N.J. has school districts without schools -- but not for much longer

That doesn't mean any schools will actually close: Those districts and 23 others do not operate any.

For policy wonks, politicians and barstool grumblers alike, the number of school districts in the state — 616 — is constantly cited as one of New Jersey's problems. But how to trim it is not so easy — even when it comes to these districts.

The U.S. Department of Education says that that as of the 2005-06 school year there were 285 districts nationwide that for some reason did not operate schools. Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont had the most — more than 50 each.

Mike Griffith, a finance analyst at the Education Commission on the States, said communities are often reluctant to give up the anomalous districts.