FES and DVRHS 2026 Budget Overview

In 2025, approximately 38% of Frenchtown’s property taxes funded the borough’s contribution to Frenchtown Elementary School (FES) and more than 23% went to Delaware Valley Regional High School (DVRHS) (see figure at left). While figures are not yet available for 2026, the two schools’ budgets are now finalized.

In New Jersey, public school districts cannot raise their property tax levy by more than 2% over the previous year without having available Statutory Spending Growth Limitation Adjustments or through voter approval.

FRENCHTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

FES’s total operating budget for the 2026/2027 school year is $3,237,340, with 40.5% going to classroom instruction, 9.8% to facilities management, 7% to administrative costs, 0.9% to transportation, 23.9% for employee benefits and 17.9% for specialized student support services (which includes the school nurse, speech therapy, etc.). The FES 2026 budget reflects a 1.69% increase in total spending from the previous year, which equates to a 2.0% increase in the property tax levy, matching the state 2% cap.

FES’s budget equals spending of $34,208 per student, compared to the statewide average of $28,822.

The district’s small student enrollment of 102 students provides a smaller student/teacher ratio and more individualized instruction. Per student administrative cost at FES is $2,069 per pupil, below the $2,172 state average for K-8 schools with less than 400 students according to the 2025 Taxpayers’ Guide to Education Spending.

Most of the increase over the 2025 budget is due to health benefit premium increases and specialized instructional support lines. Local property taxes contribute 80.4% of the total 2026/2027 budget, with state aid contributing 11.6% towards the total budget. This state aid represents a $28,919 increase from the 2025/2026 budget. Other sources of funds come from federal grants ($87,570) and state preschool grants ($486,855).

DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

DVRHS’s total operating budget for 2026/2027 is $20,835,788, with 28.3% going to classroom instruction, 9% to facilities management, 6.2% to administrative costs, 7.2% to student transportation, 21.9% for employee benefits, 13.8% for specialized student support services (guidance, health services, extra-curricular activities, etc.), 7.9% in tuition and 5.7% for athletic and co-curricular programs.

DVRHS’s budget involves spending $27,497 per student, compared to the statewide average of $29,978. This cost-efficiency is noteworthy given the district’s smaller regional high school enrollment (approximately 660 students in grades 9-12), which typically drives up per-pupil overhead costs. Per-student administrative cost at DVRHS is $2,185 per pupil, below the $2,238 state average for grade 9-12 regional high schools.

The DVRHS 2026/2027 budget reflects a 0.71% increase in total spending from the previous year. This equates to a 5.49% increase in the local tax levy. A majority of this increase goes toward health insurance premium increases, special education tuition and transportation. Local property taxes paid for 82.5% of the total 2026/2027 budget, with state aid contributing 7.1% towards operations. This state funding allocation represents a $83,000 increase from the 2025/2026 budget. Other sources of funds come from federal grants and tuition from out-of-district students.