At Least 253 New Jersey Schools Have Reported High Lead Levels, Study Says

At least 253 New Jersey schools have reported high levels of lead in drinking water over the past year, and there could be more as the data continues to be developed, a new report says.

New Jersey Future, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes sensible growth, redevelopment and infrastructure investments, released a report Thursday that shows the first statewide compilation of the results of school districts' tests for lead in their facilities' drinking water.

The state Department of Education declined to comment on the report, only saying every district must make all test results available at the school facility and on the district's website. The regulations also require notification to the Department of Education, as well as to parents, in any instances where positive results over the established level are reported.

Read more: New Ranking Of New Jersey's Best Elementary Schools Released

The New Jersey Future analysis shows that lead was found in drinking water in districts of all types and sizes and in all geographic areas of the state. In virtually every case, remedial action was taken, such as shutting down the water fountain or putting up a sign that says "DO NOT DRINK."

New Jersey Future, which collected the data from the state Department of Education, emphasized that the data is likely incomplete, however.

While all school districts were required to post the results of their testing to their websites and to inform parents and families in their district, not all districts have submitted data to the Department of Education. Only districts with lead-positive test results in the most recent testing were required to submit data to the Department of Education, according to the report.

Several large districts, including Camden and Atlantic City, were not included in the data but have previously addressed the problem of lead in their school drinking water, the report notes.

The report comes several months after Gov. Chris Christie announced that all of the state's 3,000 schools would be tested for lead exposure and the state appropriated $10 million to help cover the costs.

A level of 15 parts per billion is set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the maximum allowable amount, as lead in drinking water can have serious health impacts, especially for children.

"This is a statewide problem that needs state-level attention. New Jersey is to be commended for being one of the few states to require testing for lead in drinking water, and state agencies should build on this important first step to work toward the best solutions," said New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach.

"The first recommendation in this report is for more comprehensive and standardized data collection and reporting, which will ensure greater transparency at all levels and will help in determining an appropriate response to the problem."

The state Board of Education adopted the lead-testing requirements in July 2016 in the wake of the Flint, Michigan, water crisis that grabbed national headlines and raised concerns about schoolchildren being exposed to lead in their drinking water.

Here is the list of schools that tested, in at least one spot in their facility, and discovered lead exceeding 15 parts per billion:

