West Essex Regional 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.

North Caldwell, New Jersey - 2 schools

An equity score of 56/100 ranks West Essex Regional School District #244 of 587 districts in New Jersey (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $29,054 per pupil, West Essex Regional School District ranks #96 of 649 New Jersey districts by per-pupil spending (New Jersey districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,663
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$29,054
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

West Essex Regional School District operates 2 public schools serving 1,663 students, placing it among the smallest districts in New Jersey. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 middle 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 Essex County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $29,054 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 77.9% local, 20.6% state, and 1.4% 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 56/100, ranked #244 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 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (29 AP courses district-wide), a 245.6:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 9.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 77.2% White, 10.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is West Essex High School, enrolling 1,061 students (66% of the district's total enrollment).

West Essex High School accounts for 63.8% of all West Essex Regional School District student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of West Essex Regional School District a distant remainder — means West Essex Regional 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

West Essex Regional School District student-counselor ratio is 246:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

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

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

West Essex Regional School District chronic absenteeism rate is 9.9% — 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?

1.4%
Federal
20.6%
State
77.9%
Local

Funding Equity

56
Equity Score
244 / 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 2 schools in West Essex Regional School District.

White 77.2%
Hispanic or Latino 10.5%
African American 2.6%
Asian 7.3%
Multiracial 2.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
29 AP courses total
245.6:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
9.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in West Essex Regional School District

School Enrollment
West Essex High School
1,061
West Essex Middle School
558

How West Essex Regional School District Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Little Egg Harbor Township School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Spotswood Public School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Union County Vocational-Technical School District Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Kinnelon School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Cresskill Public School District Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to West Essex Regional 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.

Compare West Essex Regional 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 West Essex Regional School District?

West Essex Regional School District has 2 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,663 students.

How much does West Essex Regional School District spend per student?

West Essex Regional School District spends $29,054 per student. The district has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #244 in New Jersey.

What is the demographic composition of West Essex Regional School District?

West Essex Regional School District students are 77.2% White, 10.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 2.6% African American, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for West Essex Regional School District?

West Essex Regional School District has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #244 out of 587 districts in New Jersey.