Pinelands Regional School District | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Address | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
520 Nugentown Road , Ocean County , New Jersey , 08087 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 39°36′45″N74°21′30″W / 39.612389°N 74.358295°W | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
District information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grades | 7-12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Superintendent | Melissa McCooley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Business administrator | Amanda Miller | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Schools | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Students and staff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Enrollment | 1,611 (as of 2022–23) [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Faculty | 142.0 FTEs [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Student–teacher ratio | 11.3:1 [1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
District Factor Group | B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | www | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pinelands Regional School District is a regional school district in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students from Eagleswood Township, Little Egg Harbor Township and Tuckerton Borough along with the Burlington County municipality of Bass River Township. [3] [4] [5] [6] Both schools are accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the New Jersey Department of Education. [7]
As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprising two schools, had an enrollment of 1,621 students and 143.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1. [1]
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "B", the second-lowest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From the lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J. [8]
Pinelands Regional High School officially opened on September 5, 1979, as a Junior-Senior High School, originally housing students in seventh through twelfth grades from Tuckerton, Little Egg Harbor, Bass River, and Eagleswood. Prior to the opening of the school, students from those communities had attended Southern Regional School District in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township, which had been dealing for years with overcrowding. [9]
The building originally held grades 7–8 on the third floor, 9–10 on the second, and 11–12 on the first. The building featured an experimental "open classroom" design, where a large group of students of varying skill levels would be in a single, large classroom with several teachers overseeing them; and contained no interior walls. However, this format didn't last long, and in the 1980s, the rooms were walled off and separated by floor-to-ceiling folding partitions.
In 1991, Pinelands Middle School opened across the street for students in grades 7–8. Also in the 1990s, a new building was completed next to the high school, which houses a daycare center called "Rainbow Express". Students taking childcare classes attend class in this building to help with the daycare kids. In 2002, the Middle School was expanded and the 9th grade was moved there. When the expansion was completed at the Middle School, it was renamed "Pinelands Regional Junior High School" while the high school was formally renamed the "Senior High School".
In 2017, voters approved a bond referendum for renovations to both schools, including new roofing, bathrooms, new masonry in the High School building, and other cosmetic and safety upgrades. Renovation work on the High School was halted after workers discovered asbestos and roofing nails dislodged in the commons area. The high school building was closed for the entirety of the 2018–2019 school year while renovations were completed; portable classrooms were installed at the junior high school to accommodate five grades of students, while 7th graders attended the nearby Frog Pond Elementary School. [10]
In 2018 Melissa McCooley, already superintendent of Little Egg Harbor schools, also became superintendent of Pinelands Regional schools, having two positions at one time. [11]
In September 2019, the high school re-opened, housing grades 9-12 for the first time since 2002. [12]
Schools in the district (with 2022-23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [13] ) are: [14] [15] [16] [17]
Both schools are located directly across the street from each other on Nugentown Road, near the border of Little Egg Harbor and Tuckerton.
WCAT is a Television station on local channel 21 for the area that the district serves. Most of the cast and crew is made up of students who take the class as an elective. The channel shows live morning announcements at 7:32am daily, followed by a commercial or short skit made by members of the WCAT class. Throughout the day, especially during lunch periods, other school programs or past school events are shown on the channel, usually shown on TVs in the cafeteria. Throughout the rest of the day, however, the channel is composed of school or community announcements typical of public-access television cable TV networks.
The Pinelands Experience was a three-day program for 7th graders entering the district, usually held in mid-October. Student chaperones from 9th grade and up are assigned to chaperone students. It was formerly an overnight camping trip that was eventually scaled down to in 2002 due in part to hazing performed by upperclassmen, as well as budget cuts. The Pinelands Experience was canceled in 2010 but returned in 2019.
Core members of the district's administration are: [14] [24] [25]
The district's board of education, comprised of nine 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] Representatives are elected on the basis of the constituent population, with six seats allocated to Little Egg Harbor Township, and one each allocated to Bass River Township, Eagleswood Township and Tuckerton. [28]
Egg Harbor Township is a township in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 47,842, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 4,519 (+10.4%) from the 2010 census count of 43,323, which in turn reflected an increase of 12,597 (+41.0%) from the 30,726 counted in the 2000 census.
