Ramsey Ranks High Among School Districts With the Most Drug And Alcohol Cases, Data Shows

RAMSEY, N.J. — Ramsey ranks among the school districts with the highest number of substance abuse cases reported during the 2015-16 school year.

The State Department of Education released it most recent substance abuse data on Tuesday.

Ramsey had 10 reported cases, the 88th most in the state out of 282 districts. The 10 cases were two fewer than the 12 cases that were reported during the 2014-15 school year.

While some city school districts — such as Paterson and Elizabeth — routinely appear at the top of the list, others — such as Toms River — have seen a sharp drop in the reporting of drug and alcohol cases over the years.

Indeed, Hamilton Township in Atlantic County, otherwise known as Mays Landing, (see list below) leads all school districts with the highest decrease in cases between 2014-15 and 2015-16, with 37, followed by Toms River with 34. Those two school years are the two with the most recent data available.

The state Department of Education has cautioned that these numbers are reported by each district, so each jurisdiction is responsible for reporting its results fairly and accurately. But they are required by law to report them.

Please note that we did not include school districts that had no reported cases; we also didn't include school districts that had no increase or decrease in cases on the second list.

Here is the list of school districts with the highest to lowest number of cases reported in 2015-16:

PATERSON 153
ELIZABETH 79
JERSEY CITY 71
ATLANTIC CITY 52
HAMILTON TWP (Mercer County) 48
FREEHOLD REGIONAL 48
PASSAIC 48
WOODBRIDGE TWP 46
JACKSON TWP 45
TOMS RIVER REGIONAL 43
EAST ORANGE 40
MORRIS SCHOOL DISTRICT 38
NEWARK CITY 37
PLEASANTVILLE 36
BLACK HORSE PIKE REGIONAL 34
PEMBERTON TWP 33
WEST ORANGE 33
BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN REG 33
CHERRY HILL TWP 32
VINELAND CITY 29
SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD 29
CLIFTON CITY 28
FRANKLIN TWP 28
GREATER EGG HARBOR REG 27
LENAPE REGIONAL 27
WEST NEW YORK TOWN 27
EAST BRUNSWICK TWP 27
MIDDLETOWN TWP 26
MILLVILLE CITY 25
LOWER CAPE MAY REGIONAL 24
NORTH BERGEN TWP 23
OLD BRIDGE TWP 23
FORT LEE BORO 22
LINDEN CITY 22
TEANECK TWP 21
KEARNY 21
EGG HARBOR TWP 20
MONROE TWP (Gloucester County) 20
RED BANK REGIONAL 19
MAINLAND REGIONAL 18
BURLINGTON CO SPEC SERV 18
NORTHERN BURLINGTON REG 18
WINSLOW TWP 18
NEW BRUNSWICK 18
SOUTHERN REGIONAL 18
PASSAIC COUNTY VOCATIONAL 18
SOMERVILLE 18
NORTHERN VALLEY REGIONAL 17
HILLSBOROUGH TWP 17
BAYONNE 16
PERTH AMBOY CITY 16
SOUTH BRUNSWICK 16
HANOVER PARK REGIONAL 16
MORRIS HILLS REGIONAL 16
PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS 16
WAYNE 16
EASTERN CAMDEN COUNTY REG 15
CITY OF ORANGE 15
HUNTERDON CENTRAL REG 15
SAYREVILLE BORO 15
LONG BRANCH 15
ROXBURY TWP 15
WATCHUNG HILLS REGIONAL 15
UNION TWP 15
MAHWAH 14
RIDGEFIELD PARK 14
PISCATAWAY TWP 14
BERNARDS 14
ATLANTIC CO VOCATIONAL 13
HACKENSACK 13
BURLINGTON CITY 13
CUMBERLAND REGIONAL 13
BARNEGAT 13
LAKEWOOD13
LAKELAND REGIONAL 13
NORTH PLAINFIELD13
RAMAPO-INDIAN HILL REG 12
BORDENTOWN REGIONAL 12
EWING TWP5 12
TRENTON12
KEANSBURG 12
NEPTUNE TWP 12
SEA GIRT 12
LEONIA11
BOONTON8 11
UNION CO ED SERV COMM11
ENGLEWOOD 10
RAMSEY 10
WESTWOOD REGIONAL 10
BURLINGTON CO VOCATIONAL 10
N HUNT/VOORHEES REGIONAL 10
NORTH BRUNSWICK 10
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 10
BRICK TWP 10
HILLSIDE TWP 10
RANCOCAS VALLEY REGIONAL 9
CAMDEN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 9
HADDON HEIGHTS 9
ESSEX CO VOC-TECH 9
LIVINGSTON 9
WEST ESSEX REGIONAL 9
DELSEA REGIONAL H.S DIST. 9
EDISON TWP 9
SPOTSWOOD 9
OCEAN TWP4 9
JEFFERSON TWP 9
SPARTA TWP 9
SUMMIT CITY 9
HAMMONTON0 8
RIDGEFIELD BORO 8
BELLEVILLE TOWN 8
CLEARVIEW REGIONAL 8
KINGSWAY REGIONAL 8
W WINDSOR-PLAINSBORO REG 8
SCH DIST OF THE CHATHAMS 8
WEST MILFORD 8
HIGH POINT REGIONAL 8
BERGENFIELD 7
PARAMUS BORO 7
MAPLE SHADE TWP 7
STERLING HIGH SCHOOL DIST 7
EAST WINDSOR REGIONAL 7
HOPEWELL VALLEY REGIONAL 7
MIDDLESEX CO VOCATIONAL 7
ASBURY PARK 7
WALL TWP 7
WEST MORRIS REGIONAL 7
OCEAN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 7
SALEM CO SPECIAL SERVICE 7
NEWTON 7
RAHWAY 7
PHILLIPSBURG 7
BERGEN CO SPECIAL SERVICE 6
NORTHERN HIGHLANDS REG 6
PASCACK VALLEY REGIONAL 6
RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE 6
SADDLE BROOK 6
LINDENWOLD 6
PENNSAUKEN 6
MONTCLAIR 6
CARTERET 6
HAZLET 6
MANASQUAN 6
UPPER FREEHOLD REGIONAL8 6
MADISON 6
MONTVILLE 6
PINELANDS REGIONAL 6
PITTSGROVE TWP 6
BOUND BROOK 6
BUENA REGIONAL 5
CAPE MAY CO VOCATIONAL 5
MIDDLE TWP1 5
GATEWAY REGIONAL 5
HARRISON0 5
SECAUCUS 5
HOWELL TWP 5
LACEY4 5
MANCHESTER 5
WESTFIELD 5
