Margate City School District

About Margate and the School District

The City of Margate School District is a Type I District providing a full range of educational services appropriate to grade levels PreK through 8 in the City of Margate and the adjoining Borough of Longport, including special education for handicapped youngsters.

Location

Margate is a New Jersey seashore community approximately two miles south of Atlantic City, and approximately 50 miles east of Philadelphia. The City is located on an island measuring approximately a mile and three-quarters in length by three quarters of a mile wide. Margate is bounded on the northeast by Ventnor City, on the southwest by the Borough of Longport, on the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the northwest by the center line of the main channel in Beach Thorofare.

Government

The City is governed by a three member Mayor and Board of Commissioners, elected at large every four years. Current office holders are listed under the Board of School Estimate part of our site, and the City of Margate website is accessible at: http://www.margate-nj.com.

Demographics

Almost entirely residential, Margate's year-round population of about 8,500 middle to upper middle-class residents swells to approximately 40,000 during the summer months. The established five houses of worship reflect the religious and ethnic diversity of the community: two are Jewish, two are Protestant, and one is Catholic. Residents are also affiliated with approximately 15 active civic and service organizations. Approximately 35 percent of the permanent residents are graduates of colleges and universities. In addition, approximately 30 percent of the population are senior citizens.

Board of Education

Overall responsibility for the education of the PK-8 children within the City of Margate lies with the district's Board of Education, composed of seven members, appointed by the mayor for staggered terms of three years. The members of the Board and the expiration of their current appointments are listed on our Board of Education pages. Click here to go to

The district's budget is approved annually by the Margate Board of School Estimates which works closely with both City and school officials. For the 2006-07 school year, the District will operate on a budget of $12,449,553 for current expenses.

You may access the Board of Education and School District Administration web page from here or from the main menu to the left.

School District Administration

Basic responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the school district lies with the Superintendent of Schools. He is assisted by three administrators, who assume district and building responsibility, a school business administrator, and a staff of 60 full time ceritfied personnel. The district also has a staff of 39 support personnel.

You may access the Board of Education and School District Administration web page from here or from the main menu to the left.

Facilities

Margate City District pupils are housed in three separate facilities: the Union Avenue Elementary School built in 1953, the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School constructed in 1956, and the William H. Ross III Intermediate School constructed in 2000. As a result of a 24 million dollar addition and renovation project and new school construction in 1999, all schools have been upgraded to enhance the educational environment. The William H. Ross III site houses the district administrative offices and grades 3-5. The middle school, which houses grades 6-8, is departmentalized with an emphasis on thematic teaching. The elementary school, which houses grades PreK-2, is self-contained. Each building is serviced by special area teachers for music, physical education, visual arts, technology, and a media center. In addition, a Child Study Team is available for children with special needs. The team consists of a school psychologist, social worker, learning disabled teacher/consultant and speech therapists.

School Population and High School

The Public School System of Margate City is composed of PK through 8th grade children who reside in the City of Margate and the Borough of Longport. As of October 15, 2005, there were a total of 613 pupils. Upon completion of the 8th grade, students attend nearby Atlantic City High School, which currently enrolls 156 Margate pupils in grades 9 through 12. This is a sending-receiving relationship between the school districts in which Margate is responsible for paying student tuition and providing student transportation.

Educational Program/Curriculum Highlights & Initiatives

The Margate Board of Education, administration, faculty, and support staff is dedicated to provide each child with a challenging and rewarding educational program that will meet each individuals needs.

Our district provides its student population with an extensive range of educational services that include, but are not limited to: Pre-school program for three and four year old children including those with developmental disabilities; FulI day kindergarten program for all children; World Language instruction for all children; Computer assisted instruction for all children. Title I services for mathematics and reading; Social services that include the DARE, R.E.B.E.L. II, and "Shoot for the Stars" programs that place a special emhasis on drug, alcohol, and tobacco prevention; Computer assisted research services in the Media Centers; A variety of Community Education and Recreation programs for the entire community; Programs in Family Mathematics & Family Science; Programs in Language Arts, Mathematics and Science for the Gifted and Talented; A full range of Child Study Team services; a Character Education program that is integrated into the everyday curriculum; and Visual and Performing Arts programs.

