TELLING THE SUMMIT STORY 2016-2017
1. OVERVIEW OF SUMMIT 2. ENROLLMENT 3. CLASS SIZE 4. ACHIEVEMENT 5. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 6. SHS RANKINGS 7. PRE-SCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS 8. SPECIAL EDUCATION 9. PARTNERSHIPS 10. BUDGET TERMS 11. BUDGET AND TAX LEVY DATA 12. BUDGET DRIVERS 13. DEFINITIONS
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1. OVERVIEW OF SUMMIT Located in Union County, New Jersey, 25 miles outside of New York City, Summit offers a diverse and culturally rich community.
The city offers a downtown area- made up of local and upscale restaurants, spas and shops, a train station with direct access to Manhattan, and excellent public schools, all of which provide residents and visitors a unique experience.
Summit is bordered by Millburn, Chatham and Chatham Township, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Mountainside and Springfield Township.
At the heart of Summit’s fine offerings is the city’s public school system. The Summit Public School district comprises two primary centers, constructed in 2008, that house the pre-school and Kindergarten programs, five elementary schools: Brayton, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln-Hubbard and Washington, the Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School and Summit High School. There are more than 4,000 students in the district’s schools.
Summit Schools are built on four pillars of success: academics, arts, athletics and community service.
2. ENROLLMENT
● What is the Summit Schools’ total enrollment?
Total enrollment for the 2014-15 school year was 4,090 students.
● What was total enrollment for each of the past nine years, and by what percentage did the total enrollment increase year-over-year?
% growth Year Enrollment vs. PY 2005-2006 3,670 1.0% 2006-2007 3,732 1.7% 2007-2008 3,794 1.7% 2008-2009 3,804 0.3%
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2009-2010 3,887 2.2% 2010-2011 3,982 2.4% 2011-2012 4,042 1.5% 2012-2013 4,074 0.8% 2013-2014 4,090 0.4%
● How many of Summit’s students qualify for free and reduced price lunch?
As of October 2015, 586 students, or 14.3% of Summit’s students qualified for the federally funded free and reduced price lunch program, one indicator of the disparate socio-economic status of students in Summit. This is up from 10.9% in the 2014-2015 school year.
3. CLASS SIZE ● What are Summit’s guidelines regarding class size?
Summit’s guideline is a maximum of 22 students in grades K-2 and a maximum of 24 students in grades 3-12.
Summit’s average student-to-teacher ratio was 11.7 for the 2014-2015 school year. This ratio compares with a NJ state average of 12.8; and an average reported for similar K-12 / 3501 + districts of 12.5. (DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TAXPAYERS' GUIDE TO EDUCATION SPENDING)
Comparison for similar K-12 / 3501 + districts includes:
BERGEN RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE ESSEX MILLBURN TWP ESSEX LIVINGSTON TWP MORRIS SCH DIST OF THE CHATHAMS MORRIS MONTVILLE TWP UNION WESTFIELD TOWN
4. ACHIEVEMENT ● What is Summit’s trend in student achievement for SAT scores?
For each of the following statements regarding SHS graduates, the corresponding national data is presented in parentheses. Comparisons with other reference groups are found in the charts below.
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The SAT averages for Summit’s Class of 2015 were 571 (484) for writing, 578 (495) for critical reading, and 602 (511) for mathematics.
The SAT averages for Summit’s Class of 2014 were 576 (497) for critical reading and 599 (513) for math.
● How do Summit's schools compare with neighboring districts in SAT achievement? Below are the updated Mean SAT comparisons with other districts (2015):
Summit 1751 Madison 1695
Berkley Heights 1663 Millburn 1897
Chatham 1745 New Providence 1840
Cranford 1605 Scotch Plains/Fanwood 1602
Livingston 1764 Springfield 1502
Westfield 1715
● What is Summit’s trend for student achievement on AP tests?
A variety of courses are offered in both college preparatory and non-college preparatory subjects. Enrollment in Advanced Placement and Honors courses is by application and faculty recommendation. Summit High School offers 19 AP courses and 17 Honors courses, in English, Math, World Language, Science, and History (see Course Offerings). Six-year World Language Programs (beginning in 6th grade) are offered in Latin, Spanish, and French. Offerings in Art, Music, Drama, and Industrial Arts and Technology are open to all students.
