As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,877 students and 218.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.6:1.[1]
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "DE", the fifth-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.[7]
History
By 1948, schools in Ocean City were racially integrated. At the time all teachers were white.[8]
Merger discussions with the Sea Isle City School District in 2008 ended after the Ocean City district indicated that it did want to accept Sea Isle City's tenured teachers, which it would be required to do under state law. Sea Isle City currently spends $35,000 per student and hoped to see savings through the merger, even after adding in transportation costs.[9] The Sea Isle City district graduated its last eighth grade class in June 2009 and with the 2010-11 school year, students from Sea Isle City started attending the Ocean City schools starting in fifth grade.[10] As of June 30, 2012, Sea Isle City School District no longer operates any schools, in the face of an order by the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education that was based on declining enrollment and budgetary issues. All students from Sea Isle City in public school for pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade attend Ocean City Public Schools.[11]
Core members of the district's administration are:[17][20]
Christian Angelillo, superintendent
Timothy E. Kelley, business administrator and board secretary[21]
Board of education
The district's board of education is comprised of nine elected members, plus three appointed representatives from Upper Township, who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's nine trustees from Ocean City are elected directly by Ocean City's 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. Members from Upper Township and non-voting members from Longport and Sea Isle City are appointed by their districts to one-year terms of office. 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.[22][23][24]
^Ocean City Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Ocean City School District. Accesssed September 28, 2024. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Ocean City School District. Composition The Ocean City School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Ocean City."
^Superintendent Profile, Ocean City School District, February 11, 2022. Accessed August 5, 2022. "A primary, intermediate, and high school deliver a top-tier education to approximately 2,200 students as it serves the communities of Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Upper Township, Corbin City, Longport and participates in the NJ School Choice Program."
^Ianieri, Brian. "Sea Isle sends off eight in city's last graduation", The Press of Atlantic City, June 19, 2009. Accessed August 4, 2011. "Facing declining enrollment and fewer children left in the seasonal city, the school board in March made a controversial decision to send fifth-grade to eighth-grade students to the Ocean City School District in the fall. Sea Isle's school will retain pre-Kindergarten through fourth-grade classes. The city's high school-age students have long attended Ocean City High School."
^Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Ocean City School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed September 28, 2024. "The Ocean City School District is a Type II district located in the County of Cape May, 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. The members are elected during the general election held in November each year. As a receiving district for high school students from Upper Township and Longport, Upper Township and Longport are provided with Board representation to vote on issues related to Ocean City High School. The purpose of the district is to educate students in grades K-12." See "Roster of Officials" on page 14.
^Board of Education, Ocean City School District. Accessed September 28, 2024. "The Board of Education is composed of nine citizens elected from Ocean City and three representatives from Upper Township who are appointed by the Upper Township Board of Education. As Board members, they establish policies and oversight for the Ocean City School District. Board members fulfill three-year terms (Upper Township representatives serve for one-year terms) and voluntarily serve the residents and children of the Ocean City School District."
* Formerly operated its own 1-8 school, which has been closed since 1931. ** Formerly operated its own K-8, then K-6 school, which has been closed since July 2012. School districts by county:
