The Cherry Hill Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Cherry Hill, in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Cherry Hill Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Cherry Hill Public Schools, adopted February 23, 2016. Accessed September 14, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Cherry Hill School District. Composition: The Cherry Hill School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Cherry Hill Township, Camden County, New Jersey."
As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of 19 schools (reduced to 18 for 2024–25), had an enrollment of 10,772 students and 882.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.2:1.District information for Cherry Hill School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024. It was the state's twelfth-largest school district in 2011 and is one of the largest suburban districts.Spoto, MaryAnn. "Assembly committee examines bill that would add N.J. school board elections to November general elections", The Star-Ledger, December 8, 2011. Accessed November 15, 2025. "Cherry Hill — the state's 12th largest school district — could save $175,000, the salary of three teachers there, Greenwald said."
History In May 1954, with enrollment exceeding the school's target of 1,000, the Haddonfield Public Schools notified the Delaware Township School District (since renamed as the Cherry Hill Public Schools) that its students would no longer be accepted at Haddonfield Memorial High School after June 1956. While there were 420 Haddonfield students at the high school, there were a total of 760 students as part of sending/receiving relationships, including about 200 from Delaware Township (now Cherry Hill)."Haddonfield High To Drop Pupils of Delaware Twp.", Courier-Post, May 21, 1954. Accessed March 13, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Delaware Township High School, pupils will not be accepted in Haddonfield Memorial High School after June, 1956.... Reynolds said 761 pupils now attending Haddonfield Memorial High School are from sending districts, as compared to 423 from Haddonfield.... Reynolds produced a table he said represents the breakdown of sending pupils in the high school at present. Listed are: Delaware Township, 205; Evesham Township, 75; Gibbsboro, 20; Gloucester, 272; Haddon Township, 90; Lawnside, 2; Voorhees Township, 89; Woodlynne, 1; and private, 7."
Constructed on a plot of land, Delaware Township High School (since renamed as the Cherry Hill High School West) opened in September 1956 for students in grades 7–9."Opening Set At Dela. Twp. High School", Courier-Post, August 9, 1956. Accessed March 13, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The first section of the new Delaware Township High School on Church rd., will be ready for classes at the beginning of the Fall term, according to Robert E. Hansen, principal.... The school, situated on a 40- acre tract of land on Church rd., was originally planned to be completed in stages with the final date set for sometime in January, Hansen said. The entire school plant is divided in four sections. The part which will be ready in the fall contains 22 classrooms and laboratories."A Brief History, Cherry Hill High School West. Accessed January 21, 2016. "In September of 1956, across from the peach orchards on Chapel Avenue, a new school opened its doors to seventh, eighth and ninth graders. Its students were drawn from across Delaware Township. The founding of Delaware Township High School marked the emergence of the township as a burgeoning South Jersey community." Completed at a cost of $1.6 million (equivalent to $ million in ), dedication ceremonies were conducted in November 1957 for the complex, which was built in four separate sections."Rites to Mark Dedication of High School", Courier-Post, October 30, 1957. Accessed March 13, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The dedication and cornerstone laying exercises for Delaware Township's new high school on Chapel ave. will be held Sunday at 2 p. m. Built at a cost of $1,632,000, the school opened for 7th, 8th and 9th grade pupils in the fall of 1956, and for 10th graders this fall. The entire school plant is divided in four sections: A, the industrial arts wing; B, for administration and business education, and C, auditorium, gymnasium, music room and cafeteria and kitchen areas. All these are of one-story construction, with block D, the academic wing, of two- story design."
