Ocean City 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.

Ocean City, New Jersey - 3 schools

An equity score of 71/100 ranks Ocean City School District #81 of 587 districts in New Jersey (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $26,548 per pupil, Ocean City School District ranks #173 of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending (New Jersey districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,877
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$26,548
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Ocean City School District operates 3 public schools serving 1,877 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New Jersey. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 elementary, 1 combined 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 Cape May County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $26,548 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 67.7% local, 27.9% state, and 4.3% 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 71/100, ranked #81 of 587 in New Jersey against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 3 schools offering Advanced Placement (24 AP courses district-wide), a 251.7:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 20.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 77.9% White, 15.4% Hispanic or Latino, 3.5% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Ocean City Primary School, with a diversity index of 45.5/100.

Its largest campus is Ocean City High School, enrolling 1,106 students (65% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Ocean City Primary School, at 271 students, a 4x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Ocean City High School accounts for 58.9% of all Ocean City School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Ocean City School District a distant remainder — means Ocean City 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

Ocean City School District school enrollment varies 4.1× across entities

Ocean City School District school enrollment ranges from 271 students (lowest) to 1,106 students (highest), a spread of 835 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Ocean City School District student-counselor ratio is 252:1 — 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 Ocean City School District is typically wider than the Ocean City School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Ocean City School District chronic absenteeism rate is 20.6% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Ocean City School District is typically wider than the Ocean City School District-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

4.3%
Federal
27.9%
State
67.7%
Local

Funding Equity

71
Equity Score
81 / 587
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Ocean City School District.

White 77.9%
Hispanic or Latino 15.4%
African American 3.5%
Asian 0.9%
Multiracial 2.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 36.0/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Ocean City School District's schools, below the New Jersey average of 51.2.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Ocean City Primary School 45.5
  2. 2 Ocean City Intermediate School 38.4
  3. 3 Ocean City High School 24.2

Programs & Resources

1 / 3
Schools with AP
24 AP courses total
251.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
20.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Ocean City School District

School Enrollment
Ocean City High School
1,106
Ocean City Intermediate School
326
Ocean City Primary School
271

How Ocean City School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Burlington City Public School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Glassboro School District Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Glen Ridge Public School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Saddle Brook School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Pennsville School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Ocean City 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 Ocean City School District →
Elizabeth Public Schools
28,266 students · 37 schools · $24,380/pupil
Compare vs Ocean City School District →
Jersey City Public Schools
26,647 students · 39 schools · $26,862/pupil
Compare vs Ocean City School District →
Paterson Public School District
24,795 students · 43 schools · $23,944/pupil
Compare vs Ocean City School District →
Edison Township School District
16,807 students · 19 schools · $20,030/pupil
Compare vs Ocean City School District →

Compare Ocean City 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 Ocean City School District?

Ocean City School District has 3 schools, including 1 high, 1 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 1,877 students.

How much does Ocean City School District spend per student?

Ocean City School District spends $26,548 per student. The district has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #81 in New Jersey.

What is the demographic composition of Ocean City School District?

Ocean City School District students are 77.9% White, 15.4% Hispanic or Latino, 3.5% African American, 0.9% Asian, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Ocean City School District?

Ocean City School District has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #81 out of 587 districts in New Jersey.