The top reported proficiency rate is 45% in English language arts. The lowest is 8% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Jersey City Community Charter School
Jersey City Community Charter School operates as a single-school district serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Hudson County. It is a charter school, meaning it is publicly funded but independently run, with its own governance structure separate from the larger Jersey City public school district. Because the school stops at eighth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report; the academic picture here is built entirely on state testing in grades three through eight.
The school enrolls a student body of several hundred, with roughly equal numbers in each grade from kindergarten through eighth. The student population is predominantly Black and Hispanic, with a small share of Asian students and a very small share of White students. Data on economic disadvantage and special education status were not reported, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals or receive special services.
Academically, the picture varies by subject and grade. In English language arts, proficiency on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment hovers in the range of roughly two-fifths to one-half of students across grades three through eight, with the highest rates in the earliest tested grades. Math proficiency is lower across the board, and it declines notably as students get older. In the primary grades, about three in ten students meet the state bar, but by seventh and eighth grade the share drops to well below one in five. Science results, tested in grades five and eight, are the area of greatest concern, with very few students reaching the state’s proficiency threshold. When the school’s overall performance across all tested subjects and grades is compared with other districts in Hudson County, it lands in the bottom quartile.
On a brighter note, the school’s chronic absenteeism rate is better than the midpoint among county districts, suggesting that students are generally showing up. Per-pupil spending is on the lower side relative to other Hudson County districts, which may reflect the school’s leaner charter model rather than a lack of resources for students.
A search for recent district-level developments turned up little that would change a family’s decision. No major program additions, leadership shifts, or financial events were publicly reported, so the school’s day-to-day offerings and reputation are likely stable from year to year.
This is a school that serves a largely Black and Hispanic student body in an urban setting, with academic outcomes that lag peers in the county, particularly in math and science. Families considering it should look closely at how the school supports students who are below grade level, especially in the upper grades, and ask about any interventions in place. The school’s relatively low chronic absenteeism is a positive signal about student engagement, but the test results indicate that many students are not yet demonstrating mastery. For a family whose child needs a strong academic foundation in math and science, this school may require extra attention to supplemental supports. For families who value a smaller, independently operated environment within Jersey City, the school offers an alternative to the larger district, but the data suggest that the academic trajectory for many students is a soft spot worth investigating directly with the school.
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