See Barnegat, Stafford School District's Latest Niche Ranking

BARNEGAT-MANAHAWKIN, NJ — The Barnegat, Stafford and Southern Regional school districts had their grades published in the latest Niche.com rankings released this week. All districts fared well, with Southern Regional ranking among the best.

These rankings and grades, published annually for the past nine years, compare schools and districts across the United States by combining honest feedback from parents and students with hard data on schools, teachers, and student performance.

The latest Niche rankings give Barnegat schools a "B-" overall, with a "D-" in administration and a "D+" in resources and facilities bringing the numbers down.

Stafford schools also have a "B-" overall. "B+" for teachers is the district's highest grade, while the lowest is a "C" in resources in facilities.

Things get better for Southern Regional, which has an "A-." Its only low grade is a "C" for diversity, with mostly "A" grades and one "B+" for academics.

Out of 245 "best" school districts in New Jersey, Southern Regional comes in at number 91. It's number 16 for best districts for athletes and number 20 for best places to teach.

Southern Regional was also named the best district to teach in Ocean County and the second-best district overall in the county. The top honor went to Point Pleasant Beach.

These are the individual school grades:

Barnegat

• Cecil S. Collins Elementary School: B+
• Lillian M. Dunfee Elementary School: B
• Robert L. Horbelt Elementary School: B
• Joseph T. Donahue Elementary School: B-
• Russell O. Brackman Middle School: B-
• Barnegat High School: C+

Stafford (note: no grades available for Ronald L. Meinders Primary Learning Center and Oxycocus Elementary School)

• McKinley Avenue Elementary School: B
• Ocean Acres Elementary School: B
• Stafford Intermediate School: B-

Southern Regional

• Southern Regional Middle School: B
• Southern Regional High School: B+