Sixteen New Jersey schools have earned the Character.org “National Schools of Character” designation, according to a news release from the New Jersey Department of Education.
“The educators, students, and stakeholders in these 16 schools should be commended for making character a priority in their educational community,” said Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education. “Character education efforts foster growth that brings about positive change in the school and throughout the community.”
The 16 New Jersey schools that recently received this recognition were among 67 recipients nationwide. The New Jersey Schools of Character include:
| County | District/Community | School |
| Burlington | Cinnaminson Township Public Schools | Cinnaminson Middle School |
| Burlington | Burlington County Special Services School District | Burlington County Alternative High School |
| Camden | Cherry Hill Public Schools | A. Russell Knight Elementary |
| Camden | Cherry Hill Public Schools | John A. Carusi Middle School |
| Mercer | Hamilton Township Public Schools | McGalliard Elementary School |
| Mercer | Hamilton Township Public Schools | Morgan Elementary School |
| Middlesex | Metuchen School District | Campbell Elementary School |
| Monmouth | Millstone Township | Millstone Township Middle School |
| Monmouth | Red Bank | Red Bank Charter School |
| Passaic | West Milford Township School District | Maple Road Elementary School |
| Passaic | West Milford Township School District | Upper Greenwood Lake Elementary School |
| Somerset | North Plainfield School District | North Plainfield High School |
| Somerset | North Plainfield School District | Somerset Intermediate School |
| Union | Roselle Park School District | Ernest J. Finizio Aldene Elementary School |
| Union | Roselle Public School District | Harrison Elementary School |
| Union | Roselle Public School District | Washington Elementary School |
For over 20 years, Character.org, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., has promoted nurturing and supportive school climates by certifying schools and districts as National Schools of Character.
The New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional, and Character Development, which is the state affiliate of Character.org, supports New Jersey schools to become accredited as state and national Schools of Character. Their efforts have greatly contributed to New Jersey leading the nation with the highest number of Schools of Character over the past five years.
For more information on this year’s Schools of Character, contact Character.org.