• ABSECON, ATLANTIC Marsh Elementary - Attales Middle School
• ANDOVER REGIONAL, SUSSEX Long Pond School
• ASBURY PARK, MONMOUTH Asbury Park High School
• ASBURY PARK, MONMOUTH Barack Obama School
• ASBURY PARK, MONMOUTH MLK Middle School
• ASBURY PARK, MONMOUTH Thurgood Marshall
• AVON, MONMOUTH Avon Elementary School
• BASS RIVER TOWNSHIP, BURLINGTON Bass River Elemenary School
• BAYONNE, HUDSON Bayonne High School
• BERKELEY HEIGHTS, UNION Columbia Middle School
• BERKELEY HEIGHTS, UNION Governor Livingston High School
• BERKELEY HEIGHTS, UNION Mary Kay McMillin Early Childhood Center
• BERKELEY HEIGHTS, UNION Mountain Park Elementary School
• BERKELEY HEIGHTS, UNION Thomas P. Hughes Elementary School
• BERKELEY HEIGHTS, UNION William Woodruff Elementary School
• BERLIN, CAMDEN Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School
• BERLIN, CAMDEN John F. Kennedy Elementary School
• BLOOMFIELD, ESSEX Berkeley School
• BLOOMFIELD, ESSEX Demarest School
• BLOOMFIELD, ESSEX Fairview School
• BLOOMFIELD, ESSEX Forest Glen School
• BLOOMFIELD, ESSEX Oak View School
• BLOOMFIELD, ESSEX Sr. High School
• BLOOMFIELD, ESSEX Watsessing School
• BLOOMINGDALE, PASSAIC Bloomingdale Avenue School
• BLOOMINGDALE, PASSAIC Hillside Avenue School
• BLOOMINGDALE, PASSAIC Livingston Avenue School
• BLOOMINGDALE, PASSAIC Orange Avenue School
• BLOOMINGDALE, PASSAIC Walnut Avenue School
• BORDENTOWN REGIONAL, BURLINGTON Bordentown Regional Middle School
• BORDENTOWN REGIONAL, BURLINGTON Bordentown Regional High School Community
• BORDENTOWN REGIONAL, BURLINGTON Bordentown Regional Middle School
• BORDENTOWN REGIONAL, BURLINGTON Clara Barton Elementary School
• BORDENTOWN REGIONAL, BURLINGTON MacFarland Intermediate School
• BORDENTOWN REGIONAL, BURLINGTON Peter Muschal Elementary School
• BOUND BROOK, SOMERSET Bound Brook High School
• BOUND BROOK, SOMERSET Lafayette School
• BRICK TOWNSHIP, OCEAN Drum Point Elementary School
• BRICK TOWNSHIP, OCEAN Lake Rivera Middle School
• BRICK TOWNSHIP, OCEAN Midstreams Elementary School
• BRIDGETON, CUMBERLAND Cherry Street School
• BRIELLE, MONMOUTH Brielle Elementary School
• BRIGANTINE, ATLANTIC Brigatine Elementary School
• BURLINGTON, BURLINGTON Captain James Lawrence Elementary School
• BURLINGTON, BURLINGTON Elias Boudinot Elementary School
• BURLINGTON, BURLINGTON Samuel Smith Elementary School
• BURLINGTON, BURLINGTON Burlington Township High School–Hopkins Building
• BURLINGTON, BURLINGTON B. Bernice Young Elementary School
• BYRAM TOWNSHIP, SUSSEX Bryam Intermediate School
• BYRAM TOWNSHIP, SUSSEX Bryam Lakes School
• CHESTER TOWNSHIP, MORRIS Black River Middle School
• CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP, BURLINGTON Chesterfield Elementary School
• CINNAMINSON TOWNSHIP, BURLINGTON Elanor Rush
• CLAYTON, GLOUCESTER Clayton Public School
• CLOSTER, BERGEN Tenakill Middle School
• DELANCO, BURLINGTON Joan Pearson Elementary School
• DELANCO, BURLINGTON Walnut Street Middle School
• DELAWARE TOWNSHIP, HUNTERDON Delaware Township School
• DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL, HUNTERDON Delaware Valley Regional High School
• DEPTFORD, GLOUCESTER Deptford High School
• DEPTFORD, GLOUCESTER Good Intent School
• DEPTFORD, GLOUCESTER Lake Tract School
• DEPTFORD, GLOUCESTER Monongahela Middle School
• DEPTFORD, GLOUCESTER Oak Valley School
• DEPTFORD, GLOUCESTER Pine Acres School
• DEPTFORD, GLOUCESTER Shady Lane School
• EAGLESWOOD TOWNSHIP, OCEAN Eagleswood Township Elementary School
• EAST GREENWICH TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER Jeffrey Clark School
• EAST GREENWICH TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER Samuel Mickle School
• EAST RUTHERFORD, BERGEN Alfred Faust Intermediate School
• FREDON TOWNSHIP, SUSSEX Frendon Township Public School
• FREEHOLD REGIONAL, MONMOUTH Colts Neck High School
• FREEHOLD REGIONAL, MONMOUTH Howell High School
• FREEHOLD REGIONAL, MONMOUTH Marlboro High School
• GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, ATLANTIC Arthur Rann Elementary School
• GREATER EGG HARBOR REGIONAL, ATLANTIC Absegami High School
• GREATER EGG HARBOR REGIONAL, ATLANTIC Cedar Creek High School
• GREATER EGG HARBOR REGIONAL, ATLANTIC Oakcrest High School
• HAWTHORNE, PASSAIC Hawthorne High School
• HAWTHORNE, PASSAIC Jefferson Elementary School
• HAWTHORNE, PASSAIC Roosevelt Elementary School
• HAWTHORNE, PASSAIC Washington Elementary School
• HIGH POINT REGIONAL, SUSSEX High Point Regional High School
• HOLLAND TOWNSHIP, HUNTERDON Holland Twonship School
• HOLMDEL, MONMOUTH Holmdel High School
• HOLMDEL, MONMOUTH Indian Hill School
• HOLMDEL, MONMOUTH William R. Satz School
• HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, CUMBERLAND Hopewell Crest School
• HOWELL, MONMOUTH Greenville School
• HOWELL, MONMOUTH Grielbling School
