Original Research by School Decision on Peoples Preparatory Charter School
Peoples Preparatory Charter School, a single-school charter district in Newark, New Jersey, has undergone fundamental changes that effectively end its existence as an independent entity. Public records indicate that the school is no longer operating in its original form, meaning families considering it today would be looking at a very different institution.
The school’s directory lists its grade span as “M through M,” which likely refers to middle school grades, though the exact range is not specified. No enrollment count, student demographic data, or free-and-reduced-price lunch information was available in the records reviewed. State testing results were not present, so there is no academic performance data to characterize. Because the school appears to have closed or merged, a graduation rate is not applicable. The community and economic context for the surrounding area was also missing from the data, leaving a gap in understanding the housing market or neighborhood conditions.
What is clear from public reporting is that Peoples Preparatory Charter School merged with Achieve Community Charter School effective July 1, 2023, forming a combined entity initially called People’s Achieve Community Charter School, Inc., and later to be known as Gateway Academy Charter School. The merged school is intended to serve kindergarten through grade 12, operating under the BRICK Education Network. This merger fundamentally reshaped what was likely a stand-alone school for a narrow grade band into a full K-12 pipeline. The approved maximum enrollment for the merged entity is set for a future year, expanding educational options for Newark families.
Additionally, as publicly reported in early 2024, Peoples Preparatory Charter School agreed to leave its co-located space in a building shared with a Newark Public Schools high school, as part of a settlement of a 2020 lawsuit. This change in physical location directly affects families’ commute and school access. The departure from that space was reported in February 2024.
Given these developments, the original Peoples Preparatory Charter School no longer exists as a distinct entity. Families researching this school will instead find the new Gateway Academy Charter School, which combines two previous charter schools and operates under new governance. Because the data for Peoples Preparatory Charter School is largely absent—no test scores, enrollment figures, demographics, or program offerings—there is no basis for evaluating its past academic performance, student support, or peer environment. The only substantive information available concerns its merger and relocation.
A parent or resident seeking to understand this school should note that the historical record is incomplete, and the institution has been replaced. For current and future educational options, the relevant entity to investigate is Gateway Academy Charter School under the BRICK Education Network, which will serve a broader grade span and operate in a new location. The absence of prior data does not necessarily reflect poorly on the original school; rather, it reflects the transitional state of the entity and the limited information captured in these records. Anyone considering this school for their child would want to contact the new merged school directly to learn about its current programs, academic approach, and admissions process.
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