Vocational programs are available through the Union County Vocational School shared-time program. Students are required to carry seven subjects each semester and may elect an eighth course (can opt for Audit or Pass/Fail) or a study period. More than 80% of students carry five academic subjects and more than 60% are enrolled in AP/Honors courses.
The percentage of graduates from the Class of 2015 who are continuing their education is 93.7%.
● Attending four-year college/university: 84.4% ● Vocational/Technical School: 2.2%
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● Attending two-year college: 9.3% ● Military, Employment, Gap Year, Other: 2.6%
5. EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
SHS offers more than 40 extracurricular activities, including award-winning Performing Arts and Forensics programs. More than 80 percent of students participate in performing arts education. SHS also offers 30 varsity sports, 11 of which won at least one conference, county, sectional, or group championship in 2014- 2015. Summit Public Schools are ranked #6 for Best Public School Districts in NJ (Niche, 2015). SHS is ranked #1 in NJ, #1 the Tri-State Area, and #3 nationally for athletic excellence (Niche, 2015) and was awarded the Group 3 ShopRite Cup in 2015. SHS also won the gold award from U.S. News & World Report in 2015. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of College and Secondary Schools and the New Jersey Department of Education. Average academic class size is 21.
● How does Summit's spending on extracurricular activities compare with neighboring districts?
Summit’s current cost per pupil. Is $394 ,compared with a state average of $268 per pupil; and an average reported for similar K-12 / 3501 + districts of $328. (DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TAXPAYERS' GUIDE TO EDUCATION SPENDING)
Comparison for similar K-12 / 3501 + districts includes:
BERGEN RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE ESSEX MILLBURN TWP ESSEX LIVINGSTON TWP MORRIS SCH DIST OF THE CHATHAMS MORRIS MONTVILLE TWP UNION WESTFIELD TOWN
Summit continues to provide a wide-array of athletic opportunities for both boys and girls in the MS as well as HS programs.
6. SHS RANKINGS Each year, in late summer, national and local high school rankings are published by a variety of sources. While, SHS looks at success factors such as SAT scores, AP test scores and college acceptances, rankings such as NJ Monthly, The Washington Post and Newsweek use different criteria and methodology. Below are three charts of data with information for the 2015 rankings. 5 | Page
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7. PRE-SCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN
● What is Summit’s pre-school program?
The Summit Public Schools provide program options for students classified as pre-school disabled. Students may be placed in a pre-school disabled class that can accommodate up to 12 classified students, or an integrated pre-school program, which is a regular education program that includes non-disabled and classified students. The non-disabled students are chosen by a lottery system.
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● How has pre-school grown since the state imposed this requirement?
All districts have had to comply with the provision of pre-school programs for children with disabilities to be in compliance with state mandates. The eligible population in Summit has grown from four half-day sections in 2001 to six and one half-day sections and one full-day section in 2009-2010.
● What is Summit’s Kindergarten program?
The Summit Public Schools provides a half-day kindergarten program at the Jefferson and Wilson Primary Centers. This program is available at no charge to district kindergarten parents. Both AM and PM sessions are offered. In addition, a tuition-based, full day kindergarten program is available at the Jefferson and Wilson Primary Centers.
A tuition-based, full-day kindergarten option is available via lottery and provides a comprehensive enhancement to the half-day kindergarten curriculum. The number of sections available is determined by approval of the Board of Education after considerations that include availability of space, community interest, and lottery selection. During the 2015-2016 school year, three sections were held at each of the Wilson and Jefferson Primary Centers; six full day class in total.
8. SPECIAL EDUCATION
● What is our current special education enrollment?
Special education enrollment for 2014-2015 was 461. This number includes students who are placed in out-of- district programs, but does not include students who receive speech services only.
Figure 1 Special Education Students on top of Regular Ed enrollments
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● How many out-of-district placements does Summit have?
In the 2015-16 school year, Summit has 33 students, whose special needs require their placement at schools outside the district. Total out-of-district tuition costs are approximately $2.4M.
What is the average cost of an out-of-district placement, not including transportation?
The average cost of an out-of-district placement is $65,000 per year.
● What does “inclusion” mean as it relates to special education?
Under state law, school districts must provide students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the “least restrictive environment." This mandate requires that special education students, , be educated or “included” in the same classroom setting, to the degree possible, as regular education students.
● How has Summit’s expenditure for special education evolved over time?
9. PARTNERSHIPS
● Who does the Summit School District partner with to share costs?
