New Jersey Department of Education

Ocean City School District Choice Profile for 2024-25 School Year

Ocean City School District
501 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 1
Ocean City, NJ 08226
Cape May County

District grades: P3-12
Approved choice grades: 9-12
Total number of students enrolled in district: 1,857

Choice parent information center phone number: (609)-399-1390
Name of program contact: Dr. Lauren Gunther
Phone number & email of program contact: schoolchoice@ocsdnj.org
Website: www.oceancityschools.org/highschool/schoolchoice

Choice Program

Choice Program The Ocean City School District offers a comprehensive educational opportunity for students. As an inclusive school system, we also educate students who live outside our community through the State New Jersey’s Inter-District School Choice Program.

The Ocean City High School offers a comprehensive program of studies for grades 9 through 12. Students who apply for entry to ninth grade must make application to one of the inter-district school choice academic programs. In order to receive consideration, students must meet the following academic criteria:

  • A score of 725 or higher for 7th grade NJSLA Summative Assessment in both Mathematics and Language Arts.
  • A combination of testing years is allowable.
  • Academic grades of B and/or 83 average for numerical grades or higher in all academic courses as demonstrated on the final report card from 7th grade.
  • Two letters of recommendation from academic teachers, counselors, or administrators.

Choice Seats Availability

The purpose of the chart below is to inform parents of choice seat availability before the application deadline in early December. After the deadline, the information will be outdated.

The Department of Education limits the number of choice seats that each district can fill. The “maximum number of new choice students that can be enrolled” tells parents how many new choice students the district can enroll in the next school year. If more than the maximum number of applications is received, a lottery will be held, and a waitlist will be developed. Waitlists will be developed for all approved choice grades even if no seats are currently available. NA indicates the district is not accepting choice applications for those grades.

District Notes About Choice Seats Availability

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) - Engineering students will take part in the Project Lead the Way's Pathway to Engineering curriculum. Students who complete the required coursework will receive an endorsement on their diploma signifying completion of this specialized program

Performing Arts – Students who wish to explore and expand upon their artistic talents will chose to participate in one of two elective areas: Dance Fitness and Instrumental Music. Dance Fitness students will participate in a Physical Education program in which they will gain a basic understanding of dance as a physically demanding movement. In addition, they will be exposed to a variety of dance disciplines and demonstrate the creative skill applications within each. The Instrumental Music program provides the opportunity for students with an intermediate level of ability to develop a high degree of ability in at least one musical instrument. Students may develop their performance skills through participation in one or more of the following: Jazz/Rock Ensemble, Wind Ensemble or Concert Band. Participation in Marching Band is required of those enrolled in either Wind Ensemble or Concert Band.

Academy of Finance and Banking – The Academy offers college level courses which enrich the traditional business curriculum. Students with an interest in owning their own business or majoring in a business-related field should consider participating in the Academy. Courses included in the Academy that also have a dual enrollment feature with ACCC are: Business Management AF, Macroeconomics AF, Microeconomics AF, and College Accounting AF.

Tomorrow’s Teachers Program – This Academy has been designed to attract students who possess exemplary interpersonal and leadership skills needed to consider a career in teaching. The program of studies will focus on psychology and the basic principles of human behavior and development, the study of the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and moral development of children, and will provide students with challenging, real- world projects and hands-on classroom experience typical of the educational field. Additionally, the program provides aspiring future teachers with the tools necessary to become community leaders with insights about teachers and schools that will enable them to be advocates of education.

TV/Media - Students in the TV/Media Program will take advantage of the school’s state of the art TV production studio and MAC editing lab. Courses include TV/Media Production I, II, III and Independent Study. Students also participate in the production of the “Current OC” Ocean City High School’s exclusive television news magazine aired on OC-TV.

American Sign Language Academy – This Academy has been designed to attract students who love the way language can be used to make meaningful connections, have a passion for learning about diverse cultures and are interested in one day pursuing a career working with American Sign Language and the deaf community. The program of studies will focus on developing linguistic proficiency in ASL, a firm knowledge of deaf history, deaf culture, and the everyday experiences of deafness. Students will learn about the importance of an inclusive environment where differences of opinions, beliefs, and values are sought, respected, and valued. Through rigorous coursework and real-world experience, students will understand the values of deaf and hard of hearing Americans with diverse perspectives, experiences, and abilities. Additionally, the program will provide aspiring ASL professionals with the tools necessary to become community leaders, advocates in education and allies in the deaf community. 

Criminal Justice – The Criminal Justice Academy affords students unique educational opportunities and real-world experiences surrounding the criminal justice field. The criminal justice academy will provide students with theoretical, practical, and professional knowledge to be successful in the fields of policing, corrections, courts, and related service careers. Students will engage in challenging courses that stress academics and applied skills while developing characteristics of leadership and integrity

 

Maximum Number of New Choice Students that can be Enrolled: 53 
School Name: Ocean City High School
Specialized Choice Program Names: ASL,STEM, Performing Arts, Academy of Finance and Banking, Tomorrow’s Teachers, TV/Media

Grade

Seat availability per grade

K  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
1  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
2  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
3  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
4  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
5  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
6  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
7  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
8  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
9  Available
10  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
11  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)
12  Not Available (no waitlist will be developed)

 

 

District Choice Policies

Indicate Yes/No/NA 

The district accepts Tier 2 students (see definitions of Tier 1 and Tier 2 ).

 Yes

The district gives enrollment preference to choice applicants who have a sibling currently attending the choice district and who will continue to attend in the following school year, provided there are choice seats available in the choice-approved grades/programs and the students meet any program-specific criteria.

 Yes

The district gives enrollment preference to choice applicants who have completed the terminal grade of the sending district (i.e., students who attend a choice district with grades that terminate before 12th grade and have a natural progression to this choice district), provided there are choice seats available in the choice-approved grades/programs and the students meet any program-specific criteria.

 Yes

The district gives enrollment preference to resident students who move before the application deadline. If resident students move and file choice applications for the following year prior to the deadline, the district will give them enrollment preference (i.e., accept them after the enrollment preference students described in b. and c. above, but ahead of other applicants), provided there are choice seats available in the choice-approved grades/programs and the students meet any program-specific criteria. If the district has already reached its approved choice enrollment maximum, this preference will not apply.

 Yes

The district gives special consideration to resident students who move after the application deadline. Students in this situation may apply as late applicants and be added to the front of the district’s waitlist, provided the students will enroll in a choice-approved grade/program and they meet any program-specific criteria. No additional choice seats above the maximum will be approved by the NJDOE to accommodate these students.

 Yes


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