Egg Harbor City is a city in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The city, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 4,396, an increase of 153 (+3.6%) from the 2010 census count of 4,243, which in turn reflected a decline of 302 (−6.6%) from the 4,545 counted in the 2000 census.
Washington Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 693, an increase of 6 (+0.9%) from the 2010 census count of 687, which in turn reflected an increase of 66 (+10.6%) from the 621 counted in the 2000 census. The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.
Eagleswood Township is a township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,722, the highest recorded in any decennial count and an increase of 119 (+7.4%) from the 2010 census count of 1,603, which in turn reflected an increase of 162 (+11.2%) from the 1,441 counted in the 2000 census.
Little Egg Harbor Township is a township situated on the Jersey Shore, within Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is the southernmost municipality in both Ocean County and the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 20,784, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 719 (+3.6%) from the 2010 census count of 20,065, which in turn reflected an increase of 4,120 (+25.8%) from the 15,945 counted in the 2000 census.
Tuckerton is a borough situated on the Jersey Shore, within Ocean County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 3,577, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 230 (+6.9%) from the 3,347 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn had reflected a decline of 170 (−4.8%) from the 3,517 counted in the 2000 census.
Bass River Township is a township at the southeastern tip of Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township bears a shoreline fronting both the Bass River and the Great Bay. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,355, a decrease of 88 (−6.1%) from the 2010 census count of 1,443, which in turn had reflected a decline of 67 (−4.4%) from the 1,510 counted in the 2000 census. The township and all of Burlington County is a part of the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley. Bass River is traversed by the Garden State Parkway.
The Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District is a regional public high school district in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The district serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from the constituent municipalities of Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township and Mullica Township, together with the districts of the City of Port Republic and Washington Township who attend as part of sending/receiving relationships.
The Southern Regional School District is a regional public school district in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in seventh grade through twelfth grade. The district serves the five municipalities in the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District – Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom and Surf City – along with students from Beach Haven and Stafford Township. Also attending the district are students from Ocean Township, who attend the school on a tuition basis as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Ocean Township School District. The student body has grown in recent years in line with population growth in the area. The high school was forced to add a large addition in the mid-1990s due to overcrowding.
Lily B. McBeth was an American transgender teacher from Tuckerton, New Jersey. A substitute teacher, McBeth underwent gender affirming surgery in 2005. Her actions were hailed as a model of tolerance and acceptance of transgender Americans. She had three grown children from a previous marriage of 33 years. She was a retired medical sales and marketing executive. She was an active surfer, sailor, skier and duck hunter. As a soldier, she served in the U.S. Army as a Senior Medical Corpsman with a tour duty in Alaska. She said that she had always perceived herself as female and identified with other women. She said that for many years, she was afraid to address her gender identity and felt that her first priority was keeping her family together for the sake of her children..
The Little Egg Harbor Township School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade from Little Egg Harbor Township, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
The Mullica Township Schools is a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from Mullica Township, in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
West Creek is an unincorporated community and hamlet located within Eagleswood Township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Pinelands Regional High School (PRHS) is a four-year regional public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Eagleswood Township, Little Egg Harbor Township and Tuckerton Borough in Ocean County and from Bass River Township, in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Pinelands Regional School District. The school is overseen by the New Jersey Department of Education and has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1986.
Southern Regional High School is a regional comprehensive public high school located in the Manahawkin section of Stafford Township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in the ninth through twelfth grades and operating as part of the Southern Regional School District. The school is located on a 550-acre (220 ha) wooded campus. The district serves the five municipalities in the Long Beach Island Consolidated School District — Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Long Beach Township, Ship Bottom, and Surf City — along with students from Beach Haven and Stafford Township, and additionally the sending district of Ocean Township.
The Bass River Township School District is a non-operating public school district that serves students from Bass River Township, in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Starting with the 2020-21 school year, the district is non-operating and all students attend the schools of the Little Egg Harbor Township School District for K-6 and of the Pinelands Regional School District for grades 7-12.
The Washington Township School District is a non-operating community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade from Washington Township, in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
The Tuckerton School District is a community public school district that serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade from the borough of Tuckerton, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
The Eagleswood Township School District is a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade from Eagleswood Township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Great Bay Regional Volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a Volunteer Emergency Medical Services in the southern Ocean County area and part of Burlington County in New Jersey, United States. Great Bay EMS provides primary 911 services for the residents of Little Egg Harbor Township, Bass River Township and Eagleswood Township.