The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Robert Treat Academy Charter School
Robert Treat Academy Charter School functions as a single-school charter district serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Essex County, New Jersey. As a public charter school, it draws from a defined enrollment area, and admission is typically through a lottery when oversubscribed.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with small shares of white, Asian, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, those receiving special education services, and those classified as English learners were not available in the sources reviewed.
Academically, the school stands above the midpoint among Essex County districts in overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. That is a solid position for a charter school serving a heavily urban county. English language arts performance is a clear strength. In the upper grades, proficiency rates are notably high, particularly in seventh and eighth grade. Lower elementary grades also show healthy results. Math tells a more uneven story. Through the early and middle grades, proficiency rates are moderate. But in eighth grade, math proficiency drops sharply relative to the school’s other results. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports math learning in the transition to middle school and what interventions are in place for eighth graders. Science proficiency, measured in fifth and eighth grades, is lower; this pattern is not uncommon in New Jersey, where the science assessment uses a different proficiency threshold, but it is a point to discuss with the school.
Because the school serves only kindergarten through eighth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report. Families will need to plan for a high school transition, and the school may provide guidance on options in the area.
Chronic absenteeism, a measure of students missing many school days, is better than the median rate among Essex County districts. That suggests most students attend regularly, which supports learning continuity. Per-pupil spending is in the lower range compared to other districts in the county, a profile common among charter schools that often operate with less per-pupil funding than traditional public school districts.
A search for recent district-level changes, such as curriculum updates, facility plans, or policy shifts, turned up little of lasting impact from publicly reported sources. The school's history and structure are documented, but no referendum, charter renewal news, or major operational changes meeting the bar were found.
For a family considering Robert Treat Academy, the picture is one of a charter school with notable literacy outcomes, a diverse and predominantly Hispanic and Black student body, and a mixed math and science record that merits a conversation with the school. The strong chronic absenteeism rate is a positive sign. The lack of high school grades means that the decision involves not only the elementary and middle school years but also the high school path that follows.
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