Big Boosts: Which New Jersey Schools Get the Most Money?

The new education budget plan announced by Gov. Mikie Sherrill promises to raise state funding for more than 400 school districts in New Jersey. While most schools will receive modest increases capped at 6%, nine districts stand out with hikes exceeding 7%. These gains are largely tied to special education, transportation, and especially military aid or school‑choice funding. The biggest jump is for Cape May, where state money could rise by 22%. That surge comes from a large military aid allocation linked to the nearby Coast Guard base. Other districts with notable increases include North Hanover and Bloomsbury, each receiving over 8% boosts thanks to higher equalization and school‑choice support. Eastampton, a small district near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, could see a 7. 3% rise largely from military aid for students from service families. Lebanon, with only about 100 pupils, may gain 7. 6% through school‑choice and special‑education funds.Wildwood Crest, Lower Cape May Regional, Frenchtown, and Springfield also benefit from enhanced special‑education and school‑choice aid, with percent increases ranging from 7. 6% to 8. 5%. These adjustments reflect a shift in how the state calculates funding: moving from census data to actual enrollment figures for special‑education needs. Some lawmakers argue that even a 6% raise is insufficient to cover rising costs like health insurance and utilities. They contend that districts should not face budget cuts when the governor touts increased funding for schools. Overall, about 70% of New Jersey’s nearly 600 districts could see a rise in state aid if the budget passes. The caps on funding changes were designed to stabilize budgets, but they only limit certain categories, leaving room for significant shifts in others.