Harrison Public Schools Kick Off 2025 Academic Year Wed. 9/3/25

Students in the Harrison Public Schools district are set to begin the 2025–2026 academic year on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, with classes starting promptly at 9:00 a.m. on that day. In keeping with long-standing tradition, there will be an early dismissal at 1:11 p.m., almost two hours earlier than the more common 3:00 p.m. dismissal time.

Why 1:11 p.m.?

Early dismissals—especially on opening days—are fairly common across New Jersey. Under New Jersey regulation N.J.A.C. 6A:32‑8.3(e), a shortened school day (whether due to inclement weather, staff development, or special scheduling) counts as an official day only if students are in session for at least four hours, excluding lunch and recess  In many districts, including Harrison, early dismissal timing is calibrated to meet this legal threshold while still drawing the school day to a manageable length.

Additionally, all New Jersey public schools must complete a minimum of 180 instructional days each year, and days with early dismissals still count toward that total. Setting the dismissal at 1:11 p.m. helps schools comply with the four-hour requirement, while easing students and teachers back into the rhythm of school without an overly long first day. District planning often favors this timing to balance instructional mandates with logistical considerations—such as transportation, staff schedules, and the comfort of students on their very first day of classes.

Harrison Public School Buildings & Grade Configurations

The Harrison Public Schools district comprises the following school buildings and grade levels they serve:

• Harrison Early Childhood Program – Serves Pre‑K3 and Pre‑K4.
• Lincoln Elementary School – Houses grades Pre‑K through 3.
• Hamilton Intermediate School – Serves grades 4 and 5
• Washington Middle School – Caters to grades 6 through 8
• Harrison High School – The district’s sole secondary school, serving grades 9 through 12

Recap

On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Harrison students will mark the start of the school year at 9 a.m., followed by an early dismissal at 1:11 p.m., ensuring compliance with state mandates and a smooth transition back to academic routines. The district’s structure—from early childhood through high school—is subdivided into private K3 and K4 programs and across four public school buildings, each serving specific grade ranges tailored to the developmental and educational needs of its students.  Harrison is an Abbott District that gets special funding from the State of New Jersey.  In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the Harrison School District budget was nearly 68 million dollars, of which $42 million (64.57% of the budget) was State money, $10 million (16.14%) was Federal money, and $12.7 million (19.29%) was paid by Local Property Tax money.

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