Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0Ship Bottom’s public schools score below 57% of New Jersey districts on tests and graduation
The grade covers the two public school districts serving Ship Bottom, 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.
From New Jersey state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% 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.
Ship Bottom’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 448 New Jersey towns with household incomes within a quarter of Ship Bottom’s, its schools beat 48%, higher than their 43% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Ship Bottom runs its own schools through grade 6, then shares
Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary School (PK–2) and Long Beach Island Grade School (3–6) are Ship Bottom’s own. From grade 7, students attend the Southern Regional School District with Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach, Stafford and Surf City: Southern Regional Middle School in Manahawkin, then Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin. The high school’s own results earn a B−, the highest on the path; the middle school earns a B−. See the path ↓
Above the state in math, below in reading
Reading proficiency is 46% and math 36% across both districts in spring 2022, against 49% and 36% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
Long Beach Island spends $49,241 per student and Southern Regional $28,252, 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.
What’s behind Ship Bottom’s grade
C+: better than 43% of New Jersey school districts. Both inputs trail the New Jersey average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Ship Bottom, with each school’s own grade.
Pre-K in Ship Bottom
Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary School
Grades PK–2 · 104 students · 8:1 students per teacher · in Surf City
Kindergarten in Ship Bottom
Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary School
Grades PK–2 · 104 students · 8:1 students per teacher · in Surf City
1st grade in Ship Bottom
Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary School
Grades PK–2 · 104 students · 8:1 students per teacher · in Surf City
2nd grade in Ship Bottom
Ethel A. Jacobsen Elementary School
Grades PK–2 · 104 students · 8:1 students per teacher · in Surf City
3rd grade in Ship Bottom
Long Beach Island Grade School
Grades 3–6 · 92 students · 6:1 students per teacher
4th grade in Ship Bottom
Long Beach Island Grade School
Grades 3–6 · 92 students · 6:1 students per teacher
5th grade in Ship Bottom
Long Beach Island Grade School
Grades 3–6 · 92 students · 6:1 students per teacher
6th grade in Ship Bottom
Long Beach Island Grade School
Grades 3–6 · 92 students · 6:1 students per teacher
7th grade in Ship Bottom
Southern Regional Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 865 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Manahawkin
8th grade in Ship Bottom
Southern Regional Middle School
Grades 7–8 · 865 students · 11:1 students per teacher · in Manahawkin
9th grade in Ship Bottom
Southern Regional High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,820 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Manahawkin
10th grade in Ship Bottom
Southern Regional High School
Grades 9–12 · 1,820 students · 12:1 students per teacher · in Manahawkin
Ship Bottom runs its own schools through grade 6 (Long Beach Island School District). From grade 7, students attend the Southern Regional School District, shared with Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach, Stafford and Surf City. Its elementary school is in Surf City. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Ship Bottom
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Below the state in reading
Ship Bottom vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the New Jersey towns that share Ship Bottom’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Ship Bottom | C+ | Long Beach Island PK–6 · Southern Regional 7–12 |
| Stafford | B− | Stafford Township PK–6 · Southern Regional 7–12 |
| Long Beach | C+ | Long Beach Island PK–6 · Southern Regional 7–12 |
| Surf City | C+ | Long Beach Island PK–6 · Southern Regional 7–12 |
All 3 neighbors share Southern Regional with Ship Bottom for grades 7–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Ship Bottom
4 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).
Questions about Ship Bottom’s schools
Are Ship Bottom’s schools good?
On New Jersey’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Ship Bottom children attend score below 57% of New Jersey’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 48%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Ship Bottom in?
Two districts: Long Beach Island School District runs grades PK–6, and Southern Regional School District runs grades 7–12, shared with Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach, Stafford and Surf City.
Where do Ship Bottom kids go to high school?
Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, with 1,820 students; its own test results earn a B−.
What is Ship Bottom’s graduation rate?
89% of the class of 2023 in Southern Regional School District graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey.
How much does Ship Bottom spend per student?
$49,241 in Long Beach Island School District and $28,252 in Southern Regional School District (FY2024), against $28,441 across New Jersey. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Ship Bottom families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Ship Bottom → 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.