Foundation Academy Charter School, Trenton NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Foundation Academy Charter School

Foundation Academy Charter School is a K through 12 public charter school in Trenton, the state capital of New Jersey. It operates as its own school district, meaning it is a single-school charter entity rather than part of the larger Trenton Public Schools system. For families seeking a choice option in the city that lets a student stay in one building from kindergarten through high school, this school provides that continuity.

The student body is almost entirely composed of Black and Hispanic students, with very small numbers of white, Asian, and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high-poverty context. No data was available on the share of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how it serves those populations. The enrollment is sizable for a single school and draws from across Trenton.

Academically, the picture is mixed and varies sharply by subject and grade. English language arts results are stronger, particularly in the middle grades, where proficiency reaches a level that stands out as a positive point. Math results are lower across most tested grades, and by eighth grade the proportion of students meeting the state’s proficiency benchmark is very small. Science results also come in low in the grades tested. That said, when compared against all districts in Mercer County, the school’s overall proficiency index falls above the midpoint, meaning it is not an outlier on the low end in its region. The school’s relatively stronger reading scores may be a draw for families who see that as a foundation.

State testing data for high school grades was not available in the materials reviewed, so there is no read on how students perform on the state assessments in grades 9 through 12 or on the graduation rate. Those are gaps a family would want to explore by visiting the school and asking about its track record with college readiness, Advanced Placement or dual-credit offerings, and postsecondary outcomes. The school’s academic program beyond the tested elementary and middle school subjects is not detailed in the available data.

Trenton itself is a dense, transit-rich city. It is the seat of state government, and state employment dominates the local economy. The city has three commuter rail systems, a downtown core along the Delaware River, and a mix of historic neighborhoods and government complexes. For a family living in Trenton, the school is a within-city option that avoids a suburban commute. The city’s population has grown modestly in recent years, and there has been some promotion of transit-oriented development, but the housing market details for the school’s attendance area were not part of the data.

The school’s status as a charter means it has its own governance board and is not bound by all the same policies as the traditional district schools in Trenton. A parent considering this school should also investigate the school’s discipline approach, extracurricular offerings, and any special programs for students who need academic support, since none of that was captured in the available information. With a K through 12 structure and a peer environment that reflects the city’s demographics, Foundation Academy offers a single-pathway option in an urban capital setting, but the academic data suggests that math and science outcomes in the middle grades are areas where a family may want to ask pointed questions.

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Academic performance

State test results and graduation outcomes.

Graduation rate (ACGR)

90-94%Cohort of 74 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 346%

School 46% · District 46%

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

Grade 428%

School 28% · District 28%

▼ 18 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 532%

School 32% · District 32%

▼ 11 pts below state median · ▼ 3 pts below county median

Grade 616%

School 16% · District 16%

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 723%

School 23% · District 23%

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Grade 82%

School 2% · District 2%

▼ 15 pts below state median · ▼ 10 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 346%

School 46% · District 46%

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Grade 439%

School 39% · District 39%

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

Grade 542%

School 42% · District 42%

▼ 12 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 662%

School 62% · District 62%

▲ 8 pts above state median · ▲ 18 pts above county median

Grade 748%

School 48% · District 48%

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

Grade 848%

School 48% · District 48%

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▲ 3 pts above county median

Science

Grade 511%

School 11% · District 11%

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 86%

School 6% · District 6%

▼ 7 pts below state median · ▼ 5 pts below county median

This schoolFoundation Academy 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-income43%Higher-income70%27 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income39%Higher-income40%1 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income43%Higher-income40%3 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income59%Higher-income82%23 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income46%Higher-income60%14 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income41%Higher-income80%39 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income25%Higher-income50%25 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income36%Higher-income0%36 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income13%Higher-income36%23 pp gap