Students attending the Margate City School PK-8 district are exposed to Spanish from grades K through 8th. In addition, students in grades 7 and 8 are given the option of studying taking language enrichment while this course is primarily a language arts writing class. Also, students in grades 3, 4 and 5 are provided an opportunity to participate in a Mandarin Chinese Cultural Program.

Margate schools have adopted thematic instruction in grades K through 8. This program integrates writing, phonics, character education, and language arts concepts into the literature lessons.

There is also a two track Gifted and Talented program in grades 3-8. One addresses language arts literacy, and the other mathematics and science. In grades K-2, our district offers an individualized exploratory research program for students identified early as potentially gifted. The K-2 gifted program is called the Independent Study Program (ISP). It is an optional program for those children who enjoy working independently on special projects with interdisciplinary themes that any include integration of technology. Children identified as eligible are pulled from their regular classes as a group once a week starting at the end of September. They also meet regularly with a mentor teacher who monitors the progress of their project. The culminating activity is a presentation in front of the group and parents The program averages about three projects during the year.

Our schools are equipped with the latest computer, networking, communications, and audio/visual technology. The district has five fully equipped computer labs with high-speed Internet access in both the labs and the classrooms. The media centers are networked with the Margate Public Library, which in turn can network with local colleges and other libraries to allow students of the district to access a wide range of options for research and information. The school district's own fiber-optic network delivers high-speed, cost-efficient networking and communications - including distance learning, voice adn data, and video broadcasting - betwwn schoos and clasrooms within the district and to other communities. Margate School District has also acquired STARLAB, a portable interdisciplinary planetarium for use in grades Pre-K through 8. This tool will enhance the district science curriculum and further offer the students a new approach to learning about the solar system, geography, biology and mythology.

A Connected Math Project (CMP) has been introduced as an enrichment program for all students in grades 7 and 8. This mathematics course will provide additional exploration and instruction in practical mathematical applications as specified and recommended by the National Science Foundation.

Our district continues to use the TerraNova test to assess student achievement. Our students continue to score above the national average by approximately 25 points on this test. In addition, on the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA) and the NJ-ASK assessments in grades 3-7, our students score significantly higher than the state mandated minimum performance level.

