What Some South Jersey School Districts Spend May Surprise You

How much does a kindergarten through 12th grade education cost per child in your town and how does that compare to other Atlantic and Cape May County communities? That's a fair question and the latest estimates on those costs have just been released.

The state average cost to educate a child in New Jersey, including pension and support services, was up 2.2% to $19, 652 in the 2014-15 school year, according to the 2016 Taxpayer's Guide to Education Spending released this week by the Department of Education.

With thanks to Diane D'Amico of the Press of Atlantic City for the idea, here are Atlantic and Cape May County's highest and lowest spending school districts.

Highest spending school districts per child:

#5: Atlantic City $26,634

#4: Margate: $29,113

#3: Wildwood Crest: $29,351

#2: Stone Harbor $36,913

#1: Avalon $63,786 (2nd highest in the state)

Lowest spending school districts per child:

#5: Hamilton Township: $17,205

#4: Mullica Township: $16,349

-#3: Absecon: $15,750

#2: Port Republic: 15,321

#1: Hammonton: $14,629