HACKETTSTOWN 1,922 4 1 0 5 12 22 5
BERGEN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 4
DUMONT5 4
MIDLAND PARK 4
NORTH ARLINGTON 4
RUTHERFORD 4
WOOD-RIDGE 4
FLORENCE TWP 4
PINE HILL 4
CAPE MAY CO SPECIAL SERV 4
OCEAN CITY 4
BRIDGETON 4
DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL 4
SOUTH HUNTERDON REGIONAL 4
LAWRENCE TWP 4
ROBBINSVILLE 4
HIGHLAND PARK 4
METUCHEN 4
MIDDLESEX BORO 4
MONROE TWP 4
HOLMDEL3 4
MATAWAN-ABERDEEN REGIONAL2 4
MONMOUTH CO VOCATIONAL 4
BUTLER 4
DOVER 4
PEQUANNOCK6 4
POINT PLEASANT BEACH 4
RINGWOOD BORO 4
SOMERSET HILLS REGIONAL 4
WALLKILL VALLEY REGIONAL 4
CLARK TWP 4
SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD REG2 4
NORTH WARREN REGIONAL 4
HAMILTON TWP (Atlantic County) 3
CARLSTADT-EAST RUTHERFORD 3
CLIFFSIDE PARK BORO 3
ELMWOOD PARK 3
DELRAN TWP 3
PALMYRA 3
WILLINGBORO TWP 3
AUDUBON 3
COLLINGSWOOD 3
GLOUCESTER CITY 3
WILDWOOD 3
FAIRFIELD 3
IRVINGTON 3
VERONA 3
HOBOKEN 3
MERCER COUNTY VOCATIONAL 3
KINNELON 3
CENTRAL REGIONAL 3
PLUMSTED TWP 3
STAFFORD TWP 3
SALEM COUNTY VOCATIONAL 3
WOODSTOWN-PILESGROVE REG 3
SUSSEX COUNTY VOCATIONAL 3
UNION COUNTY VOCATIONAL 3
BELVIDERE 3
GALLOWAY TWP 2
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS 2
PARK RIDGE 2
TENAFLY 2
BURLINGTON TWP 2
CINNAMINSON TWP 2
RIVERSIDE TWP 2
GLOUCESTER TWP 2
COMMERCIAL TWP 2
BLOOMFIELD 2
CALDWELL-WEST CALDWELL 2
MILLBURN 2
NUTLEY 2
CLAYTON 2
PAULSBORO 2
HUDSON COUNTY VOCATIONAL 2
UNION CITY 2
HUNTERDON CO ED SER COMM 2
SOUTH AMBOY 2
SOUTH RIVER 2
KEYPORT 2
MONMOUTH REGIONAL 2
MORRIS COUNTY VOCATIONAL 2
MOUNT OLIVE 2
PASSAIC VALLEY REGIONAL 2
HOPATCONG 2
LENAPE VALLEY REGIONAL 2
ROSELLE 2
WARREN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 2
EGG HARBOR 1
SOMERS POINT 1
BOGOTA 1
GARFIELD 1
GLEN ROCK 1
LODI 1
NEW MILFORD 1
PALISADES PARK 1
WALDWICK 1
WALLINGTON 1
EVESHAM TWP 1
WESTAMPTON 1
CAMDEN 1
HADDON TWP 1
ESSEX CO ED SERV COMM 1
GLOUCESTER CO SPEC SERV 1
PITMAN 1
WENONAH 1
WEST DEPTFORD TWP 1
TEWKSBURY TWP 1
PRINCETON REGIONAL 1
MIDDLESEX CO REG SER COMM 1
FREEHOLD TWP 1
HENRY HUDSON REGIONAL 1
NEPTUNE CITY 1
MOUNTAIN LAKES 1
POINT PLEASANT BORO 1
HAWTHORNE 1
PASSAIC CO MANCHESTER REG 1
POMPTON LAKES 1
QUINTON TWP 1
MANVILLE 1
SOMERSET CO ED SERV COMM 1
VERNON 1
KENILWORTH 1
PLAINFIELD CITY 1
Correction: Swedesboro-Woolwich had no substance abuse cases during the time period.

