The Upper Deerfield Township Schools are a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from Upper Deerfield Township, in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 979 students and 84.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1.District information for Upper Deerfield Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
The district had been classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "B", the second-lowest 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.District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 1, 2024.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Cumberland Regional High School, which also serves students from Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough and Stow Creek Township.Cumberland Regional School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed August 6, 2017. "The Cumberland Regional School District, located in Western Cumberland County, provides students with a comprehensive learning environment in a nurturing and personalized setting. The district serves students in grades 9-12 who reside in the municipalities of Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township, and Upper Deerfield Township."Shott, Meghan. "Cumberland Regional High School", South Jersey magazine. Accessed June 5, 2016. "Cumberland Regional High School, located in the northwest part of Cumberland County, serves students from Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township and Upper Deerfield Township."Cumberland Regional High School Constituent Districts, Cumberland Regional High School. Accessed May 2, 2024. As of the 2023–24 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,178 students and 83.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.1:1.School data for Cumberland Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024. The high school district has a nine-member board of education, with board seats allocated to the constituent municipalities based on population; Upper Deerfield Township has two seats on the board.Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Cumberland Regional High School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2024. Accessed October 18, 2025. "The Cumberland Regional Board of Education is a Type II district located in the County of Cumberland, State of New Jersey. As a Type II District, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The board is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms. The purpose of the district is to educate students in grades 9-12." See "Roster of Officials" on page 13.Board of Education, Cumberland Regional High School. Accessed October 18, 2025. "The Cumberland Regional School District is led by a nine-member Board of Education representing Cumberland Regional High School's constituent district municipalities: Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township, and Upper Deerfield Township."
Schools Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education StatisticsSchool Data for the Upper Deerfield Township Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.) are:School Performance Reports for the Upper Deerfield Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2025.New Jersey School Directory for the Upper Deerfield Township Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Elementary schools Charles F. Seabrook SchoolCharles F. Seabrook School, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed October 18, 2025. with 432 students in grades PreK–3 Lisa Frassetto, principal Elizabeth E. Moore SchoolElizabeth E. Moore School, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed October 18, 2025. with 274 students in grades 4–5 Kimberly Rivera, principal Woodruff SchoolWoodruff School, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed October 18, 2025. with 263 students in grades 6–8 Harold Hill, principal
Administration Core members of the district's administration are:Administration, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed October 18, 2025.New Jersey School Directory for Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024. Peter L. Koza, superintendentSuperintendent of Schools, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed October 18, 2025. Frank Badessa, business administrator and board secretaryBusiness Office, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed October 18, 2025.
Board of education The district's board of education is comprised of nine members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election. 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.New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Upper Deerfield Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2018. Accessed October 18, 2025. See "Roster of Officials" on page 14.Board of Education, Upper Deerfield Township School District. Accessed October 18, 2025.
Controversies In 2023, parents started a petition calling for the resignation of superintendent Peter Koza, criticizing school leadership’s "slow and inadequate" response to a series of videos which showed a janitor at Elizabeth F. Moore School tampering with cafeteria food. One video showed the janitor rubbing bread meant to be served to students on his intimate parts, while another showed him putting bleach on cucumbers.
References
External links Upper Deerfield Township Schools
School Data for the Upper Deerfield Township Schools, National Center for Education Statistics Cumberland Regional High School