Phil murphy just forced the closure of a cherished new jersey national blue ribbon school

Phil Murphy Just Forced the Closure of a Cherished New Jersey National Blue Ribbon School

Posted by
1 min read
February 21, 2025

JACKSON, NJ—There are less than 100 blue ribbon schools in New Jersey. A blue ribbon is one of the most honored national designations a school can achieve, and Jackson Township has two.

Next year, it will have only one.

McAuliffe Middle School, one of New Jersey’s few National Blue Ribbon Schools, is set to close this year due to funding cuts under the state’s S2 formula. The Jackson School District announced the closure as it struggles to bridge a budget gap caused by the controversial state funding adjustment.

McAuliffe, which received the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School designation in 2002, is one of fewer than 100 schools in the state to have earned the honor. The federal recognition is awarded to schools that demonstrate high academic achievement or significant progress in closing achievement gaps.

The other blue ribbon school is the Lucy N. Holman Elementary School, which won the award in 2021.

The U.S. Department of Education recognizes select schools each year as National Blue Ribbon Schools.

The program highlights schools that set high academic standards and implement innovative teaching practices.

The funding crisis stems from New Jersey’s S2 formula, enacted in 2018, which has reallocated state aid to districts deemed “overfunded” based on enrollment shifts and property tax contributions. Jackson School District officials have warned for years that the cuts would lead to severe consequences, including staff reductions and potential school closures.

When asked what districts like Jackson should do, Murphy said they would have to close a few schools. And they are. McAullife, named after deceased NASA astronaut Christa McAuliffe, is scheduled to close after this year. That school includes a tree grown from a seed from the International Space Station and a time capsule placed in the ground when the school was built in 1986. The school board did not say what would happen to either of those two community treasures if the building is sold to a developer or a private school organization.

In 2024, only 11 New Jersey schools met the criteria to be named a National Blue Ribbon School.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Don't Miss