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Cavarly CottageCavarly Cottage · Photo: James Welsh · CC BY-SA 3.0
B−
Schools in Stafford Township · Southern Regional School District, Stafford Township School District

Stafford Township’s public schools outscore 52% of New Jersey districts

On the state math tests, 42% of Stafford Township’s students scored proficient, above the New Jersey average (36%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Stafford Township, 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.

#232of 465 New Jersey townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Jersey state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
49%
▲ 0 pts vs NJ 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
42%
▲ 6 pts vs NJ 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
89%
▼ 2 pts vs NJ 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$28.3K
▼ 1% vs NJ $28.4K
FY2024 · Southern Regional
Students per teacher
12.1
NJ 11.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
10
5,227 students on the public path
In brief

Stafford Township’s schools, in brief

Stafford Township runs its own schools through grade 6, then shares

McKinley Avenue Elementary School (3–4) is Stafford Township’s own. From grade 7, students attend the Southern Regional School District with Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach, Ship Bottom and Surf City: Southern Regional Middle School, then Southern Regional High School. The high school’s own results earn a B−; the middle school earns a B−. See the path ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 49% and math 42% 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

Southern Regional spends $28,252 per student and Stafford Township $21,074, against $28,441 across New Jersey (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Mary Academy (private) and Lighthouse Christian Academy (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 Stafford Township’s grade

B− Test scoresC Graduation

B−: better than 52% of New Jersey school districts, #232 of 465 New Jersey towns. Test scores are above the New Jersey average; graduation is below it.

New Jersey school districts we grade (651)Better than 52%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Jersey towns with similar household incomes (459)Better than 56%
Towns in Ocean County (14)Better than 93%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,552 test results and a graduating class of 494 could put Stafford Township anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Stafford Township’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,555 in math, 2,550 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–22 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressNo scores
3–4McKinley Avenue Elementary SchoolStafford Township School DistrictB
7–8Southern Regional Middle SchoolSouthern Regional School DistrictB−
9–12Southern Regional High SchoolSouthern Regional School DistrictB−

Stafford Township runs its own schools through grade 6 (Stafford Township School District). From grade 7, students attend the Southern Regional School District, shared with Barnegat Light, Beach Haven, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach, Ship Bottom and Surf City. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Stafford Township

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

Southern Regional School DistrictGrades 7–12 · 2 schools · 2,685 students, down 7% since 2020–21 · 11.6 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$28,252NJ $28,441 · FY2024
C+
Stafford Township School DistrictGrades PK–6 · 5 schools · 2,542 students, up 19% since 2020–21 · 12.6 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$21,074NJ $28,441 · FY2024
B
Test scores · 2021–22

Close to the state in reading

Reading · 7–12, Southern Regional School District46%
State average 48.6% · 1362 students tested
Math · 7–12, Southern Regional School District36%
State average 35.5% · 1367 students tested
Reading · PK–6, Stafford Township School District52%
State average 48.6% · 1188 students tested
Math · PK–6, Stafford Township School District48%
State average 35.5% · 1188 students tested

Stafford Township vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New Jersey towns that share Stafford Township’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Stafford TownshipB−Stafford Township PK–6 · Southern Regional 7–12
BarnegatC+Barnegat Township
Long BeachC+Long Beach Island PK–6 · Southern Regional 7–12
Ship BottomC+Long Beach Island PK–6 · Southern Regional 7–12
Surf CityC+Long Beach Island PK–6 · Southern Regional 7–12
Harvey Cedars—Long Beach Island PK–6 · Southern Regional 7–12
EagleswoodDEagleswood Township PK–6 · Pinelands Regional 7–12

4 of the 6 neighbors share Southern Regional with Stafford Township for grades 7–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Stafford Township

10 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 Stafford Townshipby address
Ocean Acres Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Manahawkin
747 students13:1Rate it →
Ronald L. Meinders Primary Learning Center
Elementary · Grades PK–K · Manahawkin
332 students13:1Rate it →
Oxycocus Elementary School
Prekindergarten · Grades PK · Manahawkin
176 students9:1Rate it →
McKinley Avenue Elementary School
Elementary · Grades 3–4 · Manahawkin
B
630 students13:1Rate it →
Stafford Intermediate School
Middle · Grades 5–6 · Manahawkin
B−
657 students14:1Rate it →
Southern Regional Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8 · Manahawkin
B−
865 students11:1Rate it →
Southern Regional High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Manahawkin
B−
1,820 students12:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Stafford Townshiprun by other districts or the state
Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science
High · Grades 9–12 · Manahawkin
A+
Career and Technical
275 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Mary Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Manahawkin
Private · Catholic
194 students14:1Rate it →
Lighthouse Christian Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Manahawkin
Private · Religious
107 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Stafford Township’s schools

Are Stafford Township’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of New Jersey: the public schools Stafford Township children attend outscore 52% of New Jersey’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #232 of 465 New Jersey towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 56%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Stafford Township in?

Two districts: Stafford Township 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, Ship Bottom and Surf City.

Where do Stafford Township kids go to high school?

Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin, with 1,820 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Stafford Township’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 Stafford Township spend per student?

$28,252 in Southern Regional School District and $21,074 in Stafford Township School District (FY2024), against $28,441 across New Jersey. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Stafford Township?

Yes: St. Mary Academy (Catholic, grades PK–8, 194 students) and Lighthouse Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–8, 107 students).

Parents talk

What Stafford Township families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Stafford Township → 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.