This Ocean County School Is One of the Big Losers In State Aid

When it comes to school budgets, it's not the amount as much as it is the percentage. Obviously, schools, larger ones, have more money in their budget, but smaller schools sometimes take bigger budget cuts based on the percentage.

Get our free mobile app

An example is the current budget cuts being discussed by the Sherrill administration in New Jersey. Even though Seaside Heights is a one-school district, its current proposed school budget cut is one of the highest in the state.

According to NJ.com, "Gov. Mikie Sherrill proposed a record-high education budget last month that would include $12.4 billion in direct K-12 aid for New Jersey school districts next school year. But some districts could still see sharp cuts. About 29% of New Jersey’s school districts are slated for decreases in state aid."

How Much State Aid Is Seaside Heights Looking To Lose?

Seaside Heights is a one-school district in New Jersey with approximately 200 students enrolled. Seaside Heights is looking at losing approximately 6.73% of its school choice aid. That's around $24,854, one of the biggest losers in Sherrill's new funding plan.

According to reports, "School choice aid can vary based on the number of students participating in the state-funded initiative that allows K-12 students to attend public schools outside their district."

The proposed budget for Seaside Heights (2026-2027) is $344,326 in state aid.

Across New Jersey, you’re looking at roughly 2,500 to 2,600 public schools statewide. That includes elementary, middle, and high schools spread out over all those local districts. New Jersey has thousands of schools packed into one of the most densely populated states in the country.