Leap Academy University Charter School, Camden NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Leap Academy University Charter School

Leap Academy University Charter School is a K-12 public charter school located in downtown Camden, serving students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is a regular school operating under a charter, meaning families choose to enroll their children here rather than through their neighborhood assignment. The school is part of a single-school district, and publicly reported district-level changes are sparse.

The student body is large for a single school, serving a population that is predominantly Hispanic, with a substantial Black student presence and very few white, Asian, or multiracial students. A large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the high poverty rate of the city. The school's demographics are characteristic of Camden's urban core, where the economy has shifted from manufacturing to healthcare and education, but poverty remains a persistent challenge.

On state assessments, proficiency rates are low across the board. In math, the share of students meeting grade-level standards is in the single digits or low teens in most tested grades, with a notable dip in eighth grade. English language arts performance is more varied: third and fourth grade proficiency is modest, but sixth grade shows a stronger result, with over half of students scoring at the proficient level. Seventh grade is also above the elementary grades, though still below a majority. Eighth grade ELA returns to a lower level. Science results are very weak in both fifth and eighth grade. When compared to other districts in Camden County, the school's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile, a clear signal that academic achievement is an area of concern for families to weigh.

No graduation rate is available in the data, which may reflect that the school serves all grades but the measure was not reported or applicable in this cycle. Chronic absenteeism data, as well as counts of students with disabilities and English learners, are also missing. A parent considering the school should ask directly about these supports and outcomes.

The school is situated in a dense, urban environment. Camden is a small post-industrial city connected to Philadelphia by the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Its downtown contains major institutions such as Rutgers University–Camden, Cooper University Hospital, and Rowan University, giving the area a campus-like feel with civic and medical anchors. The waterfront has been a focus of redevelopment, with tourist attractions and corporate headquarters, but the city's population has continued to decline slowly. Housing in the zip code is affordable relative to New Jersey and national benchmarks, and rents are moderate, reflecting the area's economic challenges.

Leap Academy is a school of choice in a city with deep economic need. The academic data show a student body that, on average, is not yet meeting grade-level standards, with some bright spots in middle school ELA. Families who value a diverse, urban setting and who are prepared to engage with the school about its academic support and student outcomes will want to explore further.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

>=95%Cohort of 98 students · Class of 2021

The federal source publishes a banded range instead of an exact rate when the graduating cohort is small enough that an exact number could risk identifying individual students.

How this school compares to all schools in this state

Each dot is one school’s SY 2020-21 graduation rate, binned by integer rate. Taller columns mean more schools at that rate. This school is highlighted.

425 schools plotted. 7 additional schools' rates are federally suppressed and not shown. Data: EDFacts SY 2020-21.

Math

Grade 334%

School 34% · District 34%

▼ 16 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 46%

School 6% · District 6%

▼ 40 pts below state median · ▼ 35 pts below county median

Grade 518%

School 18% · District 18%

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 67%

School 7% · District 7%

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 713%

School 13% · District 13%

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

Grade 83%

School 3% · District 3%

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 322%

School 22% · District 22%

▼ 23 pts below state median · ▼ 18 pts below county median

Grade 423%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 32 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 536%

School 36% · District 36%

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

Grade 655%

School 55% · District 55%

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 10 pts above county median

Grade 744%

School 44% · District 44%

▼ 13 pts below state median · even with county median

Grade 826%

School 26% · District 26%

▼ 32 pts below state median · ▼ 26 pts below county median

Science

Grade 57%

School 7% · District 7%

▼ 20 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 81%

School 1% · District 1%

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

This schoolLEAP Academy University Charter School, 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 3Lower-income22%Higher-income21%1 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income23%Higher-income23%0 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income34%Higher-income46%12 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income58%Higher-income44%14 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income45%Higher-income40%5 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income27%Higher-income21%6 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income36%Higher-income21%15 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income6%Higher-income4%2 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income18%Higher-income19%2 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income7%Higher-income4%4 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income14%Higher-income9%5 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income4%Higher-income0%4 pp gap