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2025-09-12 12 24 59 Aerial view of downtown in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey from an aircraft which just departed from Newark Liberty International AirportPhoto: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0
D
Schools in Newark · Newark City School District

Newark’s public schools score below 87% of New Jersey districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in Newark’s districts is 14%, below the New Jersey average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Newark, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within New Jersey, not nationally.

#421of 465 New Jersey townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Jersey state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
27%
▼ 22 pts vs NJ 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
14%
▼ 22 pts vs NJ 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
86%
▼ 4 pts vs NJ 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$29.7K
▲ 4% vs NJ $28.4K
FY2024
Students per teacher
14.4
NJ 11.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
90
40,022 students on the public path
In brief

Newark’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 60 New Jersey towns with household incomes within a quarter of Newark’s, its schools beat 42%, higher than their 13% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 27% of tested students were proficient in reading and 14% in math, against 49% and 36% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

86% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey. Districts ↓

Charters enroll a large share of students

Charter schools located in Newark enroll 21,388 students, against the district’s 40,426. Each is graded on its own results; none is part of the district grade. Every school ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $29,694 per student, against $28,441 across New Jersey (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

43 elementary schools, then 17 high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. Enrollment is up 13% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Newark’s grade

D Test scoresC− Graduation

D: better than 13% of New Jersey school districts, #421 of 465 New Jersey towns. Both inputs trail the New Jersey average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

New Jersey school districts we grade (651)Better than 13%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Jersey towns with similar household incomes (60)Better than 42%
DC−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 18,784 test results and a graduating class of 2,653 could put Newark anywhere from D to C−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Newark’s students in the tested grades sat them (19,442 in math, 18,126 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Newark, with each school’s own grade.

43 schools teach K in Newark’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from D− to C, so check the specific school.
Ann Street School
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
1,294 students16:1Rate it →
Lafayette Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
1,213 students16:1Rate it →
First Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C
1,084 students14:1Rate it →
Oliver Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
1,034 students13:1Rate it →
Wilson Avenue School
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
1,006 students16:1Rate it →
McKinley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
917 students17:1Rate it →
Mt Vernon Place School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
905 students16:1Rate it →
Elliott Street Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
880 students15:1Rate it →
South Street Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
866 students15:1Rate it →
East Ward Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–7
D−
854 students17:1Rate it →
Abington Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
842 students16:1Rate it →
Thirteenth Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
833 students16:1Rate it →
Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
818 students14:1Rate it →
Louise A. Spencer Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
774 students13:1Rate it →
Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
747 students13:1Rate it →
Roberto Clemente Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
742 students17:1Rate it →
George Washington Carver Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
736 students16:1Rate it →
Franklin Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
725 students13:1Rate it →
Rafael Hernandez School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
713 students16:1Rate it →
Quitman Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
706 students16:1Rate it →
Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
690 students14:1Rate it →
Camden Street Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
685 students16:1Rate it →
Hawkins Street School
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
660 students14:1Rate it →
Peshine Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
635 students14:1Rate it →
Chancellor Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
607 students13:1Rate it →
Ridge Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
593 students13:1Rate it →
Dr. E. Alma Flagg School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
570 students14:1Rate it →
Sussex Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
545 students16:1Rate it →
Speedway Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
525 students13:1Rate it →
Salome Urena Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
516 students17:1Rate it →
Belmont Runyon Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
508 students14:1Rate it →
Ivy Hill Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
488 students12:1Rate it →
Avon Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
485 students13:1Rate it →
Hawthorne Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
444 students16:1Rate it →
Lincoln Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
420 students14:1Rate it →
South 17th Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
368 students13:1Rate it →
Ironbound Academy Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–6
325 students20:1Rate it →
Grover Cleveland Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
321 students15:1Rate it →
Harriet Tubman Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
298 students11:1Rate it →
Nelson Mandela Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
256 students21:1Rate it →
Sir Isaac Newton Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
225 students16:1Rate it →
Michelle Obama Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
198 students11:1Rate it →
Branch Brook School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
60 students7:1Rate it →
The path, start to finish
PK–843 schoolsDepends on your addressD− to C
9–1217 high schoolsDepends on your addressD− to A