Due to delays in the construction of the new school building, the entering class of 450 students at Cherry Hill East began the 1966–67 school year attending split sessions at the original Cherry Hill High School building."One Class Split - 1700 Cherry Hill Students Diverted Until 3 Schools Are Finished", The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 21, 1966. Accessed April 26, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Three Cherry Hill schools under construction will not be ready for the Sept. 7 opening, officials said Saturday.... Edward V. Cook, assistant superintendent of schools, said double sessions would be held at Cherry Hill High School for freshmen who would have entered Cherry Hill East. Those 450 students will attend either the morning session, 7:45 to 12:15, or afternoon, 12:15 to 4:45." Constructed at a cost of $4 million (equivalent to $ million in ), the school building opened in January 1967 as the township's second high school facility."Cherry Hill To Open New School", Courier-Post, January 26, 1967. Accessed April 26, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The new Cherry Hill High School East will open its doors Monday for 466 ninth grade students now attending classes at Cherry Hill High School West. A staff of 31 teachers and three secretaries will administer educational activities at the $4 million school on Kresson Road between Springdale and Cropwell Roads." The district's original secondary school, which had been renamed as Cherry Hill High School, became Cherry Hill High School West.Riordan, Kevin. "As Cherry Hill Class of '67 gathers one more time, recalling when the town became 'the place to live'", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 20, 2017. Accessed August 4, 2019. "Their 750-member class included students from across the sprawling township; Cherry Hill High School East had just opened with a freshman class, and the East-West divide was in its infancy."
The district had been classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "GH", the third-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.District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 1, 2024.
Starting in the 2024-25 school year, the Cherry Hill Alternative High School was moved from the Lewis Administration Building and renamed as Coles High School Program, operated as a school-within-a-school at Cherry Hill High School East.Liu, Emily. "District announces new location for alternative high school Program to be relocated to Cherry Hill East this fall", Cherry Hill News, April 2, 2024. Accessed September 14, 2025. "The Cherry Hill board of education has announced that Coles Alternative High School program will move from the Lewis Administration Building to East High as “a school within a school” beginning in the fall.... A school within a school is defined as having 30 to 250 students, a separate administrator or teacher in charge, and a space specifically dedicated to it within another public school."
Awards and recognition For the 2001–2002 school year, Cherry Hill High School East received the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve.National Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982 Through 2019 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2024. During the 2009–10 school year, Rosa International Middle School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence.2009 Blue Ribbon Schools: All Public and Private Schools, United States Department of Education. Accessed October 29, 2009. Joseph D. Sharp Elementary School was honored by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program in 2019, one of nine schools in the state recognized as Exemplary High Performing Schools.2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools Exemplary High Performing Schools, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed September 26, 2019.
Three of the district's schools have been named as "Star Schools" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve. Cherry Hill High School East was recognized for the 1999–2000 school year,New Jersey Department of Education Star School Award recipient detail 1999-2000 school year, Cherry Hill High School East, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2006. Thomas Paine Elementary School in 2002-2003New Jersey Department of Education Star School Award recipient detail 2002-2003 school year, Thomas Paine Elementary School, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2006. and Clara Barton Elementary School was honored with this award in 2003–2004.New Jersey Department of Education Star School Award recipient detail 2003-2004 school year, Clara Barton Elementary School, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2006.
Joyce Kilmer and Thomas Paine Elementary Schools were recognized by Governor Jim McGreevey in 2003 as two of 25 schools selected statewide for the First Annual Governor's School of Excellence award.McGreevey Celebrates Schools that are "Getting it Right": Schools of Excellence Winners Demonstrate Effectiveness of Governor's Education Priorities , New Jersey Department of Education press release dated November 21, 2003. Accessed December 15, 2009.
In addition, the district has three New Jersey Department of Education Governor's Schools of Excellence, and five Best Practices Award Winners. SAT scores far exceed state and national averages. In 2005, the graduation rate was nearly 100% and more than 97% of graduates are continuing their education at two- or four-year colleges.
Controversy In April 2012, the parent of an autistic student released a video as evidence that his son was the subject of emotional abuse by an aide at Horace Mann Elementary School. The parent had wired his son before sending him to school and told reporters that "he caught his son's teachers gossiping, talking about alcohol and violently yelling at students", which led to one of the aides involved being fired after officials listened to the tape."NJ Father Records Teachers Bullying His Autistic Child", WTXF-TV, April 23, 2012. Accessed April 29, 2012.
Cherry Hill Education Foundation Along with awards and honors of the school district, the Cherry Hill Education Foundation was established in 1998. The Cherry Hill Education Foundation is an all volunteer, non-profit organization that helps support innovative and educational programs in the Cherry Hill School District that cannot be funded by the District Budget. Since November 2007, the Foundation has funded over $207,000 in grants to various schools throughout the district. The Cherry Hill Education Foundation raises funds from individuals, public and private grants, and corporate sponsorships, and by hosting a variety of fundraising events.