) or masking/unmasking has kept you from enjoying some of your traditionally favorite activities together, it’s time to get back in the game! Valentine’s Day may have passed, but there are 364 other days in the year to get out and enjoy time together. Despite all the ups and downs of the past two years, I’m happy to report there are a variety of things you can safely do around Princeton to reignite that spark, keep things burning or simply get out of your house with someone you care about.
My son recently said to me, “Oh, you and dad are actually going out tonight?” Ouch! The comment was referring to our spending many a weekend night on our couch recently rather than at a restaurant or out with friends, because the frigid temperatures and Omicron surge were keeping us home. But a last-minute invitation to try out a new cooking school got us off the couch and provided a much-needed date night!
And we felt the love. First, there’s the passion Alex has about everything cooking-related, and you can feel it when he shows you things as simple (or so you thought) as how to properly chop a vegetable. Then, there’s the relationship he has with farm, fresh and local ingredients which you see as he demonstrates how to use not just the florets, but the leaves and stems of a cauliflower. We opted for a vegetarian menu, but varieties of classes are offered including for meat-eaters, those desiring knife skills, for picky eaters, with exotic menus or meant for everyday cooking.
The cooking school is currently housed in the Red Barn Milk Company up Route 31, just north of Hopewell. COVID precautions are taken, and each class has a max of 12 students. If you prefer a more personal opportunity, you can opt for a private lesson like we had. The class is really hands on, and the food combinations you create are delicious. Cooking together is something most couples rarely do, and it really makes for a fun time. And I’ll add, yesterday, when I walked into the house to the smell of butter and thyme (my husband was trying to recreate the croutons we made in class) it triggered great emotions! If you simply can’t envision cooking with your spouse – go with a friend!
Another place you could go together to feel the love is 
If you don’t have a fear of heights, you can strengthen your commitment to your partner by walking together over a bridge! The 
A second bridge you could romantically enjoy together is the Swinging Bridge over the Stony Brook in Institute Woods. Use 