MIDDLE TOWNSHIP – The school district has received a $500,000 state grant from the Opioid Recovery Trust. The grant will be used to enhance services at Coastal Prep Recovery High School, a program that supports students in recovery from substance abuse disorders.

Coastal Prep opened in 2019 with the support of a grant to Middle schools. The school system partnered with Cape Assist, a substance misuse prevention and treatment agency, and Coastal Prep became New Jersey’s third recovery high school.

The alternative school is located in Cape May Court House and serves students from the state’s eight southern counties: Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, Camden, Burlington and parts of Ocean.

A request for the number of students enrolled has not yet been answered, but a 2023 posting by the school claimed 10 students.

The $500,000 grant will be distributed over three years. The school’s plan for use of the funds includes assistance with transportation needs, expanded counseling through Cape Assist, staff development, and enrichment opportunities such as field trips and career development programs.

Middle Assistant Superintendent Toni Lehman said, “This award allows us to continue transforming lives.”

The Opioid Recovery Trust announced more than $24 million in grants to 39 school districts nationwide. There was a total of 51 grants of up to $500,000 each in response to 200 applications across 34 states.

Katie Faldetta, executive director of Cape Assist, said, “Since its inception, Coastal Prep has been a beacon of hope for youth in recovery.” Coastal Prep offers a blend of academic resources and recovery support.

In a release, the Middle Township School District said, “The program has achieved strong results, with high rates of sobriety maintenance, graduation and postsecondary success.”

Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.