Partnerships with Other School Districts
● Morris Union Jointure: Transportation and special education related services
● Union County Education Services Commission: Transportation and special education related services 9 | Page
● Garden State Coalition of Schools: Joint lobbying effort at the state level with other suburban school districts
● ACES: Join together with other school districts in purchase of energy
● Diploma Joint Insurance Fund: Property and Casualty and Workers’ Compensation Insurance
● Educational Data Services: Purchase consortium on general supplies, and physical education, art and music supplies
● Middlesex Educational Regional Services Commission [MERSC]: Purchase consortium on equipment and supplies
● National Purchasing Consortiums (various) including Government Service Administration
● ERATE: Telecommunications and technology discounts
Partnerships with Higher Education Institutions:
● Seton Hall University: After-school tutoring program in the middle school
● Columbia University Teachers College: Professional development for teachers in the area of reading
● Drew University: Internship to help with policy development
Partnerships with Local and Regional Non-profit Agencies
● Connection for Women and Children: After-school programs in four elementary schools
● Boys Club/Girls Club and YMCA: Middle school-after school program
Partnerships with Summit City Government Agencies
● Summit Police Department: Security reviews, DARE program and safety programs
Joint Committee on Field Maintenance: Collects user fees to enhance maintenance budget In addition, the board of education recently increased user fees for organizations that seek to utilize school facilities during non-school hours, thereby resulting in enhanced cost sharing
Major Local Fundraising and Substantial Contributions Are Made To the Schools
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The district also benefits from the generous monetary contributions donated by several important groups, including:
● Summit Educational Foundation (SEF)- During the 2014-2015 school year, the SEF funded $760,000 in fall and spring grants. Throughout SEF’s 30-year history, the organization has contributed more than $4.9 million in grant money supporting hundreds of innovative initiatives, programs, and educational tools (equipment and supplies) throughout the district.
● PTA/PTOs- Support includes: landscaping, playgrounds, cultural art, after school enrichment programs, annual contribution to the district technology fund, tutoring program, parent buddy and English language tutoring programs
● SPARC Music Parents Association
● Summit Boosters Summit Junior League grants
10. BUDGET TERMS
● Summit is a Type 1 District. What does that mean?
State education law permits districts to organize as Type 1 or Type 2 districts. While Board of Education members are elected in Type 2 districts, the Mayor in Type 1 districts appoints Board of Education members.
In 97% of Type 2 districts, voting on the school budget via a public referendum is no longer required as long as the budget does not exceed the 2% cap. Budgets in a Type 1 district are still voted upon by a Board of School Estimate.
● What does budget “cap” mean?
State law places a limit on the amount by which a school district may increase its budget every year. This increase is known as “the cap” . In certain situations, districts may be entitled to a “waiver” in their budget which permits additional increases in excess of the cap as described below. Under current legislation, school districts are permitted to increase the tax levy by 2%. Therefore, for the 2016-2017 school year, the permitted increase to the tax levy will be $1,235,294, absent any adjustments to spending authorization.
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● What kinds of adjustments permit a budget to exceed a 2% cap?
Under current law, (Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-38 and 39), local and regional districts (regular districts) are permitted an increase in their general fund tax levy that exceeds their tax levy growth limitation (2%), calculated as the pre-budget year adjusted general fund tax levy with adjustments for increases in enrollment multiplied by two percent, plus adjustments for an increase in budgeted health care costs, plus an increase in normal and accrued pension liability costs (deferred pension), and plus or minus adjustments for responsibility shifted from/to another entity.
● What is “banked cap”?
N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-39(e) permits districts to “bank” the difference between the maximum allowable amount to be raised by taxation for the current school budget year and the actual amount raised by taxation for the current school budget year. This banked cap amount may be used to increase the district tax levy cap in any of the next three budget years. (e.g. Cap not utilized in the 2013-14 budget year will be available to be carried into fiscal years 2014-15 through 2016-17).
● What is “surplus” or “fund balance”?
Surplus, sometimes referred to as “fund balance,” is the amount that a district keeps in reserve from one year to the next to cover extraordinary, unexpected costs that arise during the school year. Prior to S1701 (signed into law July 7, 2004), districts were permitted to maintain fund balance [surplus] up to 6% to cover such unanticipated and unbudgeted costs. Current law permits the district to maintain a fund balance of only 2% (approximately $1.2 million of our current 2015 –2016 budget).
