Per Pupil Federal Relief Money In New Jersey 20 Times Higher For Camden Than Cherry Hill

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square, The Center Square New Jersey

June 10, 2022

(The Center Square) – Despite being just 7 miles apart, the Camden City School District will receive federal pandemic relief funding at a rate more than 20 times per pupil than that of neighboring Cherry Hill School District.

The Camden school district received $181.7 million in federal pandemic relief money, or $26,784 per pupil, according to the state of New Jersey. Cherry Hill received $13.4 million, or $1,270 per pupil.

The federal government, in its distribution of federal pandemic relief funding, heavily favors school districts with more students from low-income households. For example, the federal free lunch program includes 57.3% of Camden's students and 13.4% of those in Cherry Hill.

"The state of New Jersey received $2.77 billion in federal pandemic relief money for K-12 schools," according to the U.S. Department of Education. Spending by school districts is to be done by the end of 2024.

The focus of the work of The Center Square New Jersey is state and local-level government and economic reporting that approaches stories with a taxpayer sensibility.