The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in Science. The lowest is 13% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Hope Community Charter School
Hope Community Charter School operates as a single charter school district in Camden County, serving kindergarten through eighth grade. It is a small school, with an enrollment that reflects the local community: the student body is composed mostly of Hispanic and Black students, with a very small number of students from other racial backgrounds. No data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, who have an individualized education program, or who are English learners was available in the sources consulted; those aspects of the school's student support context are not captured here.
The school offers a continuous K-8 pathway for families in Camden, a feature that was deliberately built over time. According to information publicly reported by the school, Hope Community Charter School opened with only kindergarten through second grade and added one grade each year, reaching eighth grade for the first time in the 2022-2023 school year. That grade-span expansion means the school now offers a full elementary and middle school experience under one roof, which may appeal to parents seeking a stable, familiar environment through the middle school years.
State assessment results for the most recent school year show that across the tested grades, proficiency rates in math and English language arts are low. In several grade levels, no students scored at the proficient level or above. In the grades where some students did meet the bar, the share was in a range that is well below the midpoint for Camden County districts overall. Science results, available only for fifth grade, show a similar pattern. The school's overall proficiency index, which averages performance across all tested subjects and grades, places Hope Community Charter School in the bottom quartile among the county's districts. A parent may want to discuss with the school how it supports struggling students and what academic interventions are in place.
Chronic absenteeism is a notable concern. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is very high, also falling in the bottom quartile among Camden County districts. That means a large portion of students are missing a significant number of school days, which typically correlates with lower academic engagement and progress. The district's per-pupil current spending, by contrast, is in the upper range compared to other districts in the county. That mix of above-average spending and below-average outcomes is an aspect a family might explore further with the school to understand how resources are directed.
Because the school serves only through eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to consider. Students who complete eighth grade here would need to transition to a high school elsewhere, likely in Camden or the surrounding area.
Hope Community Charter School fits a parent seeking a small K-8 charter with a strong community identity in Camden, one that has deliberately expanded to provide a full elementary-through-middle school sequence. The academic performance and attendance data point to real challenges, and families considering this option would benefit from asking the school directly about its curriculum, intervention strategies, and efforts to improve daily attendance.
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