West Orange Public Schools
State budget reportEssex County · 2026-27 budget, from New Jersey Department of Education files. Budgets are set for a whole district, so every school in it shares these figures.
Spending
- Day-to-day spending2025-26: $196.5M → 2026-27: $201.6M (+2.6%)The general fund's current expense: salaries, benefits, supplies and services. Not building projects or debt.
- Employee benefits2025-26: $35.1M → 2026-27: $40.3M (+15%)20% of day-to-day spending.Essex County median +19.2% · New Jersey median +18.2%
- Everything else2025-26: $161.4M → 2026-27: $161.2M (-0.1%)Essex County median +0.1% · New Jersey median +0.5%
Where the money comes from
- Local school tax levy2025-26: $159.4M → 2026-27: $163.4M (+2.5%)Essex County median +4.9% · New Jersey median +5%
- State school aidUp $2M from last year State aid file
- Surplus budgeted to balance the budget2025-26: $3.8M → 2026-27: $4MPlanned amount, not what is left in reserve. Does not include capital or maintenance reserve withdrawals.
Teachers
- Students per teacher2021-22: 10.4 → 2024-25: 10.2Essex County median 11.4 · New Jersey median 10.7
- Median teacher salary2024-25: $101,672Essex County median $85,163 · New Jersey median $78,587
Medians are across districts whose budgets are comparable; services commissions and districts outside the state aid formula are left out.