Data are presented for the most recent three years, and each of the districts operating a secondary school is classified according to its Achievement Index over that period. Eighth grade Early Warning Test Data also are included for all districts. This occasional paper proposes reducing the number of school districts in New Jersey by more than half through the expansion of existing districts and the creation of new K-12 regional districts. Annual savings in administrative costs are demonstrated and additional savings in overall costs are estimated. Data also are presented on changes in enrollments, equalized valuations per pupil and school property tax rates.
Appendices identify all proposed school districts and the communities included.
The paper suggests the cost savings which might be achieved through the consolidation of limited purpose regional districts into all purpose districts. The School District Achievement Index combines student scores on the State's11th grade High School Proficiency Test and estimated high school completion rates to give an indication of each school district's educational output. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the long-run trend in property tax burdens in New Jersey to determine if burdens are rising, declining, or remaining relatively the same. In addition, the paper describes the components of the property tax and the factors that influence changes in property tax burdens. Confusion over property tax burdens results in part from short-run fluctuations in property values.