Dr. Kwame Morton has held a role in the Cherry Hill school system since 2008. Moving his way from Principal to Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent, he has dedicated more than half his career to the education of students within the district. As of January 2026, the number of students totaled nearly 11,000, ranging grades Pre-K through 12.
Now, Cherry Hill students are back in the classroom for the 2026-27 school year, and Superintendent Dr. Kwame Morton says the district is entering it with a focus on academic achievement, facility improvements and providing students with opportunities for success beyond graduation.
As we enter the new school year, the current status of building improvements, associated with the Cherry Hill Tomorrow bond referendum, are worth noting. As a reminder, in October 2022, Cherry Hill voters passed a historic $363 million school bond referendum, known as Cherry Hill Tomorrow, to fund widespread improvements and upgrades across all 19 public schools in the district.
Morton said approximately 50% of the bond work has been appropriated so far, with improvements taking place throughout the district’s buildings. Among the projects he is particularly excited about are upgrades at Rosa International Middle School, where improvements have significantly changed the look and feel of the building. The construction is just one component of a broader effort to strengthen a district that includes 18 buildings and 19 school-based programs. These improvements will allow the district the opportunity to better serve the community, which Morton asserts is one of the township’s greatest strengths.
“What makes Cherry Hill unique is the people,” Morton said, noting that growth in the township translates directly into growth for its schools.
The district’s size also presents challenges, though, particularly when it comes to ensuring students and families receive consistent services across all of its schools and programs.
Financial pressures remain another concern. Reduced state aid has required the district to make budget adjustments, though Morton said officials have worked to preserve positions and the programs that residents associate with the Cherry Hill school experience.
The district hired approximately three dozen new staff members for the school year, a lower number than in previous years because of position reductions. There are also several leadership changes, including new administrators and position shifts.
Morton said the district continues to work closely with township officials, including the mayor, to advocate for fair funding while making sure existing resources are used efficiently.
Academic achievement remains at the center of the district’s priorities, along with ensuring students receive a well-rounded educational experience. Those goals are guided by Cherry Hill’s five-year strategic plan, which runs through 2030. The five priorities within the plan are the commitment to: optimizing outstanding academic achievement and outcomes for each student to prepare them for post-secondary opportunities; responsible and efficient fiscal and operational stewardship in support of student success; ensure that each child receives the academic, behavioral, and social emotional support uniquely suited to ensure their success; ensure that all students, staff, and families feel a sense of belonging, empowerment, and support in a safe and secure environment; and recruiting, supporting, and retaining the most highly-qualified and effective staff possible to support the success of all students.
Morton said district officials examine initiatives through this lens and pay close attention to the return on investment, particularly given limitations in state funding.
One area receiving increased attention is career pathways. The district wants students to have access to experiences that prepare them for whatever direction they choose after high school, whether that means college, employment or another post-secondary opportunity.
Cherry Hill is also continuing a significant expansion of preschool education. Now in its third year, the initiative serves approximately 900 students through about a dozen providers.
Morton described the preschool program as essentially a “district within a district” because of its size and complexity. He sees early childhood education as an important opportunity to provide children with a strong foundation before they enter the district’s elementary schools.
While families should not expect major additions to extracurricular offerings this year, Morton said maintaining the programs already available is itself a priority. Rather than adding initiatives individually, administrators evaluate programming systemically and determine how it fits within the strategic plan.
Students and families will also see changes involving technology.
A statewide restriction on student cell phone use during the school day is taking effect, as noted previously in the Sun, and Cherry Hill is implementing guidelines surrounding artificial intelligence and age-appropriate screen time. Morton said the district is looking at technology not only as an educational tool, but through the lens of healthy student development.
For Cherry Hill residents who do not currently have children enrolled in the schools, Morton emphasized that their voices still matter.
District officials take community feedback seriously, he said, particularly when it comes to finances. With taxpayers supporting a large school system and major facility improvements, Morton said the administration’s responsibility is to ensure spending is intentional and produces the greatest possible benefit for students.
As construction continues and the district moves forward with its strategic priorities, Morton said Cherry Hill’s schools remain closely connected to the community around them – and that relationship will be essential as the district plans for the years ahead.
