Affluent NJ High School Sparks Debate With New Socialist Club Flyer Featuring Karl Marx

Affluent New Jersey High School Launches Student Socialist Club

A flyer obtained by Fox News Digital shows that Highland Park High School, located in a prosperous New Jersey suburb southwest of New York City, is promoting a newly formed Socialist Club for students. The club held its inaugural meeting on Thursday during lunch and lists a Mr. Girvan as the faculty advisor.

The promotional material uses a bold headline, "WE WANT YOU", positioned above an image of Karl Marx pointing directly at the viewer — a deliberate visual echo of the iconic World War I-era "I WANT YOU" Uncle Sam recruiting poster. The flyer invites students to "learn ways to solve social problems that don't involve exploiting the working class."

Other slogans on the flyer include: "Learn what socialism is — not just what they tell you," "Learn media and literacy skills along the way," and "To help us build a better world!" The pamphlet closes with the familiar socialist rallying cry, "Workers of the world unite!"

Local Context and Demographics

According to Census Reporter, Highland Park reports a median household income above $100,000 — considerably higher than the current U.S. median of about $83,730. The club's appearance in an affluent community has drawn attention, in part because political clubs in schools can provoke debate about curriculum, extracurricular balance and community values.

Broader Trends and Reactions

The launch of the club comes amid broader signs of growing interest in left-leaning ideas among younger adults. A March 2025 survey by the Cato Institute found that 62% of respondents aged 18 to 29 view socialism favorably, while 14% said they favored full communism; that poll surveyed a 2,000-person sample. The study did not include minors, but it highlights shifting views among young adults.

Recent elections have also reflected rising support for candidates who identify with democratic socialist platforms. The article notes that avowed socialist Zohran Mamdani was elected as the next mayor of New York City and that a large share of younger voters supported him, according to the Associated Press.

School District Statement

"All high school clubs are subject to the Equal Access Act requiring that school districts permit extracurricular clubs, regardless of their political content," Superintendent Kristina Susca said in a brief response to questions.

The Equal Access Act requires public secondary schools that allow non-curricular student groups to provide equal access to all student clubs regardless of viewpoint. School officials, parents and community members may continue discussions about club activities, oversight, and educational objectives as the year progresses.

Sources: Fox News Digital (flyer), Census Reporter, Cato Institute poll (March 2025), Associated Press.