Why we’re building it
Marc began NJ School Data as a New Jersey parent trying to understand his own schools. The state publishes extensive records; using them often requires sorting through files and learning definitions that are far from obvious.
The approach
School and district profiles bring official records together with comparisons and budget explanations. Definitions, reporting years, and source limitations accompany the figures.
What you can explore
School & district profiles
Start with a place you know and explore enrollment, demographic change, academic measures, and budget evidence where available.
District budgets
Read what changed, compare it with other districts, and follow the supporting evidence into greater detail.
Change over time
Explore shifts in school composition and put a single year’s figures in a longer context.
Data explainers
See where the records come from, how they were handled, and which caveats matter to a comparison.
What we’re trying to learn
We are testing how to maintain these tools with AI assistance and human editorial oversight, while learning which questions families need them to answer.
Public beta
The underlying figures come from official sources. Data can show patterns without explaining their causes; academic results are not a school-quality rating. Source years vary, and errors in data or software remain possible.
Find a school ↗Explore district budgets ↗About the project ↗Related studio note
Why we focus on decision intelligence →Start with a person’s decision, then work out what information would help.