About Margate and the School District	CONTENTS Location Government Demographics Board of Education School District Administration Facilities School Population & High School Educational Program, Curriculum Highlights & Initiatives
The City of Margate School District is a Type I District providing a full range of educational services appropriate to grade levels PreK through 8 in the City of Margate and the adjoining Borough of Longport, including special education for handicapped youngsters.
Location
Margate is a New Jersey seashore community approximately two miles south of Atlantic City, and approximately 50 miles east of Philadelphia. The City is located on an island measuring approximately a mile and three-quarters in length by three quarters of a mile wide. Margate is bounded on the northeast by Ventnor City, on the southwest by the Borough of Longport, on the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the northwest by the center line of the main channel in Beach Thorofare.
Government
The City is governed by a three member Mayor and Board of Commissioners, elected at large every four years. Current office holders are listed under the Board of School Estimate part of our site, and the City of Margate website is accessible at: http://www.margate-nj.com.
Demographics
Almost entirely residential, Margate's year-round population of about 8,500 middle to upper middle-class residents swells to approximately 40,000 during the summer months. The established five houses of worship reflect the religious and ethnic diversity of the community: two are Jewish, two are Protestant, and one is Catholic. Residents are also affiliated with approximately 15 active civic and service organizations. Approximately 35 percent of the permanent residents are graduates of colleges and universities. In addition, approximately 30 percent of the population are senior citizens.
Board of Education
Overall responsibility for the education of the PK-8 children within the City of Margate lies with the district's Board of Education, composed of seven members, appointed by the mayor for staggered terms of three years. The members of the Board and the expiration of their current appointments are listed on our Board of Education pages. Click here to go to The district's budget is approved annually by the Margate Board of School Estimates which works closely with both City and school officials. For the 2006-07 school year, the District will operate on a budget of $12,449,553 for current expenses. You may access the Board of Education and School District Administration web page from here or from the main menu to the left.
School District Administration
Basic responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the school district lies with the Superintendent of Schools. He is assisted by three administrators, who assume district and building responsibility, a school business administrator, and a staff of 60 full time ceritfied personnel. The district also has a staff of 39 support personnel. You may access the Board of Education and School District Administration web page from here or from the main menu to the left.
Facilities
Margate City District pupils are housed in three separate facilities: the Union Avenue Elementary School built in 1953, the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School constructed in 1956, and the William H. Ross III Intermediate School constructed in 2000. As a result of a 24 million dollar addition and renovation project and new school construction in 1999, all schools have been upgraded to enhance the educational environment. The William H. Ross III site houses the district administrative offices and grades 3-5. The middle school, which houses grades 6-8, is departmentalized with an emphasis on thematic teaching. The elementary school, which houses grades PreK-2, is self-contained. Each building is serviced by special area teachers for music, physical education, visual arts, technology, and a media center. In addition, a Child Study Team is available for children with special needs. The team consists of a school psychologist, social worker, learning disabled teacher/consultant and speech therapists.
School Population and High School
The Public School System of Margate City is composed of PK through 8th grade children who reside in the City of Margate and the Borough of Longport. As of October 15, 2005, there were a total of 613 pupils. Upon completion of the 8th grade, students attend nearby Atlantic City High School, which currently enrolls 156 Margate pupils in grades 9 through 12. This is a sending-receiving relationship between the school districts in which Margate is responsible for paying student tuition and providing student transportation.
Educational Program/Curriculum Highlights & Initiatives
The Margate Board of Education, administration, faculty, and support staff is dedicated to provide each child with a challenging and rewarding educational program that will meet each individuals needs. Our district provides its student population with an extensive range of educational services that include, but are not limited to: Pre-school program for three and four year old children including those with developmental disabilities; FulI day kindergarten program for all children; World Language instruction for all children; Computer assisted instruction for all children. Title I services for mathematics and reading; Social services that include the DARE, R.E.B.E.L. II, and "Shoot for the Stars" programs that place a special emhasis on drug, alcohol, and tobacco prevention; Computer assisted research services in the Media Centers; A variety of Community Education and Recreation programs for the entire community; Programs in Family Mathematics & Family Science; Programs in Language Arts, Mathematics and Science for the Gifted and Talented; A full range of Child Study Team services; a Character Education program that is integrated into the everyday curriculum; and Visual and Performing Arts programs. Students attending the Margate City School PK-8 district are exposed to Spanish from grades K through 8th. In addition, students in grades 7 and 8 are given the option of studying taking language enrichment while this course is primarily a language arts writing class. Also, students in grades 3, 4 and 5 are provided an opportunity to participate in a Mandarin Chinese Cultural Program. Margate schools have adopted thematic instruction in grades K through 8. This program integrates writing, phonics, character education, and language arts concepts into the literature lessons. There is also a two track Gifted and Talented program in grades 3-8. One addresses language arts literacy, and the other mathematics and science. In grades K-2, our district offers an individualized exploratory research program for students identified early as potentially gifted. The K-2 gifted program is called the Independent Study Program (ISP). It is an optional program for those children who enjoy working independently on special projects with interdisciplinary themes that any include integration of technology. Children identified as eligible are pulled from their regular classes as a group once a week starting at the end of September. They also meet regularly with a mentor teacher who monitors the progress of their project. The culminating activity is a presentation in front of the group and parents The program averages about three projects during the year. Our schools are equipped with the latest computer, networking, communications, and audio/visual technology. The district has five fully equipped computer labs with high-speed Internet access in both the labs and the classrooms. The media centers are networked with the Margate Public Library, which in turn can network with local colleges and other libraries to allow students of the district to access a wide range of options for research and information. The school district's own fiber-optic network delivers high-speed, cost-efficient networking and communications - including distance learning, voice adn data, and video broadcasting - betwwn schoos and clasrooms within the district and to other communities. Margate School District has also acquired STARLAB, a portable interdisciplinary planetarium for use in grades Pre-K through 8. This tool will enhance the district science curriculum and further offer the students a new approach to learning about the solar system, geography, biology and mythology. A Connected Math Project (CMP) has been introduced as an enrichment program for all students in grades 7 and 8. This mathematics course will provide additional exploration and instruction in practical mathematical applications as specified and recommended by the National Science Foundation. Our district continues to use the TerraNova test to assess student achievement. Our students continue to score above the national average by approximately 25 points on this test. In addition, on the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA) and the NJ-ASK assessments in grades 3-7, our students score significantly higher than the state mandated minimum performance level.