• HOWELL, MONMOUTH Land O'Pines School
• HOWELL, MONMOUTH Middle School North
• HOWELL, MONMOUTH Ramtown School
• HOWELL, MONMOUTH Taunton School
• ISLAND HEIGHTS, OCEAN Island Heights Grade School
• JACKSON, OCEAN Crawford-Rodriguez Elementary
• JACKSON, OCEAN Goetz Middle School
• JACKSON, OCEAN Johnson Elementary
• JACKSON, OCEAN Liberty High School
• JACKSON, OCEAN McAuliffe Middle School
• JACKSON, OCEAN Memorial High School
• JACKSON, OCEAN Switlik Elementary School
• KENILWORTH, UNION Harding Elementary School
• KEYPORT, MONMOUTH Keyport Central School
• KEYPORT, MONMOUTH Keyport High School
• KINNELON, MORRIS Kiel School
• KINNELON, MORRIS Kinnelon High School
• KINNELON, MORRIS Pearl Milller School
• KINNELON, MORRIS Sisco School
• LAKELAND REGIONAL, PASSAIC Lakewood Regional High School
• LENAPE REGIONAL, BURLINGTON Cherokee High School
• LENAPE REGIONAL, BURLINGTON Lenape High School
• LENAPE REGIONAL, BURLINGTON Shawnee High School
• LINWOOD, ATLANTIC Belhaven Elementary School
• LINWOOD, ATLANTIC Seaview Elementary School
• LITTLE FALLS, PASSAIC Little Falls School No. 1
• LITTLE SILVER, MONMOUTH Markham Place Middle School
• LITTLE SILVER, MONMOUTH Point Road Elementary School
• LONG BRANCH, MONMOUTH Amerigo A. Anastasia School
• LONG BRANCH, MONMOUTH Gregory School
• LONG BRANCH, MONMOUTH Lenna W. Conrow School
• LONG BRANCH, MONMOUTH Long Branch High School
• LONG BRANCH, MONMOUTH Long Branch Middle School
• LONG BRANCH, MONMOUTH Morris Avenue School
• LOPATCONG TOWNSHIP, WARREN Lopatcong Elementary School
• LOWER CAPE MAY REGIONAL, CAPE MAY Lower Cape May Regional High School
• LOWER TOWNSHIP, CAPE MAY Carl T. Mitnick School
• LOWER TOWNSHIP, CAPE MAY Charles W. Sandman Consolidated School
• LOWER TOWNSHIP, CAPE MAY David C. Douglass Veterans Memorial School
• LOWER TOWNSHIP, CAPE MAY Maud T. Abrams School
• LUMBERTON, BURLINGTON Ashbrook Elementary School
• LUMBERTON, BURLINGTON Bobby's Run School
• LUMBERTON, BURLINGTON Florence L. Walther School
• LUMBERTON, BURLINGTON Lumberton Middle School
• MANASQUAN, MONMOUTH Elementary School
• MANASQUAN, MONMOUTH High School
• MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP, WARREN Mansfield Township Elementary School
• MAPLE SHADE, BURLINGTON Maple Shade High School
• MAPLE SHADE, BURLINGTON Maude M. Wilkins Elementary School
• MAPLE SHADE, BURLINGTON Ralph J. Steinhauer Elementary School
• MARLBORO, MONMOUTH Abbott Early Learning Center
• MARLBORO, MONMOUTH Asher Holmes Elementary
• MARLBORO, MONMOUTH Defino Central Elementary
• MARLBORO, MONMOUTH Dugan Elementary
• MARLBORO, MONMOUTH Marlboro Elementary
• MARLBORO, MONMOUTH Marlboro MS
• MARLBORO, MONMOUTH Memorial MS
• MARLBORO, MONMOUTH Robertsville Elementary
• MATAWAN-ABERDEEN REGIONAL, MONMOUTH Cambridge Park Elementary School
• MATAWAN-ABERDEEN REGIONAL, MONMOUTH Cliffwood Avenue Elementary School
• MATAWAN-ABERDEEN REGIONAL, MONMOUTH Matawan-Aberdeen Middle School
• MATAWAN-ABERDEEN REGIONAL, MONMOUTH Ravine Drive Elementary School
• MATAWAN-ABERDEEN REGIONAL, MONMOUTH Strathmore Elementary School
• MEDFORD, BURLINGTON Cranberry Pines School
• MEDFORD, BURLINGTON Maurice and Everett Haines Sixth Grade Center
• MEDFORD, BURLINGTON Medford Memorial Middle School
• MEDFORD, BURLINGTON Milton H. Allen School
• METUCHEN, MIDDLESEX Edgar School
• MONROE TOWNSHIP, MIDDLESEX Barclay Brook School
• MONROE TOWNSHIP, MIDDLESEX Brookside School
• MONROE TOWNSHIP, MIDDLESEX Monroe Township High School
• MONROE TOWNSHIP, MIDDLESEX Monroe Township Middle School
• MONROE TOWNSHIP, MIDDLESEX Woodland School
• MONTVILLE, MORRIS Montville Township High School
• NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, MONMOUTH Early Childhood Center
• NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, MONMOUTH Green Grove
• NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, MONMOUTH Midtown Community Elementary School
• NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, MONMOUTH Neptune High School
• NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, MONMOUTH Neptune Middle School
• NEPTUNE TOWNSHIP, MONMOUTH Summerfield Elementary School
• NETCONG, MORRIS Netcong School
• NORTH PLAINFIELD, SOMERSET East End Elementary School
• NORTH PLAINFIELD, SOMERSET West End Elementary School
• NORWOOD, BERGEN Norwood Public School
• OAKLAND, BERGEN Dogwood Hills Elementary School
• OAKLAND, BERGEN Heights Elementary School
• OAKLAND, BERGEN Valley Middle School
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX Carl Sandburg Middle School
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX Cheesquake Elementary School
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX James A. McDivitt Elementary School
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX John H. Glenn School Special Services
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX Jonas Salk Middle School
