About

Inspiring Growth, Discovery, and Confidence

Who We Are

A Community Dedicated to Transforming Education

Cedar Hill Prep School, a private institution in Somerset, New Jersey, serves students from 23 towns across the NJ-PA region. Embracing diversity and cultural immersion, our curriculum fosters curiosity and global understanding. With small class sizes and flexible instruction, we ensure high academic outcomes, consistently placing students in the top 10% nationwide. Our dedicated educators nurture each student’s potential with strategic and compassionate guidance.

Fully accredited and SEVIS certified, CHP welcomes international students and is a candidate for the IB Primary and Middle Years Programmes, pursuing IB World School authorization for a globally enriched education.

Cedar Hill school entrance and roadside sign shown side by side
Aerial view of Cedar Hill school buildings, parking areas, and grounds
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Smiling young student waving while seated inside a classroom
Our Mission

Nurturing young people to achieve their unique potential

Cedar Hill Prep believes that the key to harnessing each student’s special gift is to create an inclusive learning environment that will inspire and empower young minds to reach their full potential academically, emotionally, and socially. Our students are continuously building upon a foundation to grow as lifelong learners and contribute to the development of a more connected, peaceful, and sustainable planet.

Leadership and Governance

The Team Leading Cedar Hill Prep

Nandini Menon Ed.D. Chief Education Officer _ Founder

Nandini Menon, Ed.D.

Founder

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Dr. Raghu Menon

Chairman of the Board

Board of Advisors

Guiding Our Vision for Excellence

ryan-t-jones

Ryan T. Jones

Board Member- Advisor for Liability and Insurance

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Dr. Raghu Menon

Chairman of the Board

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Thoranath Sukumaran

Board Advisor - Business

Bharath-R.-Bangalore-2024

Bharath R. Bangalore

Accounting and Finance

Diverse team stands together raising fists during a workplace celebration
Join Our Team

Help Us Shape the Future

Do you consider yourself an educator who looks beyond conventional teaching methods, prioritizing the overall growth of every student? Are you dedicated to utilizing research-backed teaching strategies and eager to expand your expertise through IB workshops and collaborative teacher groups?

If this resonates with you, Cedar Hill Preparatory School offers more than a teaching position—it provides an opportunity to motivate, create, and evolve with a community of like-minded professionals dedicated to a comprehensive approach to education.

Accreditation

National Blue Ribbon School award logo from the U.S. Department of Education

National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

On September 28, 2017, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos named Cedar Hill Prep School as a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Cedar Hill Preparatory School has been acknowledged in the “Exemplary High Performing Schools” category in which schools are recognized among their state’s highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. National Blue Ribbon Schools are on education’s cutting edge, pioneering innovative educational practices from professional learning communities and project-based learning to social and emotional learning and positive behavior systems.

Middle States Association accreditation logo for elementary and secondary schools

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Accreditation

On October 15th, 2021 the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools awarded Cedar Hill Prep accreditation. This accredited status signifies that CHP, as an educational organization, meets all MSA Standards for Accreditation, as well as the requirements of the self-study protocol. We are delighted to share the honor of this recognition of our school as an accredited member of the MSA with all our families. We at CHP acknowledge this award as an indication of our commitment to helping each one of our students excel in academics and beyond.

International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme logo on a dark background.

International Baccalaureate Program

Cedar Hill Prep School is a Candidate School** for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). CHP is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to improve the teaching and learning of a diverse and inclusive community of students by delivering challenging, high quality programmes of international education that share a powerful vision. Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org

CHP IB Policies and Resources

CHP Academic Integrity

CHP Assessment Policy

IB Language Policy

CHP Inclusion Policy

Grade 8 Community Project

Testimonials

Hear From Our Families

When considering a school, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure the best fit for your child.

Aarav has gotten into the John Hopkins University Talented Youth Program in the Honors level. He scored 97 percentile. I am extremely happy with CHP and the way it is preparing kids for the future.

