Original Research by School Decision on Project Before at Selover School
Project Before at Selover School is a pre-kindergarten-only public school in South Amboy, serving just one grade level. Because it serves only the youngest students, state assessment results nor a graduation rate apply here — those measures cover older grades. The school is part of the Sayreville School District, which oversees education for this community.
South Amboy is a compact, dense city on Raritan Bay in Middlesex County. Its downtown along Broadway holds a mix of small businesses and civic buildings, and the city has invested in revitalization through the Main Street Program. The NJ Transit rail station and a ferry terminal connecting to Manhattan make it a commuter-oriented place. The population has been growing steadily, and the ferry service launched in 2023 is part of a wave of transit-oriented development. Homes in the area are valued above the national median, and rents are similarly elevated relative to national averages. The city’s small geographic footprint means schools are integrated into the neighborhood fabric rather than set apart on large campuses.
The school itself enrolls a substantial number of pre-K students for a single-grade building. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with the largest group being white, followed by Hispanic, Black, and Asian students, along with smaller shares of multiracial and American Indian or Alaska Native students. A modest share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
As a pre-K program, the school’s academic focus is early childhood development. No program offerings such as specialized curricula or enrichment were listed in the data available. The broader district, Sayreville School District, recently approved capital improvements across its facilities, including roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, and security enhancements. The district also passed a budget with a tax increase for a recent school year. These district-level decisions affect the buildings and resources that Project Before at Selover School operates within.
For families considering this school, the absence of state test scores is expected for a pre-K setting and should not be read as a weakness. The key evaluation points are the early learning environment, staff qualifications, and daily experience — information not captured in the data reviewed here. A visit or conversation with the school would be the best way to understand the program’s approach to readiness, play-based learning, and family engagement. The compact, walkable community and transit connections may appeal to parents who commute or value a dense, small-city feel.
See more original research from School Decision →