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX Madison Park Elementary School
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX Memorial Elementary School
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX Old Bridge High School
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX Raymond E. Voorhees Elementary School
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX William A. Miller Elementary School
• OLD BRIDGE, MIDDLESEX William M. Schirra Elementary School
• PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS Intervale Elementary
• PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS Knollwood Elementary
• PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS Lake Hiawatha Elementary
• PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS Lake Parsippany Elementary School
• PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS Littleton Elementary
• PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS Mount Tabor Elementary School
• PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS Northvail Elementary School
• PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS Parsippany High School
• PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS Parsippany Hills High School
• PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS, MORRIS Troy Hills Elementary School
• PASCACK VALLEY REGIONAL, BERGEN Pascack Hills High School
• PASCACK VALLEY REGIONAL, BERGEN Pascack Valley High School
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC Passaic High School
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School No. 10
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School No. 15
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School No. 19
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School No. 20
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School no. 4
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School no. 5
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School no. 6
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School No. 7
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School no. 8
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School No. 9
• PASSAIC, PASSAIC School No.10
• PENNSVILLE, SALEM Central Park Elementary School
• PENNSVILLE, SALEM Penn Beach Elementary School
• PENNSVILLE, SALEM Valley Park Elementary School
• POINT PLEASANT BEACH, OCEAN Antrim Elementary
• READINGTON TOWNSHIP, HUNTERDON Readington Middle School
• READINGTON TOWNSHIP, HUNTERDON Whitehouse School
• RIDGEFIELD, BERGEN Bergen Boulevard School
• RIDGEFIELD, BERGEN Shaler Academy
• RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN Benjamin Franklin Middle School
• RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN Glen School
• RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN Hawes School
• RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN Ridgewood High School
• RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN Somerville School
• RIDGEWOOD, BERGEN Travell School
• RIVERTON, BURLINGTON Riverton Public School
• ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, MORRIS Jefferson School
• ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, MORRIS Kennedy School
• ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, MORRIS Lincoln Roosevelt School
• ROXBURY TOWNSHIP, MORRIS Roxbury High School
• SHORE REGIONAL MONMOUTH Shore Regional High School
• SPRING LAKE HEIGHTS, MONMOUTH Spring Lake Heughts Elementary School
• STANHOPE, SUSSEX Valley Road School
• WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER Bells Elementary School
• WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER Birches Elementary School
• WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER Bunker Hill Middle School
• WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER Chestnut Ridge Middle School
• WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER High School
• WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER Orchard Valley Middle School
• WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER Wedgwood Elmentary School
• WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, GLOUCESTER Whitman Elementary School
• WESTFIELD, UNION Westfield High School
• WESTWOOD REGIONAL, BERGEN Berkeley Elementary School
• WESTWOOD REGIONAL, BERGEN Brookside Elementary School
• WESTWOOD REGIONAL, BERGEN Jessie F. George Elementary
• WESTWOOD REGIONAL, BERGEN Jr./Sr. High School
• WESTWOOD REGIONAL, BERGEN Middle School
• WILLINGBORO, BURLINGTON Garfield East Elementay
• WILLINGBORO, BURLINGTON McGinley Elementary School
• WILLINGBORO, BURLINGTON Memorial Middle School
• WILLINGBORO, BURLINGTON S.W. Bookbinder Elementary School
• WILLINGBORO, BURLINGTON Twin Hills Elementary

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