Newark’s public schools are run by Newark City School District. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Newark City School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 64 schools · 40,426 students, up 13% since 2020–21 · 14.4 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$29,694NJ $28,441 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading27%
State average 48.6% · 18126 students tested
Math14%
State average 35.5% · 19442 students tested

Newark vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the New Jersey towns that share Newark’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
NewarkDNewark City
IrvingtonDIrvington Township
BellevilleCBelleville Town
South Orange VillageB+South Orange-Maplewood
ElizabethCElizabeth City
KearnyCKearny Town
MaplewoodB+South Orange-Maplewood
East OrangeC−East Orange City
HarrisonC+Harrison Town
BloomfieldB−Bloomfield Township
BayonneCBayonne City
East NewarkCEast Newark Borough
HillsideC−Hillside Township

Every school in Newark

90 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with New Jersey’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Newarkby address
Lafayette Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
1,213 students16:1Rate it →
First Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C
1,084 students14:1Rate it →
Oliver Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
1,034 students13:1Rate it →
McKinley Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
917 students17:1Rate it →
Mt Vernon Place School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
905 students16:1Rate it →
Elliott Street Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
880 students15:1Rate it →
South Street Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
866 students15:1Rate it →
East Ward Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–7
D−
854 students17:1Rate it →
Abington Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
842 students16:1Rate it →
Thirteenth Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
833 students16:1Rate it →
Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
818 students14:1Rate it →
Louise A. Spencer Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
774 students13:1Rate it →
Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
747 students13:1Rate it →
Roberto Clemente Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
742 students17:1Rate it →
George Washington Carver Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
736 students16:1Rate it →
Franklin Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
725 students13:1Rate it →
Rafael Hernandez School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
713 students16:1Rate it →
Quitman Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
706 students16:1Rate it →
Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
690 students14:1Rate it →
Camden Street Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
685 students16:1Rate it →
Peshine Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
635 students14:1Rate it →
Chancellor Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
607 students13:1Rate it →
Ridge Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
593 students13:1Rate it →
Dr. E. Alma Flagg School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
570 students14:1Rate it →
Sussex Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
545 students16:1Rate it →
Speedway Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
525 students13:1Rate it →
Salome Urena Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
516 students17:1Rate it →
Belmont Runyon Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
508 students14:1Rate it →
Ivy Hill Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
488 students12:1Rate it →
Avon Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
485 students13:1Rate it →
Hawthorne Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
444 students16:1Rate it →
Lincoln Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
420 students14:1Rate it →
South 17th Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
368 students13:1Rate it →
Grover Cleveland Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
321 students15:1Rate it →
Harriet Tubman Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
298 students11:1Rate it →
Nelson Mandela Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
256 students21:1Rate it →
Sir Isaac Newton Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
225 students16:1Rate it →
Michelle Obama Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
198 students11:1Rate it →
Branch Brook School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
60 students7:1Rate it →
Ann Street School
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
1,294 students16:1Rate it →
Wilson Avenue School
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
1,006 students16:1Rate it →
Hawkins Street School
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
660 students14:1Rate it →
Ironbound Academy Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–6
325 students20:1Rate it →
Science Park High School
High · Grades 7–12
A
964 students14:1Rate it →
University High School
High · Grades 8–12
C−
426 students12:1Rate it →
East Side High School
High · Grades 9–12
C−
2,046 students15:1Rate it →
Barringer High School
High · Grades 9–12
D−
1,894 students17:1Rate it →
Central High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
1,051 students14:1Rate it →
Technology High School
High · Grades 9–12
A−
662 students15:1Rate it →
Arts High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
611 students12:1Rate it →
Weequahic High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
592 students16:1Rate it →
Newark Vocational High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
591 students10:1Rate it →
West Side High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
541 students12:1Rate it →
Malcolm X Shabazz High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
531 students21:1Rate it →
Newark Sch of Data Science and Information Technology
High · Grades 9–12
414 students14:1Rate it →
Bard Early College High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
395 students13:1Rate it →
American History High School
High · Grades 9–12
C
386 students11:1Rate it →
Newark School of Global Studies
High · Grades 9–12
B−
377 students12:1Rate it →
Newark School of Fashion & Design
High · Grades 9–12
275 students14:1Rate it →
Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark
High · Grades 9–12
D
155 students11:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Bruce Street School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Special Education
34 students3:1Rate it →
Fourteenth Avenue School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Special Education
104 students7:1Rate it →
John F. Kennedy School
High · Grades 9–12
Special Education
143 students6:1Rate it →
NJ Regional Day School - Newark
Grades K–12
Special Education
123 students8:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
North Star Academy Charter School
Grades K–12
B−
Charter
6,714 studentsRate it →
TEAM Academy Charter School
Grades K–12
C−
Charter
6,406 students22:1Rate it →
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
Grades PK–12
C
Charter
2,169 students34:1Rate it →
Marion P. Thomas Charter School
Grades PK–12
D
Charter
1,410 students24:1Rate it →
People's Achieve Community Charter School
Grades K–12
Charter
796 students31:1Rate it →
Philip's Academy Charter School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C+
Charter
730 students25:1Rate it →
Robert Treat Academy Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8
B
Charter
702 students19:1Rate it →
Maria Varisco Rogers Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8
C
Charter
572 students14:1Rate it →
New Horizons Community Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
Charter
370 students12:1Rate it →
Link Community Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8
C
Charter
343 students16:1Rate it →
LEAD Charter School
High · Grades 9–12
Charter
333 studentsRate it →
The Gray Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8
A−
Charter
317 students19:1Rate it →
Roseville Community Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–4
D
Charter
285 students12:1Rate it →
Newark Educators Community Charter School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
D−
Charter
142 students12:1Rate it →
Discovery Charter School
Middle · Grades 4–8
C+
Charter
99 students16:1Rate it →
Other public schools in Newarkrun by other districts or the state
Essex County Newark Tech
High · Grades 9–12
B
Career and Technical
606 students11:1Rate it →
Essex County Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology
High · Grades 9–12
A−
Career and Technical
1,230 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Benedict's Prep
Grades K–12
Private · Catholic
965 students13:1Rate it →
St. Michael School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Catholic
251 students18:1Rate it →
St. Vincent Academy
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Catholic · All-girls
197 students9:1Rate it →
Perpetual Help Day Nursery
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Religious
120 studentsRate it →
Alif Muhammad Nia School
High · Grades 8–12
Private · Nonsectarian
100 students33:1Rate it →
Full Gospel Christian Academy
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
70 students11:1Rate it →
Leaders for Life Academy
High · Grades 10–12
Private · Nonsectarian
41 students20:1Rate it →
Rock Christian Academy for the Performing Arts
Grades 1–12
Private · Religious
12 students12:1Rate it →
Elyon Learning Center Academy
Grades K–10
Private · Religious
6 students6:1Rate it →

