The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on People's Achieve Community Charter School
People’s Achieve Community Charter School is a single-school charter district in Newark, operating as its own local education authority. It serves students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, having expanded in recent years from a K-8 model to a full K-12 continuum, a publicly reported change that gives families in the city a continuous charter pathway from kindergarten to graduation. The school has a single campus and is open by enrollment application rather than residential assignment.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a sizeable Hispanic population and a very small number of white, Asian, and multiracial students. The school serves about the enrollment you would expect for a single-site charter covering all grades, with roughly even distribution across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Information 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 in the data; a parent may want to ask the school directly about these support structures.
On state assessments, results vary noticeably by grade and subject. In mathematics, proficiency in third and fourth grades was moderate, with roughly half of students meeting the state benchmark in third grade and a somewhat smaller share in fourth. Beginning in fifth grade, math proficiency dropped off steeply, with very low rates through eighth grade. English language arts showed a different pattern. Fourth, sixth, and eighth graders had the strongest results, with roughly half of students scoring proficient on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment. Third and seventh graders were lower, and fifth graders had the weakest ELA performance among tested grades. Science results, which are tested in fifth and eighth grades, were very low, with only a small fraction of students reaching proficiency in either grade.
Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile among Essex County’s districts. The strongest area is upper-elementary and middle-school reading, while math and science present clear challenges. A family considering this school may want to ask how the school supports students who are below grade level in math and what interventions are in place for the upper grades.
Because the data did not include a graduation rate, chronic absenteeism data, per-pupil spending, or disciplinary records, a complete picture of school climate and high school outcomes is not possible from the available information. The school’s website was not provided in the data, so course offerings, Advanced Placement or dual-enrollment programs, and extracurriculars could not be reviewed. For a charter that now serves through twelfth grade, these are important details a family would want to investigate directly.
The setting is Newark, New Jersey’s largest city, within Essex County. Newark offers a dense urban environment with public transportation, cultural institutions, and a range of housing options from historic districts to newer developments. The charter school draws from across the city, so the commute will depend on where a family lives.
For a family seeking a single school that can take a child from kindergarten through high school within one community, People’s Achieve Community Charter School offers that continuity. The academic profile is mixed, with reading as a relative bright spot in the middle grades and math and science as areas where parents will want to understand the school’s approach to improvement. The lack of public data on high school graduation rates, spending, and discipline means a family should plan a visit and ask pointed questions about what the high school experience looks like and what outcomes the school can point to for its seniors.
See more original research from School Decision →