● What is the Board of School Estimate (BOSE)?
As a Type 1 district, Summit’s Board of School Estimate is made up of three city elected officials and two appointed members of the School Board, as follows:
● Mayor
● 2 City Council Members
● 2 Board of Education Members
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This body governs all necessary decisions and approvals regarding the annual operating budget for the school district and insurance of debt for facility projects covered under Fund 30 Capital Projects Fund.
11. BUDGET & TAX LEVY DATA
● What was our budget for each of the previous school years, and by what percentage did the budget increase year over year?
School Year Total Budget % Increase Tax Impact %
2003-2004 $42,050,932 7.4% 10.2%
2004-2005 $45,602,518 8.4% 8.9%
2005-2006 $49,485,061 8.5% 8.4%
2006-2007 $52,920,425 6.9% 5.9%
2007-2008 $55,892,312 5.6% 6.1%
2008-2009 $59,632,046 6.7% 4.8%
2009-2010 $61,030,673 2.3% 4.1%
2010-2011 $62,787,062 2.9% 2.4%
2011-2012 $63,058,951 0.4% 0.0%
2012-2013 $63,179,701 0.2% 0.9%
2013-2014 $64,077,243* 1.4% 1.0%
2014-2015 $64,663,547 0.9% 1.0%
2015-2016 $65,987,824 1.8% 1.0%
● 2013-2014 Budgeted Figure Reported in State User Friendly Budget included a withdrawal of Capital Reserve in the amount of $1,836,120 therefore reflecting a total budget figure of $65,913,363.
● How much of our budget is funded by local property taxes, compared with the state average? 13 | Page
93.8% of our school budget is funded by local property taxes. This compares with a state average of 64.4%,(National Education Association, Rankings of the States 2014 and Estimates of School Statistics 2015) and national average of 44%.
● How much of our budget is covered by state aid?
Statewide, New Jersey funds 32.6% (down 2.1% from 2009-10) of total educational spending compared with a national average of 46.4% (up .8% from 2009-10), (National Education Association, Rankings of the States 2014 and Estimates of School Statistics 2015). Summit, and other districts in Summit’s socioeconomic group, receive funding equal to 2.7% of the total budget.
● How much of Summit’s budget is covered by federal aid?
Federal aid does not affect the district's general fund budget. Federal aid is applied to federally imposed programs such as No Child Left Behind and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).
12. BUDGET DRIVERS ● What is the general breakdown of the school district’s budget?
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● What is Summit’s median faculty salary compared with the state average?
Summit’s median faculty salary is $63,781, compared with the state median of $64,423; and an average of the median salary reported for similar K-12 / 3501 + districts of $76,044. (DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TAXPAYERS' GUIDE TO EDUCATION SPENDING)
Comparison for similar K-12 / 3501 + districts includes:
BERGEN RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE ESSEX MILLBURN TWP ESSEX LIVINGSTON TWP MORRIS SCH DIST OF THE CHATHAMS MORRIS MONTVILLE TWP UNION WESTFIELD TOWN
● What are the Summit Schools’ current health care costs and what has the district done to contain costs?
Summit’s current net health care costs are $8,448,184 per year for the current 2015-16 school year, after employee contributions of more than $2.3M.
The Board of Education has been working to control these costs through negotiation strategies that include:
● Employee contributions towards health care premiums
● Increase in Co-Pays
● Opt out provision for employees that have dual coverage; and
● Continuing to check the market for the best value on renewals
Additionally, in 2014-15, we launched a District Wide Employee Wellness program targeted at improving employee health and related experience ratings to assist in future renewals. This is included with our annual CIGNA service at no cost to the district.
● What are the Summit Schools’ current utility costs and what has the district done to minimize these costs?
Summit’s current utility costs are $542,864 per year. This is a significant decrease from five years ago when the cost of gas and electricity, combined was $918,784. The reason for this sharp decline (a 40% savings) is attributed to reduction in usage through replacement of boilers district-wide with High Energy Efficient
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models as part of the Regular Operating Districts Grant Program (RODS). Additionally, we continue to bid for bundled services with other districts statewide in the Alliance for Competitive Energy Savings (ACES).
ACES is an energy-purchasing program formed in 1999 by NJSBA, the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials (NJASBO), and the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA). Its primary purpose is to save money for New Jersey’s public schools, by lowering the electric generation service portion and gas of their monthly bills.
