As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 176 students and 17.4 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 10.1:1.[1]
The district participates in theInterdistrict Public School Choice Program, which allows non-resident students to attend school in the district at no cost to their parents, with tuition covered by the resident district.[5] Available slots are announced annually by grade.[6]
In the 2016–17 school year, Downe had the 38th smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 185 students.[10]
The district had been classified by theNew Jersey Department of Education as being inDistrict Factor Group "A", the lowest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by commonsocioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I, and J.[11]
The district'sboard of education, comprised 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.[15][16][17]
^Western/Southern Cumberland Region Strategic PlanArchived 2014-02-22 at theWayback Machine, Cumberland Development Corporation, January 2003. Accessed January 30, 2017. "Students in Bridgeton, Downe and a portion of Lawrence Township attend Bridgeton High School. There are over 10,000 students enrolled in public schools in the study area (Table 26, Enrollment)."
^Staff."Bridgeton High School",South Jersey Magazine. Accessed January 8, 2025. "Bridgeton High School provides opportunities for students from Bridgeton, Lawrence Township and Downe Township in Cumberland County to become members of society who are thoughtful, informed, involved and committed to life-long learning."
^Guion, Payton."These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions.... 38. Downe Township; Enrollment: 185; Grades: Pre-K-8; County: Cumberland; Town population: 1,585"
^Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Downe Township School District,New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed April 10, 2024. "The Downe Township School District is a Type II district located in the County of Cumberland, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The board is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms. These terms are staggered so that two or three member's terms expire each year. The purpose of the district is to educate students in grades PreK-8.... Business Administrator/Board Secretary services are contracted with the Lawrence Township School District including responsibility for the administrative control of the district." See "Roster of Officials" on page 14.
^Board Members, Down Township School District. Accessed January 8, 2025. "The Downe Township Board of Education is made up of nine members that are elected by the voters of the Township."
