Last week the New Jersey Department of Education(NJDOE) released annual School Performance Reports, which include assessment, student growth, and accountability data for all public school districts in New Jersey. When evaluating student growth in mathematics, six of the top 10 highest growth districts are public charter schools, despite charter schools serving less than 5% of the entire public school population in New Jersey. In reading, four of the top 10 highest growth districts are public charters.

Public charter schools located in Newark, Trenton, Paterson, Jersey City, Vineland, East Orange, and New Brunswick beat the odds and landed in the top 1% of the state when calculating how students grew relative to peers statewide in math and reading year-over-year.

Student growth, as measured by median student growth percentiles (mSGP), takes into account academic starting points for individual students against their statewide academic peers. This data calculates growth year-over-year and is an important way to evaluate how schools are accelerating academic outcomes at the student level in mathematics and reading for every student.

The released data shows that public charter schools are accelerating learning for students faster for Black, Latino and economically disadvantaged students compared to the rest of the State. For Black students, 7 of the top 10 districts in math growth and 3 of the top 10 districts in reading growth are public charter schools. For Latino students, 4 of the top 10 districts in reading growth and 5 of the top 10 districts in math growth are public charter schools. For economically disadvantaged students, 10 of the top 15 districts in math growth and 6 out of the top 10 districts in reading growth are public charter schools.

“These incredible results are a true testament to how public charter schools meet students where they are. Through personalizing instruction and targeting learning gaps for every child, they have achieved some of the best student learning gains in the State,” said Harry Lee, President and CEO of the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association. “The data is clear and undeniable – public charter schools play a critical role in eliminating the achievement gap for low-income students of color in our urban school districts. If the State is truly serious about accelerating learning, they would create and expand more great charter schools.” 

“Foundation Academies’ rigorous academic curriculum and emphasis on high-impact tutoring are helping scholars find their purpose and excel in college and beyond. Our mission is to equip scholars with the skills to excel academically while creating more opportunities that support their success,” said Sheria McRae, CEO at Foundation Academy Charter School in Trenton. “As a Trenton native, I dreamed of creating an environment where scholars see themselves in their educators and feel empowered to pursue their aspirations. I’m immensely proud of our entire school community for their commitment to our scholars’ success and growth.”

“Foundation Academies’ rigorous academic curriculum and emphasis on high-impact tutoring are helping scholars find their purpose and excel in college and beyond. Our mission is to equip scholars with the skills to excel academically while creating more opportunities that support their success,” said Sheria McRae, CEO at Foundation Academy Charter School in Trenton. “As a Trenton native, I dreamed of creating an environment where scholars see themselves in their educators and feel empowered to pursue their aspirations. I’m immensely proud of our entire school community for their commitment to our scholars’ success and growth.”

“My child is receiving an education that will open doors for them long after they have left the classroom and I am overjoyed with the progress they are making,” said Sophia Sample, whose child attends Community Charter School of Paterson. “I wish every parent across New Jersey had the same opportunities as my family and could send their children to a great school that best meets their individual needs.”

These most recent assessment results continue to add overwhelming evidence that public charter schools are leading the way when it comes to academic achievement in New Jersey’s urban communities. Not only are Black, Latino, and economically disadvantaged charter school students outperforming their statewide peers in every grade and subject, they are making faster learning gains in math and reading compared to more wealthy, suburban communities throughout New Jersey.