The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Kipp: Cooper Norcross a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation
KIPP: Cooper Norcross A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation operates as a charter school district serving kindergarten through twelfth grade in Camden, New Jersey. It is part of the national KIPP network of college-preparatory charter schools. The district is a single entity that includes one school covering all grades, and information about its specific governance structure or any additional campuses was not detailed in the available data.
The student body is predominantly Black and Hispanic, together making up the vast majority of enrollment, with a very small share of White and Asian students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not provided, so a family looking at this district would want to ask about these supports directly.
On state assessments, the proficiency rates for math and English language arts vary by grade level. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above ranged from under one-fifth to roughly two-fifths across grades three through eight, with no single grade exceeding a two-fifths proficiency rate. In English language arts, the pattern was similar, with the highest proficiency rate reaching about one-third of students in some grades and lower in others. Science results were markedly lower, with a very small percentage of students reaching proficiency at both tested grade levels. Compared to other districts in Camden County, the district's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades placed it in the bottom quartile. A parent may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks and what academic interventions are in place.
The district has a reported chronic absenteeism rate that is high, falling in the bottom quartile among Camden County's districts. This rate means a substantial portion of students miss enough school to affect their learning, and it is an area a family might reasonably ask about regarding attendance supports and school culture. The per-pupil spending level is in the middle range but on the higher side among the county's districts, which could reflect the resources directed at the network's programming.
The district's name comes from a partnership with Cooper Health System and the Norcross Foundation, and it operates as a Renaissance school under New Jersey law, a type of public-private partnership charter. Sumner Academy, a new K-5 campus, opened in 2022 in Camden, expanding the network's facilities and adding an elementary option for families within the district.
Because this is a charter district, admission is open through a lottery process, not by residential boundary. A family should confirm application timelines and any preferences for siblings or current students. The district does not have a traditional attendance zone, so the housing market in Camden is not directly tied to enrollment at KIPP. Camden itself is a city with a range of older housing stock and varying neighborhood conditions; a family would need to consider the commute and neighborhood fit separately from school choice.
The data did not include a graduation rate for this district, so no assessment of high school completion is available here. Information on advanced coursework, career pathways, or extracurricular programs was also not provided. The district's single school listing covers all grades, so a family moving through the system would experience the same organizational culture and academic approach from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
See more original research from School Decision →