Per pupil federal relief money in New Jersey 20 times higher for Camden than Cherry Hill

(The Center Square) – Despite being just 7 miles apart, the Camden City School District will receive federal pandemic relief funding at a rate more than 20 times per pupil than that of neighboring Cherry Hill School District. The Camden school district received $181.7 million in federal pandemic relief money, or $26,784 per pupil, according to the

. Cherry Hill received $13.4 million, or $1,270 per pupil. The federal government, in its distribution of federal pandemic relief funding, heavily 

 school districts with more students from low-income households. For example, the federal free lunch program includes 57.3% of Camden's students and 13.4% of those in Cherry Hill. The state of New Jersey received $2.77 billion in federal pandemic relief money for K-12 schools, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Spending by school districts is to be done by the end of 2024.