Original Research by School Decision on Newark Sch of Data Science and Information Technology
The Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology is a career-themed public high school in the Newark Public School District, focused on data science and IT pathways. It serves grades nine through eleven, meaning it has not yet graduated a senior class. The school is one of several new specialized high schools the district has launched in recent years, part of a deliberate expansion of school-choice options within Newark. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and is open to students in the city through the district’s enrollment process.
The student body is predominantly Black and Hispanic, reflecting Newark’s demographics, with a substantial majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is relatively small for an urban high school, with an enrollment that supports focused instruction in its named field. Information on special education and English learner populations was not available in the data, so a parent with a child who receives those services would want to ask the school directly about supports and staffing.
State assessment results are not available for this school, and no proficiency data appears in the records. That is not unusual for a newly established school or one that has not yet been tested across a full grade span, but it does mean that families cannot compare academic performance using the typical metrics. Similarly, because the school does not yet serve grade twelve, there is no four-year graduation rate to report. Parents evaluating academic outcomes here will need to rely on conversations with the school and any school-level reports the district provides.
The district itself received a notable designation in mid-2026 when the New Jersey Department of Education declared Newark Public Schools a High Performing District, a milestone after years of state oversight that ended several years earlier. That designation speaks to district-wide improvement in operations and academics, and it gives families some context for the system in which this school operates. The district is also running a strategic plan called “The Next Decade: 2020-30,” signaling long-term goals.
Newark is a dense, mixed-use city and the most populous in New Jersey. The school is located in the city’s South Ward. Newark has a strong transit network, including bus and light rail lines, multiple train stations, and proximity to Newark Liberty International Airport and the port. Major employers headquartered in the city include Prudential Financial, PSEG, Panasonic, and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the downtown area is home to large office complexes and university campuses including Rutgers-Newark and NJIT. The city’s housing market reflects its urban character: home values and rents are moderate relative to the broader region, and the market shows a mix of active listings and pending sales at a pace that suggests steady demand.
For a family considering this school, the core appeal is the career-focused curriculum in data science and information technology at a time when those fields are growing. The absence of test scores and graduation data means the school’s academic track record is not yet established in the public record. A parent may want to visit, speak with teachers and administrators about course offerings, and ask about how the school prepares students for college or careers after grade twelve. The school’s placement within a district that has recently earned a high-performing designation adds a layer of reassurance, but the school itself is still building its reputation.
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