Left off: 4 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Essex Regional School, Northern State Prison, Essex RCH and Essex Co JDC).

Questions about Newark’s schools

Are Newark’s schools good?

On New Jersey’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Newark children attend score below 87% of New Jersey’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #421 of 465 New Jersey towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 42%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Newark in?

Newark City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 40,426 students in 64 schools (2024–25).

Where do Newark kids go to high school?

One of 17 high schools, depending on your address: East Side High School, Barringer High School, Central High School, Science Park High School, Technology High School, Arts High School, Weequahic High School, Newark Vocational High School, West Side High School, Malcolm X Shabazz High School, University High School, Newark Sch of Data Science and Information Technology, Bard Early College High School, American History High School, Newark School of Global Studies, Newark School of Fashion & Design and Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark.

What is Newark’s graduation rate?

86% of the class of 2023 in Newark City School District graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey.

How much does Newark spend per student?

$29,694 in Newark City School District (FY2024), against $28,441 across New Jersey. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Newark?

Yes: St. Benedict's Prep (Catholic, grades K–12, 965 students), St. Michael School (Catholic, grades K–8, 251 students), St. Vincent Academy (catholic · all-girls, grades 9–12, 197 students), Perpetual Help Day Nursery (religious, grades PK–K, 120 students), Alif Muhammad Nia School (nonsectarian, grades 8–12, 100 students), Full Gospel Christian Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 70 students), Leaders for Life Academy (nonsectarian, grades 10–12, 41 students), Rock Christian Academy for the Performing Arts (religious, grades 1–12, 12 students) and Elyon Learning Center Academy (religious, grades K–10, 6 students). Newark also has 15 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Newark families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Newark → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within New Jersey. Stars are from neighbors.