Butler Public School District

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Butler, New Jersey - 3 schools

An equity score of 57/100 ranks Butler Public School District #229 of 587 districts in New Jersey (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $25,138 per pupil, Butler Public School District ranks #265 of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending (New Jersey districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,184
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$25,138
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Butler Public School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,184 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New Jersey. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 combined, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Morris County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $25,138 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending. See how New Jersey compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 69.5% local, 24.7% state, and 5.8% federal, a local-revenue-heavy mix that leaves the district more exposed to property-tax swings and local ballot measures than state-funded peers. The district's equity score is 57/100, ranked #229 of 587 in New Jersey against a state average of 50, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (13 AP courses district-wide), a 264.8:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 7.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 59.8% White, 34.0% Hispanic or Latino, 2.3% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Aaron Decker School, with a diversity index of 55.3/100.

Its largest campus is Butler High School, enrolling 482 students (42% of the district's total enrollment).

Butler High School accounts for 40.7% of all Butler Public School District student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Butler Public School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Butler Public School District student-counselor ratio is 265:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Butler Public School District is typically wider than the Butler Public School District-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Butler Public School District chronic absenteeism rate is 7.0% — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

5.8%
Federal
24.7%
State
69.5%
Local

Funding Equity

57
Equity Score
229 / 587
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Butler Public School District.

White 59.8%
Hispanic or Latino 34.0%
African American 1.4%
Asian 2.3%
Multiracial 1.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 52.4/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Butler Public School District's schools, about the same as the New Jersey average of 51.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Aaron Decker School 55.3
  2. 2 Richard Butler School 51.8
  3. 3 Butler High School 50.2

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
13 AP courses total
264.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
7.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Butler Public School District

School Enrollment
Butler High School
482
Aaron Decker School
383
Richard Butler School
291

How Butler Public School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The New Jersey districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
South Amboy School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
River Edge School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Millstone Township School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Mainland Regional High School Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Clinton Township School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Butler Public School District's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in New Jersey

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Newark Public School District
41,672 students · 63 schools · $25,301/pupil
Compare vs Butler Public School District →
Elizabeth Public Schools
28,266 students · 37 schools · $24,380/pupil
Compare vs Butler Public School District →
Jersey City Public Schools
26,647 students · 39 schools · $26,862/pupil
Compare vs Butler Public School District →
Paterson Public School District
24,795 students · 43 schools · $23,944/pupil
Compare vs Butler Public School District →
Edison Township School District
16,807 students · 19 schools · $20,030/pupil
Compare vs Butler Public School District →

Compare Butler Public School District

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Newark Public School District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Butler Public School District?

Butler Public School District has 3 schools, including 1 high, 1 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,184 students.

How much does Butler Public School District spend per student?

Butler Public School District spends $25,138 per student. The district has an equity score of 57/100, ranking #229 in New Jersey.

What is the demographic composition of Butler Public School District?

Butler Public School District students are 59.8% White, 34.0% Hispanic or Latino, 2.3% Asian, 1.4% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Butler Public School District?

Butler Public School District has an equity score of 57/100, ranking #229 out of 587 districts in New Jersey.