Summit is one of more than 400 New Jersey school districts, that achieve reductions in the cost associated with purchasing electric supply as a result of a successful search for less-costly electric generation.
● What is Summit’s current total cost per pupil compared with the state average?
Summit’s current average cost per pupil is $14,700, compared with a state average of $14,783 per pupil; and an average reported for similar K-12 / 3501 + districts of $14,420. (DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TAXPAYERS' GUIDE TO EDUCATION SPENDING)
Comparison for similar K-12 / 3501 + districts includes:
BERGEN RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE ESSEX MILLBURN TWP ESSEX LIVINGSTON TWP MORRIS SCH DIST OF THE CHATHAMS MORRIS MONTVILLE TWP UNION WESTFIELD TOWN
● What is Summit’s administrative cost per pupil compared with the state average?
Summit’s current administrative cost per pupil is reported as $1,815*, compared with a state average of $1,517 per pupil; and an average reported for similar K-12 / 3501 + districts of $1,478. (DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TAXPAYERS' GUIDE TO EDUCATION SPENDING) *Summit’s comparison number includes salaries for supervisors. Those salaries have now been re-allocated to support line items consistent with other districts reporting in this area. As such, we are currently below trend on support costs (CSG Indicator 6 – Support Services). This action was taken in the 2014-2015 school year and, as such, will be reflected in next year’s comparative spending guide.
Comparison for similar K-12 / 3501 + districts includes:
BERGEN RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE ESSEX MILLBURN TWP ESSEX LIVINGSTON TWP
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MORRIS SCH DIST OF THE CHATHAMS MORRIS MONTVILLE TWP UNION WESTFIELD TOWN
13. DEFINITIONS
Average Class Size – The result of dividing the total number of students by the number of classroom teachers (with adjustments at middle and high school for the number of classes a student takes and the number of periods a teacher instructs). The distribution of students among schools and grade levels means that some classes will be above the average and some classes will be below the average.
Central Administrative Support – Central office administrators facilitate the development of student and staff performance standards. They also offer technical assistance to schools, including locating and providing resource materials, designing funding plans, carrying out system-wide planning, monitoring and evaluation.
Class Size Guidelines – The guideline for the Summit Public Schools is as follows: The district has an operational guideline for class sizes. The class size for primary grades (K-2) shall generally not exceed 22, and in the intermediate grades (3-5) the class size shall generally not exceed 24. At the secondary level (6-12) class size shall generally not exceed 25.
Community Facility User Fees – Fees collected from outside groups and organizations that use our facilities during non-school hours (also referred to as Community Use Fees).
Contract Days – Contract days are the number of days that Summit Public School teachers are required to work on an annual basis (184).
Counselor/School Counselor - A school counselor is a licensed educator with a minimum of a Master’s Degree in School Counseling. A school counselor supports students in the development of skills and attitudes needed to achieve academic success, college and career readiness, and social/emotional development. Specific duties include, but are not limited to, individual and small group counseling, classroom lessons, school or grade level-wide programs, consultation and referrals, and academic advising in addition to other duties as assigned. School counselors analyze student and program data to shape their services and determine the effectiveness of their programs and work in collaboration with school administrators, teachers, and other school-based colleagues to support all students.
English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) – The ESOL program helps students with limited English proficiency learn literacy and content concepts in order to function successfully in the general education program. The provision of services to students is federally mandated by Part A of Title III, officially known as
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the English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act, under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
Free and Reduced-Price Meals/Lunch (FRM/FRPL) – A federally-funded school meals program provides free or reduced-price meals to children determined to be eligible based on federal guidelines. Eligibility for FRM is the criteria often used to exempt students from paying fees. Schools with high percentages of FRM eligible students receive additional resources. (Also see Needs Based Staffing)
FTE – FTE stands for Full-Time Equivalent position. FTE is the result of dividing the number of days on the salary schedule that the position is assigned by the number of days an employee is contracted to work on an annual basis. FTE also may be the result of dividing the number of hours the position is required to work by the standard number of hours worked per day for that type of position. Positions are assigned to salary schedules, which differ depending on the number of days paid and the hours worked per day annually.
Grade Level - A grade level is one of the series of grades represented in elementary, middle, and high schools. Grade 2, grade 7, and grade 11 are grade levels represented in elementary, middle, and high schools, respectively.