Here are the school districts with the highest increases — and biggest reductions — in substance abuse cases from 2014-15 to 2015-16:

PATERSON 50
HAMILTON TWP 45
MORRIS SCHOOL DISTRICT 23
NEWARK 23
BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN REG 19
FORT LEE 19
PEMBERTON TWP 17
WINSLOW TWP 15
JACKSON TWP 14
EAST BRUNSWICK 13
LINDEN CITY 13
MILLVILLE 13
ROXBURY TWP 13
BAYONNE 12
PLEASANTVILLE 12
SEA GIRT 12
BOONTON 11
BORDENTOWN REGIONAL 11
BURLINGTON CITY 11
EASTERN CAMDEN COUNTY REG 11
WAYNE 11
CITY OF ORANGE 10
HILLSBOROUGH 10
VINELAND 10
BLACK HORSE PIKE REGIONAL 9
EGG HARBOR TWP 9
FRANKLIN TWP 9
HANOVER PARK REGIONAL 9
MAINLAND REGIONAL 9
RIDGEFIELD PARK 9
HILLSIDE 8
MONROE TWP 8
RED BANK REGIONAL 8
RIDGEFIELD 8
CHERRY HILL 7
KEANSBURG 7
MIDDLETOWN 7
NEW BRUNSWICK 7
OCEAN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 7
PASSAIC COUNTY VOCATIONAL 7
TEANECK 7
WESTWOOD REGIONAL 7
WOODBRIDGE 7
BELLEVILLE 6
HADDON HEIGHTS BORO 6
HAZLET TWP 6
LAKELAND REGIONAL 6
SALEM COUNTY VOCATIONAL 6
WEST NEW YORK 6
MAPLE SHADE TWP 5
MONTVILLE 5
NEWTON 5
SADDLE BROOK 5
SOMERVILLE 5
ASBURY PARK 4
BOUND BROOK 4
HOWELL 4
PISCATAWAY 4
RAHWAY CITY 4
RINGWOOD 4
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 4
STERLING HIGH SCHOOL DIST 4
WEST ESSEX REGIONAL 4
WEST ORANGE 4
WOOD-RIDGE 4
BERGENFIELD 3
DELSEA REGIONAL H.S DIST. 3
DUMONT 3
HIGHLAND PARK 3
HOPEWELL VALLEY REGIONAL 3
LIVINGSTON 3
MIDDLESEX BORO 3
MONMOUTH CO VOCATIONAL 3
MORRIS HILLS REGIONAL 3
NORTH ARLINGTON BORO 3
NORTH PLAINFIELD 3
NORTHERN BURLINGTON REG 3
PITTSGROVE TWP 3
ROBBINSVILLE TWP 3
SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD 3
STAFFORD TWP 3
SUSSEX COUNTY VOCATIONAL 3
UNION TWP 3
CAPE MAY CO VOCATIONAL 2
CLIFFSIDE PARK 2
DOVER 2
FAIRFIELD 2
GALLOWAY TWP 2
GATEWAY REGIONAL 2
HAMMONTON 2
HOPATCONG 2
IRVINGTON 2
MANCHESTER TWP 2
OLD BRIDGE TWP 2
PARAMUS 2
PARK RIDGE 2
PAULSBORO 2
POINT PLEASANT BEACH 2
SOMERSET HILLS REGIONAL 2
SOUTH AMBOY CITY 2
SOUTH BRUNSWICK 2
UNION COUNTY VOCATIONAL 2
WARREN COUNTY VOCATIONAL 2
WEST MORRIS REGIONAL 2
ATLANTIC CITY 1
BELVIDERE 1
BERNARDS TWP 1
BRIDGETON 1
BURLINGTON TWP 1
CAPE MAY CO SPECIAL SERV 1
CARTERET 1
CLARK 1
EGG HARBOR CITY 1
EVESHAM TWP 1
HARRISON 1
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS 1
HOLMDEL 1
JEFFERSON TWP 1
KEARNY 1
KINGSWAY REGIONAL 1
LODI 1
MADISON 1
MERCER COUNTY VOCATIONAL 1
MIDLAND PARK 1
NEPTUNE CITY 1
NEW MILFORD 1
NORTH WARREN REGIONAL 1
PITMAN 1
QUINTON TWP 1
RUTHERFORD BORO 1
SOMERS POINT 1
SOUTH HUNTERDON REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 1
SOUTHERN REGIONAL 1
SUMMIT CITY 1
TEWKSBURY TWP 1
WESTAMPTON 1
ALLAMUCHY TWP -1
ATLANTIC CO VOCATIONAL -1
BOGOTA -1
BRIGANTINE -1
BUENA REGIONAL -1
COLLINGSWOOD -1
DEPTFORD TWP -1
DUNELLEN -1
ESTELL MANOR -1
FLEMINGTON-RARITAN REG -1
FREEHOLD BORO -1
