Dr. Charles P. Defuccio School, Jersey City NJ

Original Research by School Decision on Dr. Charles P. Defuccio School

Dr. Charles P. DeFuccio School is a regular public school in Jersey City, part of the Jersey City Public Schools district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It sits within a city that is among the most densely populated and ethnically diverse in the United States, a place where a major financial waterfront nicknamed “Wall Street West” sits alongside older residential neighborhoods like the Heights, Journal Square, and the West Side. The school itself is located on Plainfield Avenue in the western part of the city, an area with a mix of repurposed industrial buildings and low-rise streets.

The school’s enrollment is modest for a pre-K through eighth grade building. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economically diverse population the school serves. The student body is primarily Black and Hispanic, each group making up roughly similar proportions, with smaller shares of White and Asian students and a very small number of students from other backgrounds. Data on special education and English learner populations was not available in the provided information, so a family would want to ask the school directly about those supports.

Academically, the school’s performance on New Jersey state assessments is low when compared to other districts in Hudson County. The overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places the school in the bottom quartile among the county’s twenty-eight districts. In math, proficiency rates are very low across all tested grades, with only a small fraction of students meeting standards in grades three through eight. English language arts results are somewhat stronger, with higher proficiency rates in grades four and eight, but still well below where a majority of students meet the bar. Science assessment results are also very low. A parent considering this school may want to investigate what academic interventions and supports are in place and how the school is working to raise achievement.

The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Likewise, data on chronic absenteeism and discipline were not provided. The Jersey City district has recently launched a new initiative called “Mission Forward” aimed at improving test scores, graduation readiness, student behavior, and social media awareness. That district-wide effort may influence the school’s direction, but no specific details for Dr. Charles P. DeFuccio School were available.

Housing in the area around the school is expensive, with home values and rents well above national averages, and the city has experienced rapid population growth and waterfront redevelopment that has driven up costs. The city’s transit connections to Manhattan via PATH trains, NJ Transit buses, and ferries make it a commuter hub, and its neighborhoods offer walkable commercial corridors. For families living in the western part of Jersey City, this school is a neighborhood option that serves a wide age range through eighth grade, but the academic results suggest that families should look carefully at whether the school’s current performance matches their expectations and inquire about the specific programs and supports available for their child.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 319%

School 19% · District 46% · ▼ 27 pts below district

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

Grade 415%

School 15% · District 38% · ▼ 23 pts below district

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

Grade 53%

School 3% · District 36% · ▼ 33 pts below district

▼ 40 pts below state median · ▼ 31 pts below county median

Grade 612%

School 12% · District 28% · ▼ 16 pts below district

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

Grade 713%

School 13% · District 32% · ▼ 19 pts below district

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

Grade 87%

School 7% · District 9% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

English language arts

Grade 329%

School 29% · District 47% · ▼ 18 pts below district

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

Grade 441%

School 41% · District 49% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

Grade 522%

School 22% · District 44% · ▼ 22 pts below district

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

Grade 629%

School 29% · District 47% · ▼ 17 pts below district

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

Grade 727%

School 27% · District 49% · ▼ 22 pts below district

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

Grade 842%

School 42% · District 45% · ▼ 3 pts below district

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

Science

Grade 53%

School 3% · District 24% · ▼ 21 pts below district

▼ 25 pts below state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

Grade 84%

School 4% · District 12% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

This schoolJersey City Public Schools, 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

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income4%Higher-income0%4 pp gap