The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Paterson Arts and Science Charter School
Paterson Arts and Science Charter School operates as a single-school district serving kindergarten through twelfth grade in Passaic County. It is a charter school, meaning it is publicly funded but independently run; in this case, the management organization is iLearn Schools. The school draws its student body from the city of Paterson and the surrounding area, making the peer environment a reflection of that urban community. Enrollment at this school is sizable for a single-site charter, and the student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black population and small numbers of Asian, white, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners was not available, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about its support for those groups.
On state assessments, the school's results show a clear area of difficulty in math, where proficiency rates across grades three through eight are low, with many grades recording proficiency rates in the teens or lower. English language arts performance is uneven. Fourth grade stands out with a higher proficiency rate, but other elementary and middle school grades show weaker results, with most falling below a level many families would consider strong. In science, tested in grades five and eight, the proficiency rates are very low. When compared with other districts in Passaic County, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. A parent evaluating academic preparation may want to look into this further with the school, particularly to understand how the school supports foundational skills in math and science.
The school offers a full K-12 pathway, with enrollment tapering in the upper high school grades, which is common for charter schools where some students may leave before graduation. No graduation rate data was available for this school, so a key measure of how well it carries students through to completion is unknown. A parent interested in the high school experience should seek that information directly.
Chronic absenteeism, reported at a rate that places the school in the bottom quartile among Passaic County districts, is a concern. High absenteeism can disrupt academic progress for individual students and the classroom environment as a whole, and this is another area a parent may wish to discuss with the school to learn about attendance support efforts.
Per-pupil spending is in the lower range compared with other districts in the county. This may have implications for resources available in the classroom, though a lower spending level does not automatically indicate a lower-quality experience, as charter schools often allocate funds differently than traditional public districts.
A notable development on the horizon is the approval of a new sister charter school, Paterson Passaic Charter School, which is set to open in September 2025. Operated by the same management group, it will serve kindergarten through fourth grade initially and expand to eighth grade. The curriculum is designed to feed into the upper grades at Paterson Arts and Science Charter School, so families with younger children now have a clearer through-line from elementary to high school within this charter network.
This is a school where academic achievement on state tests is below the county median, particularly in math and science. The environment is shaped by a high-need urban student population, and chronic absenteeism is a notable challenge. Parents considering this school will want to investigate the academic supports in place, the high school completion rate, and how the school addresses attendance and engagement. The expanding charter network may offer some stability and a clearer educational pathway for families who choose to stay in it from the early grades.
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