The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Link Community Charter School
Link Community Charter School is a K-8 charter school in Newark, serving students from Newark and several surrounding communities. It is a single-school district, meaning the school and the district are the same entity. The school recently completed a multi-year expansion from a middle school to a full K-8 program, now operating across two campuses in the city. This expansion, publicly reported, gives families a full kindergarten-through-eighth-grade charter option where previously only middle grades were available.
The school serves a student body that is predominantly Black, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and very small numbers of students from other racial backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is a charter school, which means it is publicly funded but operates independently of the Newark Public Schools district, with its own board and admissions lottery. It draws students from Newark and several surrounding communities.
On state assessments, the school's performance presents a mixed picture that varies by subject and grade level. In English language arts, the school shows a clear strength in the upper grades. Students in grades six, seven, and eight met or exceeded proficiency expectations at rates that are notably higher than the school's own lower grades and well above the school's math results. This is a genuine academic strength for the school. In math, the picture is different. Proficiency rates are lower across all tested grades, and they decline as students move up, with the highest rates in third grade and the lowest in eighth grade. Science results are also low, particularly in eighth grade. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the math and science curriculum and how the school supports students in those subjects as they progress.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. The school's overall proficiency index, which averages results across tested subjects and grades, places it below the midpoint relative to other districts in Essex County. This is a straightforward statement of position, not a judgment; the school's own data shows a clear split between stronger English language arts performance in the upper grades and weaker math and science results.
The school is a charter school, which means it is a public school of choice. Families apply through a lottery. The school draws students from Newark and several surrounding communities, including Irvington, Orange, and East Orange. The school's two campuses are both in Newark, a dense, mixed-use city that is New Jersey's most populous and a major employment center. Newark is a city of distinct wards, with a downtown core of office towers, universities, and cultural institutions, and residential neighborhoods that vary in character. The city has seen significant revitalization investment since the 1990s and its population has rebounded from a post-war low.
Housing in the school's zip code area is priced below the state median, with home values that have seen a modest decline recently. Rents are slightly above the national median but below the state median. The national unemployment rate and mortgage rates are at levels that shape the broader housing market context.
The school's enrollment is small for a K-8 school. The student body is overwhelmingly Black, with a much smaller Hispanic population and very small numbers of students from other racial backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source data.
Because the school serves only grades K-8, there is no high school graduation rate to report. The school's overall proficiency index, which averages results across tested subjects and grades, places it below the midpoint among districts in Essex County. This is a straightforward positional statement. The school's own data shows a clear pattern: English language arts proficiency is a strength in grades six through eight, where a majority of students meet or exceed expectations. In the lower elementary grades, ELA proficiency is lower. Math proficiency is lower across all grades and declines as students get older. Science proficiency is low in both tested grades, with a very small share of eighth graders meeting the standard. A parent considering this school will want to understand how the school addresses math and science instruction, particularly in the middle grades, and how it supports students who arrive below grade level.
The school is a charter school, so enrollment is by lottery. It draws from Newark and several nearby communities. The school's recent expansion to a full K-8 program means it now offers a continuous educational pathway through eighth grade, which may be a practical advantage for families seeking a single school through the middle grades. Because the school does not serve high school, families will need to plan for a high school transition after eighth grade. The school's two campuses are both in Newark, a dense, transit-connected city with a strong downtown core, major universities, and a large employment base. Housing in the area is priced below the state median.}}
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