In 1846 Columbia College presented Jersey City with a free Scholarship,
which was accepted by the Common Council on March 26th, 1847. Several
students from Jersey City had the benefit of this scholarship as late
as 1890, about which time the privilege seems to have been withdrawn.
At present a free scholarship in the University of the City of New
York and one in Rutgers College are open to the young men of Jersey
City who attend the High School. The only condition being that the
applicant must attain a certain percentage and stand in the upper third
of the graduating class. The next vacancies will occur in June, 1899,
In 1860 Mr. William Dickinson became a member of the School Board and
practically reorganized the school system. Until his death he was
connected with the Board in some capacity and to him is due in a large
degree the excellence and the high standing of the Jersey City schools.
The High School was organized in 1872 and in 1876 stood second only to
the Boston High School.
In her various public schools, Jersey City possesses a splendid
corps of teachers, whose faithful, efficient work has been broadly
demonstrated in the practical education of hundreds of men and women
of Jersey City. The many who have been able to have more extended
educational advantages look back with pride to their early school
days in Jersey City's public schools, where were laid the thorough
foundations of their education. In 1897 the Women's Club started a free
kindergarten; in 1898 the Board of Education came to their assistance,
and before very long we hope to see the kindergarten a recognized
branch of the public school system of our city. There are many private
and parochial schools of great excellence in the city, but this is too
limited a sketch to do them justice.