FREEHOLD REGIONAL -1
GLEN RIDGE -1
GLOUCESTER CO SPEC SERV -1
GLOUCESTER TWP -1
HACKENSACK -1
HANOVER TWP -1
HOBOKEN -1
KENILWORTH -1
KINNELON -1
LENAPE VALLEY REGIONAL -1
MIDDLESEX CO REG SER COMM -1
MOONACHIE BORO -1
NEW HANOVER TWP -1
NORTHERN HIGHLANDS REG -1
PASSAIC -1
PASSAIC CO ED SERV COMM -1
PENNSAUKEN -1
PLAINFIELD -1
SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD REG -1
SOUTH BOUND BROOK -1
SPARTA -1
VERNON TWP -1
VERONA -1
WALLKILL VALLEY REGIONAL -1
WEST LONG BRANCH -1
WESTFIELD -1
BERGEN CO SPECIAL SERVICE -2
CEDAR GROVE -2
DELRAN -2
ESSEX CO ED SERV COMM -2
LONG BRANCH -2
METUCHEN -2
MONMOUTH REGIONAL -2
NEW PROVIDENCE -2
PASCACK VALLEY REGIONAL -2
PEQUANNOCK -2
PLUMSTED TWP -2
RAMSEY -2
RIDGEWOOD -2
RIVERSIDE TWP -2
ROSELLE PARK -2
SOUTHAMPTON TWP -2
UNION CO ED SERV COMM -2
UPPER DEERFIELD TWP -2
WALL TWP -2
BURLINGTON CO VOCATIONAL -3
CENTRAL REGIONAL -3
CLAYTON -3
CRANFORD -3
EAST WINDSOR REGIONAL -3
GLEN ROCK -3
GLOUCESTER CITY -3
HENRY HUDSON REGIONAL -3
HUNTERDON CENTRAL REG -3
KITTATINNY REGIONAL -3
LACEY TWP -3
MAHWAH -3
MANVILLE -3
MATAWAN-ABERDEEN REGIONAL -3
MILLBURN -3
MORRIS COUNTY VOCATIONAL -3
NORTH BERGEN -3
NORTHERN VALLEY REGIONAL -3
PENNS GRV-CARNEYS PT REG -3
PENNSVILLE -3
PINELANDS REGIONAL -3
SAYREVILLE -3
WILDWOOD -3
WOODBURY -3
BLOOMFIELD -4
LAKEWOOD -4
MONMOUTH-OCEAN ED SER COM -4
MONTGOMERY TWP -4
MOORESTOWN -4
OCEAN TWP 13 -4
PRINCETON -4
RED BANK -4
RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN REG -4
RUNNEMEDE -4
SOUTH RIVER -4
SPRINGFIELD TWP -4
TENAFLY -4
BERGEN COUNTY VOCATIONAL -5
CINNAMINSON -5
EWING TWP -5
FLORENCE TWP -5
GARFIELD -5
GLOUCESTER CO VOCATIONAL -5
HACKETTSTOWN -5
HADDON TWP -5
NUTLEY -5
OCEAN CITY -5
PARSIPPANY-TROY HILLS -5
PERTH AMBOY -5
RAMAPO-INDIAN HILL REG -5
SCH DIST OF THE CHATHAMS 13 -5
UPPER FREEHOLD REGIONAL 11 -5
WATCHUNG HILLS REGIONAL 20 -5
WOODSTOWN-PILESGROVE REG (5910)8 -5
HAWTHORNE 7 -6
N HUNT/VOORHEES REGIONAL 16 -6
PASSAIC CO MANCHESTER REG 7 -6
ROSELLE 8 -6
UNION CITY (5240)8 -6
AUDUBON 10 -7
BUTLER 11 -7
MONTCLAIR TOWN 13 -7
RANDOLPH TWP 7 -7
WILLINGBORO TWP 10 -7
GLASSBORO 8 -8
LEONIA 19 -8
LINDENWOLD BORO 14 -8
MANASQUAN 14 -8
MOUNT OLIVE TWP 10 -8
PINE HILL 12 -8
SHORE REGIONAL 8 -8
PALMYRA 12 -9
RANCOCAS VALLEY REGIONAL -9
SALEM COUNTY VOCATIONAL -9
W WINDSOR-PLAINSBORO REG -9
WARREN HILLS REGIONAL -9
CLEARVIEW REGIONAL -10
HIGH POINT REGIONAL -10
LAWRENCE TWP -10
WASHINGTON TWP -10
BURLINGTON CO SPEC SERV -11
CUMBERLAND REGIONAL -11
ELMWOOD PARK -11
WEST MILFORD -11
CAMDEN COUNTY VOCATIONAL -12
ELIZABETH -12
LENAPE REGIONAL -12
LOWER CAPE MAY REGIONAL -12
EAST ORANGE -14
BRICK -17
CLIFTON -23
MIDDLE TWP -23
JERSEY CITY -25
PHILLIPSBURG -27
TOMS RIVER REGIONAL -34
HAMILTON TWP -37

Reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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