Jackson, NJ – A once-celebrated middle school in Ocean County is on the auction block as the Jackson School District reels from deep financial losses tied to New Jersey’s controversial S-2 school funding law, leaving the future of the Christa McAuliffe Middle School property up for grabs with a $54.5 million minimum bid.
The school is one of 221 nationally recognized schools in New Jersey and is still listed in the state’s Blue Ribbon registry. It was forced to close in 2024.
The Jackson School District confirmed the sale of the 37.5-acre Christa McAuliffe Middle School property this week, with sealed bids due by 10 a.m. on Oct. 15. The move follows the building’s closure in June and is the latest fallout from the S-2 legislation signed by Governor Phil Murphy, which has slashed millions from the district’s annual budget since 2018.
Superintendent Nicole Pormilli described the sale as “heartbreaking,” but necessary amid an aggressive restructuring plan aimed at stabilizing district finances. Business Administrator Dan Baginski noted the district’s confidence in the property’s value, describing the school as a “premium facility” that has served the community for over three decades.
Potential buyers can inspect the facility during two scheduled pre-bid walk-throughs on Sept. 17 and Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Full property details, floor plans, and bid documents are available on the district’s official website.
The former middle school includes a 126,305-square-foot, two-story main building constructed of steel and brick, five modular classrooms adding 3,500 square feet, and 188 parking spaces. The site also offers multiple athletic fields, a large cafetorium with a full kitchen, science labs, a media center, and extensive administrative and educational infrastructure.
Located in southeastern Jackson, the property sits near the Lakewood and Howell Township borders. It is currently zoned for public and educational use, with some portions in a residential zone—creating potential for redevelopment or continued institutional operation.
District officials have pointed to S-2’s funding formula as the driving force behind the decision. Since the law’s passage, Jackson has lost over $20 million in state aid, forcing layoffs, program cuts, and school consolidation. Despite local protests and repeated appeals to Trenton, state lawmakers have not reversed the formula, pushing Jackson into crisis-mode planning.
The McAuliffe School, opened in 1993 and named after teacher and Challenger astronaut Christa McAuliffe, is the largest property the district has ever offered for public sale.
The district is accepting all inquiries through Business Administrator Dan Baginski via email, and emphasizes that the sale will help fund student programming and long-term sustainability.
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Key Points
- Jackson School District is selling Christa McAuliffe Middle School amid financial strain caused by state funding cuts tied to S-2 legislation
- The 37.5-acre property is listed for $54.5 million, with bids due by Oct. 15 and public inspections scheduled in September and October
- The sale is part of a larger consolidation plan as the district manages reduced state aid and declining enrollment
A once-prized Jackson middle school faces the auction block as state funding cuts leave the district scrambling for financial survival.