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Paterson, New Jersey with NYC skyline in backgroundPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
D
Schools in Paterson · Paterson City School District

Paterson’s public schools score below 92% of New Jersey districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 11% of Paterson’s students scored proficient, below the New Jersey average (36%). The grade covers the public school district serving Paterson, 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.

#440of 465 New Jersey townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From New Jersey state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% 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
24%
▼ 25 pts vs NJ 49%
2021–22
Math proficiency
11%
▼ 24 pts vs NJ 36%
2021–22
Graduate on time
82%
▼ 8 pts vs NJ 90%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$26.9K
▼ 5% vs NJ $28.4K
FY2024
Students per teacher
12.6
NJ 11.6 · larger classes
Schools in town
53
21,179 students on the public path
In brief

Paterson’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 80 New Jersey towns with household incomes within a quarter of Paterson’s, its schools beat 24%, higher than their 8% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 24% of tested students were proficient in reading and 11% in math, against 49% and 36% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

82% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $26,924 per student, against $28,441 across New Jersey (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

28 elementary schools, then seven high schools

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

Choice beyond the district

Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology, Community Charter School of Paterson, Paterson Arts and Science Charter School, Philip's Academy Charter School of Paterson, College Achieve Paterson Charter School, Brilla New Jersey Charter School, St. Gerard Majella School (private), Dawn Treader Christian School (private), Compassion House Outreach Mnstr & Chrstan Educ CTR (private) and Gilmore Memorial Chris Acd (private) are in town. Every school ↓

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 Paterson’s grade

D Test scoresD Graduation

D: better than 8% of New Jersey school districts, #440 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 8%
Lower resultsHigher results
New Jersey towns with similar household incomes (80)Better than 24%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 11,823 test results and a graduating class of 1,542 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Paterson’s students in the tested grades sat them (12,063 in math, 11,583 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

28 schools teach K in Paterson’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from D− to A+, so check the specific school.
School 16
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
813 students15:1Rate it →
School 5
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
753 students13:1Rate it →
Charles J. Riley/ School 9
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
682 students12:1Rate it →
School 24
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
668 students12:1Rate it →
School 21
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
665 students15:1Rate it →
School 27
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
641 students13:1Rate it →
Senator Frank Lautenberg School
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
605 students17:1Rate it →
School 15
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D−
577 students12:1Rate it →
Dr. Hani Awadallah School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
575 students12:1Rate it →
School 25
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
526 students12:1Rate it →
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
513 students11:1Rate it →
School 13
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
499 students14:1Rate it →
School 10
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
474 students14:1Rate it →
School 12
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
474 students12:1Rate it →
School 2
Elementary · Grades K–8
D
473 students12:1Rate it →
School 28
Elementary · Grades PK–8
A+
463 students12:1Rate it →
Alexander Hamilton Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
439 students14:1Rate it →
School 26
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
419 students14:1Rate it →
School 8
Elementary · Grades K–8
D
411 students12:1Rate it →
School 20
Elementary · Grades K–8
D
343 students9:1Rate it →
Edward W. Kilpatrick
Elementary · Grades PK–3
D−
295 students12:1Rate it →
School 19
Elementary · Grades K–4
C
288 students13:1Rate it →
Norman S. Weir
Elementary · Grades K–8
C+
272 students10:1Rate it →
Roberto Clemente
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
254 students12:1Rate it →
School 7
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
250 students11:1Rate it →
Dale Avenue
Elementary · Grades PK–2
228 students10:1Rate it →
School 1
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
217 students10:1Rate it →
School 3
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
167 students9:1Rate it →
The path, start to finish
K–828 schoolsDepends on your addressD− to A+
9–127 high schoolsDepends on your addressD− to B−

Paterson’s public schools are run by Paterson 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.

Paterson City School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 43 schools · 21,372 students, up 13% since 2020–21 · 12.6 per teacher (NJ 11.6)
$26,924NJ $28,441 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading24%
State average 48.6% · 11583 students tested
Math11%
State average 35.5% · 12063 students tested

Paterson vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PatersonDPaterson City
Fair LawnAFair Lawn Borough
Elmwood ParkCElmwood Park Borough
Prospect ParkDProspect Park Borough PK–8 · Passaic County Manchester Regional 9–12
HawthorneB−Hawthorne Borough
Woodland ParkC+Woodland Park Borough PK–8 · Passaic Valley Regional 9–12
HaledonDHaledon Borough PK–8 · Passaic County Manchester Regional 9–12
CliftonC−Clifton City
TotowaC+Totowa Borough PK–8 · Passaic Valley Regional 9–12

