Paterson Public School District, NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Paterson Public School District

The Paterson Public School District is a large, urban PK-12 system serving the city of Paterson in Passaic County, New Jersey. It is one of the state’s biggest districts by enrollment, drawing students from a densely populated, culturally vibrant community. The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with Black students and Asian students each forming a meaningful share, and a small White population. Economic data for the district was not reported in the available records, but the high concentration of students from historically underserved backgrounds is evident in the academic and attendance patterns that follow.

On state assessments, which are the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments, student performance across math, English language arts, and science falls well below statewide benchmarks. In every tested grade from third through eighth, proficiency rates in math are low, with a steep drop-off by eighth grade. English language arts results are somewhat higher but still well below the midpoint of what the state considers proficient. Science results in fifth and eighth grade also show a small share of students meeting the standard. When compared with other districts in Passaic County, Paterson’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits in the bottom quartile. This pattern signals considerable academic challenges, and a family considering the district would want to ask about targeted support for core subjects, intervention programs, and how the district plans to lift achievement.

Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern. The rate reported here is notably high, and among county districts Paterson falls in the bottom quartile on this metric—meaning a substantial portion of students miss enough school to affect learning. Parents should investigate what attendance initiatives the district runs and how schools work with families to address barriers.

Per-pupil current spending is in the middle-to-upper range among Passaic County districts. That suggests the district invests a solid amount per student relative to its neighbors, though spending alone does not guarantee outcomes.

Housing in the Paterson area is moderately priced relative to the wider New Jersey market. The district’s weighted home value falls below the state median, and rents are likewise more affordable than in many parts of the region. The local housing market shows signs of steady demand: active listings have grown, and homes are selling fairly quickly. For a family moving to Paterson, housing costs are a relative advantage, but the school system’s low academic attainment metrics may be a factor in that affordability.

The district has recently adopted a new five-year strategic plan for 2025 through 2030, publicly reported to focus on improving student achievement and post-graduation readiness. This plan will guide curriculum and programming for years to come. In May 2025, the school board approved a budget that includes a tax levy increase at the maximum allowed under a state waiver, which directly affects property taxes for residents. The budget’s size reflects the scale of the district and its ongoing needs.

Graduation rate data was not available in the provided information, so a family would need to ask the district directly about how many students finish high school in four years and what supports are in place to keep them on track.

The district operates many school buildings across Paterson, including elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, as well as specialized academies and early learning centers. The breadth of the system means there is variation from school to school. A parent or resident should look closely at individual school profiles—test results, programs, and climate—rather than treating the district as a single block. The chronic absenteeism and proficiency gaps are district-wide realities, but some schools may offer stronger pathways, such as the STEAM high school, the P-TECH early college program, or dual-language offerings that are common in a city with many English learners.

Overall, the Paterson Public School District serves a large, diverse, and economically varied community with significant academic and attendance challenges. The new strategic plan signals a deliberate effort to address those challenges, but results are not yet visible in the available data. For a family, this is a district where careful school-level selection and close engagement with the classroom experience would be essential.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

24,692

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 72%

Black 17%

White 5%

Asian 6%

Two+ 0%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

23%

21%

Gr 4

27%

30%

Gr 5

23%

27%

Gr 6

28%

Gr 7

30%

28%

Gr 8

34%

32%

Math

Gr 3

24%

21%

Gr 4

21%

17%

Gr 5

15%

18%

Gr 6

13%

12%

Gr 7

14%

12%

Gr 8

Science

Gr 5

13%

Gr 8

Schools in this District

44 schools are officially reported under this district.

Alexander Hamilton Academy

International High School

Students Transitioning and Achieving Real Success

New Roberto Clemente

Paterson STEAM High School

Paterson P-TECH High School

Alternative High School

John F. Kennedy High School

Joseph A. Taub School

Young Men's Academy

Dr. Hani Awadallah School

School 16

Anna Iandoli Early Learning Center

Rev. Dr. Frank Napier Jr. School

School 5

Senator Frank Lautenberg School

School 7

School 8

Charles J. Riley/ School 9

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex

Norman S. Weir

Rosa L. Parks School of Fine and Performing Arts

School 29

School 1

Newcomers High School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

23%

Grade 3

20%

Grade 4

15%

Grade 5

13%

Grade 6

14%

Grade 7

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

22%

Grade 3

27%

Grade 4

24%

Grade 5

28%

Grade 6

30%

Grade 7

34%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

10%

Grade 5

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$520,484

Year-over-year change+4.1%

Range across 9 ZIP codes$459K to $633K

vs. state typical0.91x

vs. national typical1.41x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (9 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
07501	Paterson	$459K	-0.4%	21.4%
07503	Paterson	$549K	+9.8%	18.4%
07514	Paterson	$533K	+4.2%	11.0%
07522	Paterson	$476K	+2.2%	10.4%
07502	Paterson	$536K	+3.9%	10.2%
07504	Paterson	$572K	+4.5%	9.9%
07524	Paterson	$526K	+3.0%	9.0%
07513	Paterson	$579K	+6.7%	6.8%
07508	North Haledon	$633K	+6.5%	0.0%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$2,015/mo

Year-over-year change+5.3%

Range across 4 ZIP codes$1,943 to $2,619/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (4 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
07501	Paterson	$1,943	+7.4%	21.4%
07514	Paterson	$2,155	—	11.0%
07522	Paterson	$2,014	+1.0%	10.4%
07508	North Haledon	$2,619	+0.7%	0.0%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,626/mo

Home price / national median income6.2x

Annual rent / national median income28.9%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$611/mo

Market Activity: Passaic County

Median listing price$558,500

Median listing price YoY+1.6%

Median price per sq ft$320

Median price per sq ft YoY+0.3%

Median days on market24.3 days

Median days on market YoY+5.4%

Active listings561

Active listings YoY+29.6%

New listings388

New listings YoY+15.5%

Pending listings322

Pending listings YoY+2.5%

Hotness: median listing price$554,222

Hotness: median listing price YoY+8.4%

Supply score98.2

Supply score YoY+0.3%

Demand score74.8

Demand score YoY-10.1%

Median listing price (12 months)

Median price per sq ft (12 months)

Median days on market (12 months)

Active listings (12 months)

New listings (12 months)

Pending listings (12 months)

Hotness: median listing price (12 months)

Supply score (12 months)

Demand score (12 months)

Comparison

State typical home value$571,373 (+3.4% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.