Participation Fees for Athletics and Activities

  • Since 2010, the Jackson School District has implemented an athletic and activity “Participation Fee” at the middle school and high school levels to create revenue to sustain district athletic and extra-curricular programming.

    NOTE: The new rates as of the 2024-2025 school year are reflected below:

    • $100 Athletic Fee (per person, per sport) 
    • $50 Activity Fee
    • $350 Maximum Family Cap

    Students will not be provided a uniform until these fees are received.

    Full details of this participation fee, how to pay it and information for students who qualify for free or reduced meals, are available on this page.

About the Fees

  • THIS IS NOT A “PAY TO PLAY” PROGRAM. PAYING THIS FEE IN NO WAY GUARANTEES OR ENSURES A STUDENT WHO HAS MADE A TEAM WILL PLAY AT A CERTAIN LEVEL SUCH AS VARSITY OR JUNIOR VARSITY. NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE THAT A STUDENT WILL PARTICIPATE IN A CONTEST OR RECEIVE A VARSITY LETTER.

    In order to earn a varsity letter on any team, the team criteria for earning a varsity letter must be met. Each student athlete will be assessed a participation fee per sport, per season. This fee will be capped at the family maximum rate listed on this page. This fee will be assessed after all coaches have determined their final rosters (after cuts, if needed). This fee is not affiliated with any parent group, organization or fundraising individual or corporation.

    The athletic department will enter the information in our student software program and our student information system will update daily. Coaches and advisors will receive updated lists.

    • If an athlete or participant is removed or suspended from a team due to violation of a school policy, violation of team policy, disciplinary issues or any other reason deemed appropriate by the building principal and athletic director, no refund will be offered or prorated. 
    • If an athlete or participant is injured and cannot continue for the remainder of a season - or any portion of a season - no monies will be refunded or prorated.
    • If an athlete or participant leaves a team for any other reason other than those listed above, no monies will be refunded or prorated. 

    If you have any questions or concerns regarding High School sports or activities, please contact:

    • Mr. Gregory McClain - Director of Athletics
    • 732-833-4635 (at JMHS)
    • 732-415-7011 (at JLHS)
    • Or Jackson Liberty Asst. Principal Mark Lax at 732-415-7098

    For Middle School information please contact:

    • Mr. Al Aires - Carl W. Goetz Assistant Principal - 732-833-4610
    • Mr. Shawn Levinson - Christa McAuliffe Assistant Principal - 732-833-4701

How to Pay the Participation Fee

  • Fees can be paid online at www.payschoolscentral.com, which is the same program utilized by the district for the payment of lunch fees. This vendor assesses a small fee for the convenience of paying online.

    (NOTE: If you do not wish to pay online, you can make payments with cash or check through your coach or advisor. Checks should be made out to “Jackson School District”. There is no fee for paying in person.)


    Once you log into www.payschoolscentral.com, you will need the following four pieces of information to set up an account:

    • Child’s Name (as it appears in our school records)
    • ID Number
    • Grade Level
    • School


    If you need the above referenced information, it can be obtained by utilizing the Parent Portal (this is the system you use to view your child’s grades online). There is also a “Help’’ and "Forgot Password" tab on the www.payschoolscentral.com site that answers questions you may have as you attempt to register.

    NOTE: For those families who have qualified for free or reduced lunch, a reduced fee will be as-sessed. If you are utilizing the online payment system, that reduced fee will be automatically given as an option. If you are not paying online, you must pick up a Sharing Informa-tion Form from the athletic office or from your coach so that we can verify that you qualify for this discount. In other cases of financial hardship, families may make an ap-peal to the superintendent of schools, who will evaluate them on a case-by-case basis.