Every school in Paterson

53 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 Patersonby address
School 16
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
813 students15:1Rate it →
Charles J. Riley/ School 9
Elementary · Grades PK–8
C−
682 students12:1Rate it →
School 24
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
668 students12:1Rate it →
School 21
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D−
665 students15:1Rate it →
School 27
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
641 students13:1Rate it →
School 15
Elementary · Grades PK–5
D−
577 students12:1Rate it →
Dr. Hani Awadallah School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
575 students12:1Rate it →
School 25
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
526 students12:1Rate it →
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
513 students11:1Rate it →
School 28
Elementary · Grades PK–8
A+
463 students12:1Rate it →
School 26
Elementary · Grades PK–8
D
419 students14:1Rate it →
Edward W. Kilpatrick
Elementary · Grades PK–3
D−
295 students12:1Rate it →
Dale Avenue
Elementary · Grades PK–2
228 students10:1Rate it →
Anna Iandoli Early Learning Center
Prekindergarten · Grades PK
99 studentsRate it →
School 5
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
753 students13:1Rate it →
Senator Frank Lautenberg School
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
605 students17:1Rate it →
School 13
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
499 students14:1Rate it →
School 10
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
474 students14:1Rate it →
School 12
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
474 students12:1Rate it →
School 2
Elementary · Grades K–8
D
473 students12:1Rate it →
Alexander Hamilton Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
439 students14:1Rate it →
School 8
Elementary · Grades K–8
D
411 students12:1Rate it →
School 20
Elementary · Grades K–8
D
343 students9:1Rate it →
School 19
Elementary · Grades K–4
C
288 students13:1Rate it →
Norman S. Weir
Elementary · Grades K–8
C+
272 students10:1Rate it →
Roberto Clemente
Elementary · Grades K–5
D−
254 students12:1Rate it →
School 7
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
250 students11:1Rate it →
School 1
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
217 students10:1Rate it →
School 3
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
167 students9:1Rate it →
School 18
Elementary · Grades 1–8
D
601 students10:1Rate it →
Rev. Dr. Frank Napier Jr. School
Elementary · Grades 1–8
D−
491 students13:1Rate it →
Young Men's Academy
Middle · Grades 3–8
D
50 students7:1Rate it →
Joseph A. Taub School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
976 students17:1Rate it →
New Roberto Clemente
Middle · Grades 6–8
D
473 students11:1Rate it →
Eastside High School
High · Grades 9–12
2,073 students16:1Rate it →
John F. Kennedy High School
High · Grades 9–12
D−
1,846 students13:1Rate it →
International High School
High · Grades 9–12
C
650 students12:1Rate it →
Paterson STEAM High School
High · Grades 9–12
C−
379 students12:1Rate it →
Rosa L. Parks School of Fine and Performing Arts
High · Grades 9–12
B−
258 students10:1Rate it →
Paterson P-TECH High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
193 students12:1Rate it →
Newcomers High School
High · Grades 9–12
106 students18:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Students Transitioning and Achieving Real Success
High · Grades 9–12
Special Education
112 students14:1Rate it →
Alternative High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
Alternative Education
81 students4:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology
Grades K–12
C−
Charter
1,708 students13:1Rate it →
College Achieve Paterson Charter School
Grades K–12
C−
Charter
1,688 students20:1Rate it →
Paterson Arts and Science Charter School
Grades K–12
C−
Charter
1,330 students13:1Rate it →
Community Charter School of Paterson
Elementary · Grades K–8
Charter
896 students18:1Rate it →
Philip's Academy Charter School of Paterson
Elementary · Grades K–8
D
Charter
683 students13:1Rate it →
Brilla New Jersey Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–6
Charter
362 students15:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Gerard Majella School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
132 students11:1Rate it →
Dawn Treader Christian School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
99 students16:1Rate it →
Compassion House Outreach Mnstr & Chrstan Educ CTR
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Religious
45 studentsRate it →
Gilmore Memorial Chris Acd
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Religious
6 students4:1Rate it →

Questions about Paterson’s schools

Are Paterson’s schools good?

On New Jersey’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Paterson children attend score below 92% of New Jersey’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #440 of 465 New Jersey towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 24%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Paterson in?

Paterson City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 21,372 students in 43 schools (2024–25).

Where do Paterson kids go to high school?

One of 7 high schools, depending on your address: Eastside High School, John F. Kennedy High School, International High School, Paterson STEAM High School, Rosa L. Parks School of Fine and Performing Arts, Paterson P-TECH High School and Newcomers High School.

What is Paterson’s graduation rate?

82% of the class of 2023 in Paterson City School District graduated in four years, against 90% across New Jersey.

How much does Paterson spend per student?

$26,924 in Paterson City School District (FY2024), against $28,441 across New Jersey. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Paterson?

Yes: St. Gerard Majella School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 132 students), Dawn Treader Christian School (religious, grades K–8, 99 students), Compassion House Outreach Mnstr & Chrstan Educ CTR (religious, grades PK–8, 45 students) and Gilmore Memorial Chris Acd (religious, grades PK–K, 6 students). Paterson also has 6 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Paterson families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Paterson → 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.