University Heights Charter School (UHCS) has just announced that it is relocating its Junior High School and Central Office to a renovated Downtown Newark, NJ location at 570 Broad Street. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held tomorrow, September 18, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. to welcome families, friends, and school community partners. 

UHCS was founded in September 2006 under the sponsorship of Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, NJ. It started with 60 students in grades K–2 and has since grown to approximately 850 students in grades PK–8, 95% of which are classified as economically-disadvantaged. In the late 2000s, UHCS was one of the higher performing schools in Newark. 

The school is currently comprised of a Lower School (grades PreK–2), Elementary School (grades 3–6), and Junior High School (grades 7–8). The Lower School and Elementary School are just steps away from the church that chartered the school and many church members and families have remained loyal to the mission of the school since its inception. 

After the appointment of Dr. Christy Oliver-Hawley as the Head of Schools/CEO and focused efforts by staff, the school emerged from recent challenges. “University Heights Charter School is moving toward Blue Ribbon status,” says Dr. Oliver-Hawley. With a strong leadership team, certified staff, and consistent family and community engagement, the school is expecting not only growth, but proficiency in all areas. 

Respect, excellence, accountability, caring, and honesty are the “R.E.A.C.H. Core Values” of the school district. These values are reinforced through a daily mantra recited by the students and with the school mission outcomes of Character, Scholarship, and Leadership, they form the pillars upon which the school district firmly stands. University Heights Charter School has come a long way and is prepared to R.E.A.C.H. far and wide.