See How Much Barnegat, Stafford Schools Pay Per Student

BARNEGAT-MANAHAWKIN, NJ — School districts in New Jersey budgeted an average of about $18,000 per students last school year. But spending by district significantly varied — even among those who teach the same grades and have similar numbers of students enrolled, according to new data from the New Jersey Department of Education.

The figures come from the state's 2022 Taxpayers' Guide to Education, which shows the amounts that districts and schools have spent and budgeted per student. The guide also features information on what districts have spent or budgeted in specific categories, such as supplies, salaries and benefits, lunch programs, and support services.

The average budgetary cost per New Jersey student totaled $18,208 — an increase of $1,385 (8.2 percent) increase from the 2020-21 school year. The state median for per-student budgeting in the 2021-22 school year was $18,326, which was $1,559 (9.3 percent) more than the prior school year.

Don't jump to conclusions based on numbers alone, though. Per-student spending in U.S. public schools depends on a range of factors, including property values, tax revenues, financial constraints and political conditions.

So how much do Barnegat and Stafford schools budget per student? Here's the list. For the full list of NJ schools, visit here.

Barnegat School District

Barnegat falls under the category of K-12 districts with 1,801-3,500 students. According to numbers from the last school year, the state average cost per pupil in all K-12 districts was $17,959 and the state median cost per pupil in all K-12 districts was $17,883.

Barnegat schools ranked 61 of 76, with $15,835 per student in the last school year.

Stafford School District

Stafford is a K-6 district, which the statewide cost per pupil in the last school year was $17,770 and the state median cost per pupil was $18,985.

Stafford schools ranked 46 of 57, with $16,623 budgeted per student.

Southern Regional School District

The state puts 7-12 and 9-12 districts together. The state average cost per pupil in all 7-12 districts was $18,188 and the state median cost per pupil in all 7-12 districts was $19,928.

Southern Regional schools ranked 24 of 46, with $20,081 budgeted per student.

These figures primarily serve as a way to help the public understand educational spending in their community and the state.

"This guide can be a helpful first step in discussions that residents have with their local school officials about school-spending needs," said Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, the state's acting education commissioner.

This article contains additional reporting by Josh Bakan.