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Upasana Gupta

Our son attended Cedar Hill Prep until 2nd grade and then later he came back to CHP to complete his middle school. CHP under Ms. Nan Menon’s and Mr. Seeley’s leadership has provided our son with a nurturing environment to learn and grow. CHP develops curious minds and provides the resources to develop these curious minds. Classes at CHP are small and the education is personal. The teachers know their students and can tailor their efforts to individual student needs. Our son has been successful in his new high school, due in part, to the foundation built through his education at CHP. CHP provides a high-quality education in a supportive environment, preparing students for a successful future.

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Nima Subramanian

The Kindergarten program at Cedar Hill Prep School provided a great educational experience for my daughter. The curriculum is very thorough and prepares students for success that is above and beyond average kindergarten programs. My daughter looks forward to coming to school each day and actually enjoys doing homework! She recently received an award for academic excellence as a result of all the great work that is taught at Cedar Hill Prep! I am a proud CHP parent and look forward to the continued growth that I know my daughter will have at this wonderful school!

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Angie J. Barnes

Academic excellence at an affordable price! Personal attention to kids and great club offerings like debate and robotics! Exposure to regional and national level competitions. My kids have been “lifers” at Cedar Hill Prep where they have found a “family” away from home. They don’t want to miss even one day of school! Go CHP….!!

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Dr. Divya Gupta

We are a family who values equality and tries to stress the value of being humble to our children. We were worried that private school may encourage our daughter to feel otherwise. That concern has been eliminated in our time at CHP. The focus is on the students and how they can grow to be happy, healthy, and productive members of society in the future. This goal is shared by the parents, administration, and faculty. At every event, the director, Mrs. Nan, and the principal, Mr. Seeley, speak of such values and have such pride in their students and their school. I have seen them very involved in the daily operations of the school. They know each of their students and their families. In addition, there is no tolerance for bullying or discrimination here. CHP is extremely diverse, and every holiday, cultural celebration, and ethnicity is celebrated and welcomed with open arms. My daughter has learned so much about our country, its people, as well as different cultures around the world… and I am very grateful for that. Once again, a great balance has been achieved here.

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The Jayasuriya Family

One of the many many things I LOVE about CHP is the atmosphere of K-8. The older students foster friendships with the younger students and they encourage each other. The younger students love going to support the older students in sports and debate and the bees. The house system that is followed at CHP is fantastic. It promotes a sense of family and belonging. I cannot say enough about how much we love the K-8/house system at CHP.

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Jenny Garrofalo

Parent of Fourth Grader

Thank you for the wonderful graduation ceremony that also included those who couldn’t attend in person. Though we were unable to attend, we greatly appreciate your work and efforts to give the students a memorable sendoff to high school. Through this difficult year, CHP has remained a beacon of stability and continuity for our children. Your work in maintaining an intensive level of the school experience is groundbreaking and commendable. No other school that we’ve heard of has achieved this level of immersive virtual education that gives children as near an in-class experience as possible without missing a single day of school. Thanks to your leadership, thorough planning, and thoughtful execution, our children were able to learn and thrive even in this disruption. Your infectious (!) enthusiasm boosted everyone’s motivation and morale. The efforts of the teachers and staff in the success of this academic year have been equally remarkable and essential. We are proud to be part of the CHP community, and we look forward to another great year!

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Manisha and Saurabh Gupta

Parents of Avi and Isha Gupta

Tre’s presentations during Living History in both 6th and 7th grade were nothing short of incredible — he fully immersed himself into each character, memorized extensive dialogue, and confidently brought history to life in a way that was engaging, educational, funny, and memorable. We have seen tremendous growth in his communication skills, vocabulary, and overall self-confidence. Cedar Hill Prep has done an exceptional job nurturing Tre's intellectual curiosity and personal growth both inside and outside the classroom. The smaller class environment allows for meaningful teacher-student interaction, and the teachers and faculty genuinely care about each child's academic success as well as their personal development. Cedar Hill truly feels like a family-centered community where students are encouraged to thrive.

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Joy Ragland & Family

A Letter from Our Founder

Preparing students for the world ahead

Thank you for your interest in Cedar Hill Preparatory School. Our growth is fueled by the enthusiasm, happiness quotient and success of our students.

Why Cedar Hill Preparatory School?

More than 90% of our graduates go on to pursue STEM degrees. 85% of our students attend the top private high schools in NJ and the United States. 95% of our graduates go on to a top 100 college in the US.

 At Cedar Hill Preparatory School, we sow the seeds of curiosity, love for knowledge and the will to engage socially such that every student leaves us with a sense of identity and purpose in life.

Academic Rigor
The Cedar Hill Preparatory School curriculum is carefully designed to provide visible learning outcomes. We evaluate student performance, benchmark it against the curriculum, and are constantly making changes to improve understanding. Students of Cedar Hill Preparatory School have consistently been in the top 10 percentile of the nation for the last 19 years.

Engaging Faculty/Interactive Instruction
Small class sizes and differentiated instruction, utilizing technology and interactive multimedia sessions, have proven to be very effective in student learning.  We engage in an inquiry based curriculum and pedagogy which increases student motivation to participate, explore, and learn.

Warm and Caring Community
The spontaneous connection between administrators, teachers, students and parents is evident from the minute you walk onto the campus. There is great care taken to maintain this vibrant environment and foster connectivity among the members of the school. The spirited interaction between every member of the school community exudes a warm and engaging climate.

A Mini United Nations
At Cedar Hill Preparatory School, every member of the community, whether administrator, teacher or parent, embraces cultural differences. Each one is curious to imbibe, immerse, and understand the world. With more than 23 countries represented, there is unity in this diverse community and cultural immersion. 

Our Ethos at Cedar Hill Prep School – Equity for All
We, the administration, faculty, parents, and students of Cedar Hill Prep are a diverse, multicultural microcosm.  Every member of our school community has an equal voice, empowerment, and pride as a valued stakeholder.  Our core values celebrate our diversity.  This unity in diversity and vibrancy is showcased every day in our classrooms, hallways, and the entire campus as we recognize and celebrate the uniqueness of our diversity.

Well-balanced Arts, Music and World Languages Programs
Every student is immersed in learning fine arts, music, drama, and world languages from preschool through grade 8.  We have found that an interdisciplinary curriculum involving art, music, drama and foreign language fosters inter-cultural competence and global scholarship.

At Cedar Hill Prep School, our attention is focused on every child as we hear the vibrations of interaction among all minds, the urgency in conversations to get across one’s viewpoint, and the love and friendship in the smiles and greetings.

 Nandini Menon (Ed.D, Mind, Brain and Teaching)
Chief Education Officer, Cedar Hill Prep School

A Letter from Our Principal

Building a Foundation for Success

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to our educational family.

Cedar Hill Preparatory is a school with an honored tradition and a mission of educating the whole child. Cedar Hill Preparatory’s approach truly makes it a caring and supportive environment in which to learn. The partnerships that exist between the dedicated staff and community are evident and play a pivotal role in responding to the needs of every child who attends Cedar Hill Preparatory School. I am dedicated to preserving this positive school culture and forging strong connections to ensure the best education possible for our students.

Our focus is always to provide each child with new challenges that will result in a rewarding school experience. Academic emphasis on the core content areas of reading, language arts, science, social studies, and math will remain a priority as well as instruction in the arts, technology and physical education, providing each student with the opportunity to develop skills in these areas. Since we recognize that parents are their children’s first and most important teachers, we need your cooperation and involvement to provide your child with the best education possible. Your interest and concern in their school progress will motivate them to do their best. Maintaining contact with your child’s teachers and related service staff members is important to cultivating a successful home/school connection.

During the course of the year, it is my hope that we will work together to provide the students of Cedar Hill Preparatory School the best possible opportunities in preparing them to be world class citizens ready to master the challenges of the 21st Century with a solid foundation created here at our school. As Principal, my door is always open, and I welcome your input. Please feel to call and make an appointment to discuss any concerns, suggestions, or ideas to help make this the best year yet!

It is my desire to work collaboratively with you to provide our students with a foundation for success as they spend their early educational years at Cedar Hill Preparatory School. We invite you to explore Cedar Hill Preparatory School through this website. Its contents include a wealth of important information for students and caregivers alike. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or need more information. Welcome to the Cedar Hill Preparatory School family!

Warmly,
Donald Seeley
CHP Principal