As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of nine schools, had an enrollment of 3,961 students and 349.5 classroom teachers (on an
FTE basis), for a
student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.[1]
The district is classified by the
New Jersey Department of Education as being in
District Factor Group "I", the second highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common
socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.[4]
In 2019
Niche.com ranked the Summit school district as 6 out of 383 safest and 2 out of 249 in best athletics in regards to New Jersey school districts.[5]
Derek J. Jess, business administrator and board secretary[21]
Board of education
The district's
board of education is comprised of seven members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type I school district, the board's trustees are appointed by the mayor to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three members up for reappointment each year. Of the more than 600 school districts statewide, Summit is one of about a dozen districts with appointed school boards. 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.[22][23][24][25][26][27]
^Summit Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Summit Public Schools. Accessed May 7, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Summit School District. Composition: The Summit School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Summit."
^Staff.
"New Providence Assistant Superintendent Scott Hough Selected as Next Superintendent of Summit Public Schools", TAP into Summit, July 7, 2020. Accessed August 16, 2020. "Scott Hough, who has served as Assistant Superintendent for the New Providence School District for the past five years, has been selected by the Summit Board of Education to serve as the next Superintendent of Schools for the Summit Public Schools. Hough, who is expected to begin his tenure on August 17, will assume the role currently held by Acting Superintendent of Schools Robert Gardella who transitioned into the position upon the departure of former Superintendent of Schools June Chang."
^Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Summit School District,
New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed May 7, 2024. "The Board is an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey, established to function as an educational institution. The Board consists of elected officials and is responsible for the fiscal control of the District. A superintendent is appointed by the Board and is responsible for the administrative control of the District." See "Roster of Officials" on page 14.
^Board of Education: About the Board, Summit Public Schools. Accessed February 8, 2020. "Summit operates under New Jersey Statute Title 18A as a Type I board of education. This statute mandates that members of Type I districts' boards of education be appointed by the mayor rather than be elected by popular vote.... The seven members of the Summit Board of Education are appointed by the mayor for three-year staggered terms, with two or three of the seats up for appointment or reappointment each year."
^Roll, Erin.
"Montclair Parents Debate Appointed Vs. Elected School Board", Montclair Local, April 4, 2019. Accessed May 9, 2020. "Montclair is one of 11 school districts in New Jersey in which the board of education is appointed by the mayor, rather than elected.... As of 2018, Montclair was one of only 11 Type I school districts in New Jersey. The other 10 are Ventnor, Port Republic, Rockleigh, Pine Valley, East Orange, East Newark, Union City, Harrison, Trenton and Summit."
^"NJ municipalities whose mayors choose the school board", NJ Spotlight News, March 9, 2022. Accessed May 7, 2024. "Of New Jersey’s 686 districts only 13 still retain that power for the mayor. They are Brigantine, Corbin City, Margate, Port Republic, Ventnor City, Rockleigh, Pine Valley, East Orange, East Newark, Harrison, Union City, Trenton and Summit."