Washington Township Public School District

Washington Township Public School District
Address
206 East Holly Avenue
, Gloucester County, New Jersey, 08080
United States
Coordinates39°44′40″N 75°06′32″W / 39.74457°N 75.108991°W / 39.74457; -75.108991
District information
GradesPreK-12
SuperintendentEric Hibbs
Business administratorJanine M. Wechter
Schools11
Students and staff
Enrollment7,302 (as of 2023–24)[1]
Faculty654.0 FTEs[1]
Student–teacher ratio11.2:1[1]
Other information
District Factor GroupFG
Websitewww.wtps.org
Ind. Per pupil District
spending
Rank
(*)
K-12
average
%± vs.
average
1ATotal Spending$18,48249$18,891−2.2%
1Budgetary Cost15,5717014,7835.3%
2Classroom Instruction9,156708,7634.5%
6Support Services2,559712,3927.0%
8Administrative Cost1,750911,48517.8%
10Operations & Maintenance1,588461,783−10.9%
13Extracurricular Activities3047426813.4%
16Median Teacher Salary70,9307964,043
Data from NJDoE 2014 Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending.[2]
*Of K-12 districts with more than 3,500 students. Lowest spending=1; Highest=103

The Washington Township Public School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Washington Township, in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[3]

As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of 11 schools, had an enrollment of 7,302 students and 654.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.2:1.[1]

The district had been classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "FG", the fourth-highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.[4]

Awards and recognition

For the 2005–06 school year, the Washington Township Public School District was recognized with the "Best Practices Award" by the New Jersey Department of Education for its "Creating Proficient Readers and Writers" Professional Development program at Birches Elementary School.[5]

For the 2004–05 school year, both Birches Elementary School[6] and Whitman Elementary School[7] were named as "Star Schools" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest state honor that a New Jersey school can achieve.

Schools

Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[8]) are:[9][10][11][12]

Preschool
  • Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center[13] with 999 students in pre-kindergarten
    • Christina Cox, principal
Elementary schools
  • Bells Elementary School[14] with 552 students in grades K–5
    • Shaun Giberson, principal[15]
  • Birches Elementary School[16] with 453 students in grades K–5
    • Julie LaRubbio, principal[17]
  • Hurffville Elementary School[18] with 555 students in grades K–5
    • Erica Holck, principal[19]
  • Thomas Jefferson Elementary School[20] with 482 students in grades K–5
    • Tricia Holmes, principal[21]
  • Wedgewood Elementary School[22] with 473 students in grades K–5
    • Ginny Grier, principal[23]
  • Whitman Elementary School[24] with 557 students in grades K–5
    • Julie Hopp, principal[25]
Middle schools
  • Bunker Hill Middle School[26] with 575 students in grades 6–8
    • Allison Egizi, principal[27]
  • Chestnut Ridge Middle School[28] with 656 students in grades 6–8
    • Theresa Pietrowski, principal[29]
  • Orchard Valley Middle School[30] with 526 students in grades 6–8
    • Kayla Berry, principal[31]
High school

Administration

Core members of the district's administration are:[34]

  • Eric Hibbs, superintendent[35] Hibbs assumed the position in May 2023.[36]
  • Janine M. Wechter, business administrator and board secretary[37]

Board of education

The district's board of education, composed 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.[38][39][40]

References

  1. ^ a b c d District information for Washington Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending April 2013, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2013.
  3. ^ Washington Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Washington Township Public School District, approved September 17, 2018. Accessed August 31, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades K through 12 in the Washington Township School District. Composition: The Washington Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Washington Township."
  4. ^ District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 1, 2024.
  5. ^ New Jersey Department of Education Best Practices Award recipient for 2005-06, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed October 23, 2006
  6. ^ New Jersey Department of Education Star School Award recipient: Birches Elementary School, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 23, 2006
  7. ^ New Jersey Department of Education Star School Award recipient: Whitman Elementary School, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 23, 2006
  8. ^ School Data for the Washington Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
  9. ^ Building Directory and Directions, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  10. ^ 2023-2024 Gloucester County Office of Education Public School Directory, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  11. ^ School Performance Reports for the Washington Township Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 1, 2025.
  12. ^ New Jersey School Directory for the Washington Township Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  13. ^ Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  14. ^ Bells Elementary School, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  15. ^ Principal, Bells Elementary School. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  16. ^ Birches Elementary School, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  17. ^ Principal, Birches Elementary School. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  18. ^ Hurffville Elementary School, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  19. ^ Principal, Hurffville Elementary School. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  20. ^ Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  21. ^ Principal, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  22. ^ Wedgewood Elementary School, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  23. ^ Principal, Wedgewood Elementary School. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  24. ^ Whitman Elementary School, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  25. ^ Principal, Whitman Elementary School. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  26. ^ Bunker Hill Middle School, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  27. ^ Principal, Bunker Hill Middle School. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  28. ^ Chestnut Ridge Middle School, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  29. ^ Principal, Chestnut Ridge Middle School. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  30. ^ Orchard Valley Middle School, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  31. ^ Principal, Orchard Valley Middle School. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  32. ^ Washington Township High School, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  33. ^ Executive Principal, Washington Township High School. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  34. ^ New Jersey School Directory for Gloucester County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  35. ^ Superintendent of Schools, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed September 11, 2023.
  36. ^ Chang, Kathy. 'Washington Township board of education appoints new superintendent", Sun Newspapers, March 4, 2023. Accessed September 11, 2023. "Washington Township will have a new school superintendent in May. The township’s board of education unanimously approved the appointment of Eric Hibbs at its Feb. 28 meeting. He will serve through June 30, 2027 and earn an annual salary of $215,000 for the 2022-’23 and 2023-’24 school years."
  37. ^ School Business Administrator/Board Secretary, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.
  38. ^ New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.
  39. ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Township of Washington School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2024. Accessed August 31, 2025. "The School District is a Type II district located in the County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education (the 'Board'). The Board is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms. These terms are staggered so that three member's terms expire each year. The Superintendent is appointed by the Board to act as executive officer of the School District. The purpose of the School District is to educate students in grades K through 12 through at its eleven schools." See "Roster of Officials" on page 16.
  40. ^ Board of Education, Washington Township Public School District. Accessed August 31, 2025.