Funding is Distributed Most Equitably in These School Districts, Study Says

While the U.S. is one of the most educated countries in the world, it doesn’t provide the same quality elementary school or secondary school education to all students. In many states, more affluent school districts receive a greater amount of funding per student than other districts, with one estimate claiming that low-income districts are underfunded by around $6,700 per student.

WalletHub released its report on the Most and Least Equitable School Districts in New Jersey by looking at the average household income and expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools per student.

The Most Equitable School Districts in New Jersey are:
1. Washington Township School District – Sewell
2. Beach Haven School District
3. Hardyston Township School District
4. Cinnaminson Township School District
5. Lumberton Township Board of Education
6. Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District
7. Linwood City School District
8. Pohatcong Township School District
9. Hainesport Township School District
10. Rutherford School District
11. Monmouth Regional High School
12. Freehold Regional High School District
13. Wanaque School District
14. Mansfield Township School District
15. Saddle Brook School District
16. Lavallette Borough School District
17. Red Bank Regional School District
18. Shamong Township School District
19. Hazlet Township Public School District
20. New Hanover Township

States that provide equitable funding to all school districts can help prevent students from low-income areas from having lower graduation rates, lower rates of pursuing higher education and smaller future incomes than their wealthy peers, according to the study. The difference is dramatic: College graduates have $154 – $1,115 higher median weekly earnings than those with a high school diploma and no college experience, depending on the degree.

Alongside this report, WalletHub also released rankings for the States with the Most and Least Equitable School Districts, and New Jersey ranked as the 7th least equitable overall.

The findings were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Students from low-income areas suffered the greatest learning loss due to partial or total remote learning. One contributing factor was that students in low-income districts are less likely to have the technological resources they need. That means less fortunate students struggle to make up the educational ground they lost due to this lack of resources.