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Cape May Historic District (Additional Documentation)Cape May Historic District (Additional Documentation) · Photo: Smallbones · CC0
D
Schools in Cape May · Cape May City School District, Lower Cape May Regional School District

Cape May’s public schools score below 90% of New Jersey districts on tests and graduation

Reading proficiency in Cape May’s districts is 37%, below the New Jersey average (49%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Cape May, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New Jersey, not nationally.

#434of 465 New Jersey townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Jersey state tests taken in spring 2022, when 96% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
37%
▼ 12 pts vs NJ 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
28%
▼ 8 pts vs NJ 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
70–74%
▼ 16–20 pts vs NJ 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$29.7K
▲ 4% vs NJ $28.4K
FY2024 · Lower Cape May Regional
Students per teacher
10.3
NJ 11.6 · smaller classes
Schools in town
1
1,266 students on the public path
In brief

Cape May’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 127 New Jersey towns with household incomes within a quarter of Cape May’s, its schools beat 20%, higher than their 10% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Cape May runs its own schools through grade 6, then shares

Cape May City Elementary School (PK–6) is Cape May’s own. From grade 7, students attend the Lower Cape May Regional School District with Lower and West Cape May: Richard M. Teitelman Middle School in Cape May, then Lower Cape May Regional High School in Cape May. The high school’s own results earn a B−, the highest on the path; the middle school earns a C+. See the path ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 37% of tested students were proficient in reading and 28% in math, against 49% and 36% statewide; 96% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

70–74% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey (the state reports Cape May’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Cape May City spends $37,738 per student and Lower Cape May Regional $29,688, against $28,441 across New Jersey (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Cape May’s grade

C Test scoresD− Graduation

D: better than 10% of New Jersey school districts, #434 of 465 New Jersey towns. Both inputs trail the New Jersey average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

New Jersey school districts we grade (651)Better than 10%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Jersey towns with similar household incomes (127)Better than 20%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 726 test results and a graduating class of 199 could put Cape May anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 96% of Cape May’s students in the tested grades sat them (728 in math, 725 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Cape May, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–6Cape May City Elementary SchoolCape May City School DistrictC+
7–8Richard M. Teitelman Middle SchoolLower Cape May Regional School DistrictC+
9–12Lower Cape May Regional High SchoolLower Cape May Regional School DistrictB−

Cape May runs its own schools through grade 6 (Cape May City School District). From grade 7, students attend the Lower Cape May Regional School District, shared with Lower and West Cape May. Its middle school is in Cape May. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Cape May

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Cape May City School DistrictGrades PK–6 · 1 schools · 155 students · 6.2 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$37,738NJ $28,441 · FY2024
B−
Lower Cape May Regional School DistrictGrades 7–12 · 2 schools · 1,111 students, down 10% since 2020–21 · 11.3 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$29,688NJ $28,441 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · PK–6, Cape May City School District42%
State average 48.6% · 68 students tested
Math · PK–6, Cape May City School District47%
State average 35.5% · 68 students tested
Reading · 7–12, Lower Cape May Regional School District36%
State average 48.6% · 657 students tested
Math · 7–12, Lower Cape May Regional School District26%
State average 35.5% · 660 students tested

Cape May vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New Jersey towns that share Cape May’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Cape MayDCape May City PK–6 · Lower Cape May Regional 7–12
LowerDLower Township PK–6 · Lower Cape May Regional 7–12
West Cape May—West Cape May Borough PK–6 · Lower Cape May Regional 7–12

All 2 neighbors share Lower Cape May Regional with Cape May for grades 7–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Cape May

3 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New Jersey’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Cape Mayby address
Cape May City Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C+
155 students6:1Rate it →
Also serving Cape Mayin other towns
Richard M. Teitelman Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
C+
394 students10:1Rate it →
Lower Cape May Regional High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
717 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Cape May’s schools

Are Cape May’s schools good?

On New Jersey’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Cape May children attend score below 90% of New Jersey’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #434 of 465 New Jersey towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 20%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Cape May in?

Two districts: Cape May City School District runs grades PK–6, and Lower Cape May Regional School District runs grades 7–12, shared with Lower and West Cape May.

Where do Cape May kids go to high school?

Lower Cape May Regional High School, with 717 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Cape May’s graduation rate?

70–74% of the class of 2023 in Lower Cape May Regional School District graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey.

How much does Cape May spend per student?

$37,738 in Cape May City School District and $29,688 in Lower Cape May Regional School District (FY2024), against $28,441 across New Jersey. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Cape May families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cape May → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New Jersey. Stars are from neighbors.