Official Site of The State of New Jersey

For over a century, The Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf has been a leader in educating New Jersey’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. Established in 1883, Katzenbach has evolved into a vibrant, modern community dedicated to empowering students from birth through age 21.

At Katzenbach, we believe that Deaf children can achieve anything their hearing peers can. Our programs are designed to foster academic excellence, personal growth, and pride in Deaf identity. Students thrive in an environment rich in Deaf culture, where communication is direct, access is equitable, and learning is engaging.

Our curriculum aligns with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and is taught by highly qualified, certified teachers. In addition to strong academics, we provide a full range of related services — including audiology, speech therapy, counseling, adaptive physical education, and substance abuse prevention and education — to support the whole child.

Katzenbach also offers a dynamic athletics program, giving students the opportunity to develop teamwork, sportsmanship, and school pride through a variety of competitive sports. Our athletes proudly represent the Colts on the field and court, learning the value of perseverance, leadership, and community.

The Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf holds a proud place in Deaf sports history. In 1927, Katzenbach became the first team to win the Eastern Schools for the Deaf Athletic Association (ESDAA) boys’ basketball championship. ESDAA, founded that same year by Fred Moore, continues to organize athletic tournaments that unite and celebrate schools for the Deaf across the region — a tradition Katzenbach remains honored to be part of.