Instructional Coach – These positions lead and guide teachers in data analysis, best instructional practices, and collaboration to improve student learning. The coaching work, whether with a new teacher, a veteran teacher, or a group of teachers, will always center on the bottom line: reading, math, and closing the gap in a culture of collaboration.
Local Funding – Revenue for Summit Public Schools that is provided by the City of Summit Government. The majority of the district’s revenue (95%) is from local funds. The primary source of Summit Public Schools’ revenue is real estate property taxes.
Mandated – Any service or program that Summit is required to provide by Federal, State, or local law or regulation. Some mandates are very specific and others very general in terms of the level of service that must be provided and/or how the service or program must be implemented.
Needs Based Staffing – Additional staffing allocated to a school if 20 percent or more of the students are eligible for Free and Reduced Price Meals (FRM). A weighting factor is applied to the number of FRM eligible students at each school in the general education staffing formula to generate additional staffing.
(Also see Free and Reduced Price Meals)
Operating Fund (School Operating Fund) – This fund provides for the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the schools and is funded primarily by local taxes along with limited state and federal funds.
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Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) – The PSAT is a primer for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) that many colleges and universities require for admission. The PSAT also is a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship.
Pre-school (Early Childhood) Program – Classes are provided to children ages 3-5 with special needs. The objective is to ensure that children acquire the social and educational skills necessary to succeed in Kindergarten.
Professional Development – Learning and growth opportunities are provided to teachers and other staff, both in person or online. Teachers and school-based staff may access professional development in areas such as teacher evaluation, curriculum updates, technology in the classroom, and classroom strategies and best practices.
School-Based – School-based employees primarily work directly with students or staff in schools (i.e., in ES, MS, HS, or special education centers), in programs for students in other locations (e.g., alternative learning), or in other locations serving students (e.g., Devonshire for hearing testing).
School-Based Employees on 12-Month Schedules – Examples of positions are after school specialists, principals, custodians, finance technicians, operating engineers, technology support specialists.
School-Based Support Positions on 10 & 11 Month Schedules – Examples of positions are assistant principals, certified athletic trainers, psychologists, social workers, safety and security specialists/assistants, public health training assistants, special education attendants, school-based technology specialists, and office assistants.
Special Education – Specifically designed instruction, at no cost to the parent, to meet the unique needs of a child with disabilities, including classroom instruction, instruction in physical education, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals and institutions. The term also includes speech therapy or any other related service and vocational education that are defined in a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP). Special education is mandated by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Students may be served in general education classrooms for all or part of the day and/or in small, self-contained special education classes.
State Minimum – A minimum number of staff or other resources required/mandated by the state.
Stipends/Supplements – A daily amount that is paid to teachers and other school-based staff who work beyond their normal duty day to lead school activities.
The amount is not included in their base pay, therefore benefits are not included.
Student Activities/After-School Activities – At the middle school level, Summit provides for involvement in performing arts groups, student government, newspaper, yearbook, drama, general interest clubs, and the 19 | Page
literary magazine. At the high school level, we offer opportunities for student growth and enrichment through athletics, student government, performing arts groups, publications, honor societies, and special interest clubs. These programs support academic success, provide opportunities for students to connect with the school and community, and to develop and gain leadership experience.
Student Athletics – The Summit High School Hilltoppers compete in the Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association with 844 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2014-15 school year as North II, Group III for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 758 to 1,061 students in that grade range. Prior to the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment, the school had competed as part of the Iron Hills Conference, which was made up of public and private high schools in Essex County, Morris County and Union County.
Summit High School's athletic teams were the winners of the 2014-15 ShopRite Cup for Group III, finishing with 67 points, one point ahead of Northern Highlands Regional High School.
Student-to-Teacher Ratio – A designation that shows, on average, how many students are served by a teacher. The average Summit Public Schools elementary school ratio is 22.3 students per teacher. The average middle school ratio is 24.6 students per teacher. The average high school ratio is 25.8 students per teacher.
Supplemental/Extra Staffing – Staff that are provided to schools over and above the standard allocations. Additional staff may be provided to coordinate special programs in schools at the direction of the Superintendent.
System-Funded Summer School – The school district supports extended learning time in the summer and/or throughout the year for elementary and middle school students. Programs are designed by principals to best meet the needs of students in their schools who generally are performing below grade level based on common assessments, division wide assessments, Standards of Learning results, grades, and teacher recommendations.
Utilities - Summit Board of Education pays for the cost of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and water and sewer service to operate its facilities.
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