As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,141 students and 96.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1.[1]
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "FG", the fourth-highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.[4]
The first public school in Lumberton was established in 1918 with four classrooms.[9]
With an average addition of 80-100 students per year in the late 1990s and a total enrollment of 1,270 students in the 1997-98 school year, Lumberton was one of the most rapidly growing school districts in South Jersey, leading to consideration of options to construct a high school for the district and withdraw from Rancocas Valley Regional.[10]
In 2018, with district enrollment declining by more than 30% since 2002-03, the district decided to close the Florence L. Walther School, which had served students in Kindergarten and first grade, at the end of the 2019-20 school year and reconfigure the grades assigned to the three remaining facilities.[11] As part of the district's reconfiguration plans, Ashbrook Elementary School was closed for renovations in 2019-20 school year.[12] In 2021, the former Florence L. Walther School was leased to Hampton Academy.[13]
Awards and recognition
For the 2005-06 school year, the Lumberton Township School District was recognized with the "Best Practices Award" by the New Jersey Department of Education for its "Payday" Consumer, Family, and Life Skills program at Lumberton Middle School.[14]
Lumberton Middle School was recognized as a New Jersey Star School.
Core members of the district's administration are:[21][24][25]
Colleen Murray, superintendent
Robert Kraft, business administrator and board secretary
Board of education
The district's board of education, comprised of nine elected members, sets policy and oversees the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district.[26][27][28]
^Lumberton Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Lumberton Township School District. Accessed February 28, 2023. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades K through 8 in the Lumberton Township School District. Composition: The Lumberton Township School District is comprised of all of the area within the municipal boundaries of Lumberton Township."
^History of the School, Rancocas Valley Regional High School. Accessed June 1, 2016. "The district encompasses approximately 40 square miles (100 km2) and comprises the townships of Eastampton, Hainesport, Lumberton, Mount Holly, and Westampton."
^Ryan, Lisa. "Lumberton district closing Florence L. Walther School", Burlington County Times, November 15, 2018. Accessed February 28, 2023. "The township school district will close the Florence L. Walther School on July 1, 2020 due to declining state aid and enrollment. The district Board of Education voted to close the kindergarten-to-first-grade school at the close of the 2019-20 school year and reorganize the district, Superintendent Joseph Langowski said.... In addition, district-wide enrollment fell from 1,776 in the 2002-2003 school year to 1,223 students in 2017-2018, according to district officials."
^Walsh, Jim. "Lumberton residents to vote Tuesday on $4.9M school improvement plan", Courier-Post, March 11, 2019. Accessed October 27, 2020. "If the 10-year bond is approved, Ashbrook would close for renovations during the 2019-20 school year. It would reopen one year later for students in grades pre-K to second, Florence L. Walther School, which is to receive roof repairs, would close in the 2020-21 school year under the district's plan, said Mark Ritter, business administrator."
^"Learning center leases former school in Lumberton, WCRE says", ROI-NJ.com, March 30, 2021. Accessed February 28, 2023. "The Marlton-based firm said in a news release that UHS of Hampton Learning Center leased 56 Chestnut St., a 53,406-square-foot property, from the Lumberton Township Board of Education. WCRE, which represented the board of ed on the deal, said the property was formerly Florence L. Walter Elementary School."
^About The District, Lumberton Township School District. "The district is educating approximately 1,100 students during the 2022-2023 school year. The district’s youngest students — from preschool to first grade — learn in Ashbrook Elementary School. Students in grades 2-5 are educated at Bobby’s Run School. Students in grades 6-8 receive instruction at Lumberton Middle School."
^Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Lumberton Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2024. "The Lumberton Township School District (hereafter referred to as the “District”) is a Type II district located in the County of Burlington, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The Board is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms. These terms are staggered so that three members’ terms expire each year. The purpose of the District is to educate students in grades kindergarten through eighth at its three schools." See "Roster of Officials" on page 19.