Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

Purple Star Schools

Maximizing Federal Education Funds​ Coordinating school funding to improve ​student outcomes

The New Jersey Purple Star Schools Program in the Department of Education annually recognizes schools that provide for, or have made significant progress to respond to, the educational and social-emotional challenges military-connected students encounter during the transition to a new school when the student’s parent or guardian is an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces and is relocated due to the active duty member’s continued military service. The goal of the programs and services is to ensure that school staff can help manage the challenges military-connected students encounter when they move between schools with different cultures, curricula, standards, course offerings, schedules, and graduation requirements.

Definition of Military-Connected Student

New Jersey’s student information system includes an indication that the student’s parent or guardian is on Active Duty, in the National Guard, or in the Reserve components of the United States military services.

Program Requirements

A Purple Star School shall be designated as such if it provides programs and services that include the  following:

  • Training for faculty and staff members to ease entry into the new school environment for military-connected students.
  • Student-led programs to help create social connections, including an emphasis on programs for students who arrive mid-year and miss out on the normal cycles of sports and club activities.
  • A military family webpage on the school website to inform parents and guardians about programs and services.
  • Relevant professional development opportunities for additional school staff; and
  • Holding school-wide military recognition events that raise awareness and recognize the value of military service.

Schools are expected to describe, and show evidence of, their work in each of the five areas listed above.

Applications are now open, with a deadline of September 30, 2025. You may use this list to prepare answers for the online application. The 2025-2028 Purple Star Schools will be announced in November.

The Purple Star designation is awarded for three years to schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military.

The Department selected New Jersey’s “First Class” of Purple Star Schools in 2024

2024-2027 New Jersey Purple Star Schools

County School District School Name
Bergen Garfield Public School District Garfield Middle School
Burlington North Hanover Township School District
  • Clarence B. Lamb Elementary School
  • Endeavour Elementary School
  • Upper Elementary School
  • Northern Burlington County Regional High School
  • Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School
Burlington Pemberton Township School District
Cape May Cape May City School District Cape May City Elementary School

Resources