Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton, Clifton NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton

The Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton is a public charter school serving grades 5 through 8, drawing students from across Clifton and surrounding areas through a lottery-based admissions process. It is a single-school charter district, meaning it operates as its own standalone district rather than being part of the larger Clifton Public Schools system. This is the full middle school experience; there is no high school component, so there is no graduation rate to report.

The school has a small enrollment, and the student body is diverse. Hispanic or Latino students make up a majority of the student population, with white students the next largest group, followed by a smaller Asian student presence. The shares of Black students and students of two or more races are very small, and the share of American Indian or Alaska Native students is also very small. 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 in the state data provided.

The school is located in the Main Avenue area of Clifton, a dense North Jersey suburb about a 30-minute drive from Midtown Manhattan. Clifton is crisscrossed by major highways, has two NJ Transit train stations, and is a regional commercial hub in its own right. The Main Mall area serves as a de facto downtown. Families considering the charter school should also know that the school recently underwent a significant expansion. In the 2024-2025 school year, it added grade 5 to what had previously been a 6-8 middle school, a move approved by the state. This made the school a full 5-8 program and increased its total enrollment.

On state assessments in the most recent testing year, the school showed a pattern that varies notably by grade. In English language arts, performance climbed with each successive grade. The share of students meeting proficiency was lowest in grade 5 and rose steadily, reaching its highest point in grade 8. That 8th grade result is a strength for the school and stands out as the strongest subject-area result across all tested grades and subjects. In math, results were more varied: performance was higher in grades 6 and 7 but dropped in grade 5 and again in grade 8. Science results were the school's softest area, with the share of students meeting the state's science proficiency standard being notably low in both tested grades (5 and 8). A parent may want to ask the school about its math and science curricula, particularly how it supports students in those subjects across the middle school transition.

When compared with other school districts within Passaic County, the school's overall proficiency rate across all tested subjects and grades places it below the midpoint of the group. That county-level comparison includes the large, traditional public school districts in cities like Paterson and Passaic as well as wealthier suburban districts, so the range is wide. The school's own internal data shows that its strongest performance is concentrated in the upper grades and in English language arts, which suggests a particular academic pathway for families to evaluate.

The housing market in the school's ZIP code area shows home values and rents that are above the national median, consistent with Clifton's position as a commuter-heavy suburb of New York City. The school does not provide transportation, meaning families are responsible for getting their child to and from school each day, which is typical for charter schools.

Overall, Classical Academy Charter School of Clifton provides a small, lottery-entry public middle school option in a suburban commuter city. Its academic profile is strongest in its 8th grade English language arts performance, while math and especially science results are areas where prospective families will want to understand the school's approach and support structure. The recent addition of grade 5 is a meaningful change for Clifton families, as it now offers an earlier entry point and a continuous middle school experience through 8th grade.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 19%

▼ 24 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 639%

School 39% · District 39%

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 23 pts above county median

Grade 748%

School 48% · District 48%

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 28 pts above county median

Grade 828%

School 28% · District 28%

▲ 11 pts above state median · ▲ 13 pts above county median

English language arts

Grade 525%

School 25% · District 25%

▼ 29 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 652%

School 52% · District 52%

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▲ 14 pts above county median

Grade 752%

School 52% · District 52%

▼ 5 pts below state median · ▲ 8 pts above county median

Grade 864%

School 64% · District 64%

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 16 pts above county median

Science

Grade 519%

School 19% · District 19%

▼ 8 pts below state median · ▲ 4 pts above county median

Grade 812%

School 12% · District 12%

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▲ 5 pts above county median

This schoolClassical Academy Charter School of Clifton, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income40%Higher-income58%18 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income43%Higher-income58%15 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income55%Higher-income69%15 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income35%Higher-income42%7 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income48%Higher-income49%1 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income13%Higher-income40%28 pp gap