The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on College Achieve Central Charter School
College Achieve Central Charter School operates as a single-campus district serving kindergarten through twelfth grade in Union County, New Jersey. As a charter school, it is a public school that families choose to attend, drawing students from across a county that includes a mix of older suburbs, dense urban communities, and industrial corridors. The school enrolls a large student body for a single-site charter, with balanced grade cohorts from the early elementary years through high school. The student population is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with a substantial Black minority and very small numbers of white, Asian, 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, a notable gap for families weighing support resources.
On state assessments, the school presents a mixed academic picture. In English language arts, performance is a clear strength. Across every tested grade from third through eighth, a majority of students scored at the proficient level or above, with the highest share in eighth grade. Those results position the school above the midpoint among Union County’s districts on an overall proficiency index that averages performance across tested subjects and grades. The story in math is more challenging. Proficiency rates are lower across all grades, with the highest in third grade and the lowest in seventh grade, where roughly one in five students met the bar. Science results, tested in fifth and eighth grades, are very low, with a small minority of students reaching proficiency. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports are in place, especially in math and science, and whether the pattern reflects the school’s approach to curriculum and instruction.
The school’s chronic absenteeism rate sits below the midpoint among Union County’s districts, meaning it is higher than the typical district in the county, a soft spot that can affect learning continuity. Per-pupil current spending is in the middle range on the lower side among the county’s districts, consistent with a charter school’s typically leaner per-student funding compared to traditional public districts.
A graduation rate was not reported in the available data, so it is not possible to assess how well the high school program carries students to a diploma. Families considering this option should ask the school directly about its four-year graduation rate and postsecondary outcomes.
The school’s district-level profile includes no recent public reports of major program changes, leadership transitions, or facility expansions that would shift the day-to-day experience for families. The available information consists of general enrollment and historical facility data, nothing that would indicate a significant disruption or new direction in the near term.
For a family considering College Achieve Central Charter School, the central takeaway is a school where English language arts performance is a consistent bright spot across the elementary and middle grades, but where math and science proficiency lag notably. The charter setting means families must actively apply and secure a seat through a lottery process, and the student body is heavily Hispanic and Black, which is characteristic of the surrounding county’s demographics. The missing data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner services leaves an incomplete picture of the student support load, and the elevated chronic absenteeism rate is worth discussing with school staff to understand what factors drive it and how the school responds.
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