South Amboy 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.

South Amboy, New Jersey - 2 schools

An equity score of 32/100 ranks South Amboy School District #476 of 587 districts in New Jersey (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $18,880 per pupil, South Amboy School District ranks #614 of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending (New Jersey districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,183
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$18,880
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

South Amboy School District operates 2 public schools serving 1,183 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New Jersey. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 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 Middlesex County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,880 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 65 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 42.6% local, 46.8% state, and 10.6% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 32/100, ranked #476 of 587 in New Jersey against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 394.6:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 14.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 48.3% Hispanic or Latino, 34.5% White, 10.2% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is South Amboy Middle/High School, enrolling 616 students (51% of the district's total enrollment).

South Amboy Middle/High School accounts for 51.3% of all South Amboy School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of South Amboy School District a distant remainder — means South Amboy School District-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. 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

South Amboy School District student-counselor ratio is 395:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

South Amboy School District chronic absenteeism rate is 14.8% — low (typically associated with lower-than-average attendance disruption; districts in this range often have attendance interventions, robust transportation, or smaller catchments that reduce barriers)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Where does the funding come from?

10.6%
Federal
46.8%
State
42.6%
Local

Funding Equity

32
Equity Score
476 / 587
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in South Amboy School District.

White 34.5%
Hispanic or Latino 48.3%
African American 10.2%
Asian 3.2%
Multiracial 3.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
394.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
14.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in South Amboy School District

School Enrollment
South Amboy Middle/High School
616
South Amboy Elementary
584

How South Amboy School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Butler Public School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
River Edge School District Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Millstone Township School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Clinton Township School District Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Mainland Regional High School Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

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

Compare South Amboy 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 South Amboy School District?

South Amboy School District has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 1,183 students.

How much does South Amboy School District spend per student?

South Amboy School District spends $18,880 per student. The district has an equity score of 32/100, ranking #476 in New Jersey.

What is the demographic composition of South Amboy School District?

South Amboy School District students are 48.3% Hispanic or Latino, 34.5% White, 10.2% African American, 3.2% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for South Amboy School District?

South Amboy School District has an equity score of 32/100, ranking #476 out of 587 districts in New Jersey.