The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Community Charter School of Paterson
Community Charter School of Paterson is a single-school district serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Passaic County. As a charter school, it functions as its own district, operating independently of the Paterson Public Schools system while drawing its students from the same city. The school enrolls a student body of a size typical for a K-8 charter, with roughly even enrollment across each grade level from kindergarten through eighth grade. The student population is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black or African American cohort; White, Asian, and multiracial students each make up a very small share of the student body. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners were not available in the profile, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about those support structures.
State testing results for the 2024-25 school year, from the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, show a pattern that varies by subject and grade. In English language arts, the school's proficiency rates hovered in a range that a parent would likely consider mixed. The lowest ELA performance came in third grade, where around one in three students scored proficient. Performance rose through the middle grades, with seventh grade posting the strongest result, where roughly half of students met the proficiency bar, and eighth grade came close to that level. In math, the picture was more challenging. Third graders posted a proficiency rate a parent would recognize as a relative bright spot, with a clear majority reaching the proficient level. Fourth graders scored not far behind. But from fifth grade onward, math proficiency dropped sharply, settling at less than one in five students meeting the standard for grades five through eight, and falling to under one in ten in seventh grade. Science results were very low in both tested grades, with a very small fraction of students reaching proficiency in fifth and eighth grade. The school's overall proficiency index across all subjects and grades landed below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Passaic County. A parent considering this school would want to understand what academic interventions or supports the school offers, particularly for students who enter the upper elementary and middle grades needing stronger math foundations.
The school's chronic absenteeism rate was above the midpoint among county districts, which is a metric worth noting. A family researching the school may want to ask about attendance outreach and how the school tracks and works with students who are frequently absent. Per-pupil current spending, publicly reported, fell in the middle range but the lower half of that range among county peers, which is a point of reference rather than an evaluative claim.
Because this school serves only grades through eighth, there is no high school graduation rate to report, and no data on AP, dual-credit, or career pathways, which is expected for a K-8 setting. The school's website and the district-level search for recent changes or strategic priorities did not surface information that would affect a parent's immediate decision. A family weighing this option would need to follow up with the school directly about its curriculum approach, the scope of its special education and English learner services, and how it prepares students for the transition to high school in Paterson's larger district or another charter setting. The academic results suggest that the school's strongest offering in recent testing has been middle school English language arts, while math and science across most grades are areas where the school's own data indicates room for improvement. For a parent who values a small, independent school setting within a large city and is prepared to engage actively on academic support at home, this school may be a fit worth investigating further.
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