School 25, Paterson NJ - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on School 25

School 25 is a regular public school in Paterson, New Jersey, serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the Paterson Public School District, a large urban system covering the city. The school’s enrollment is modest for a PK–8 building, and the student body is predominantly Hispanic, with smaller shares of White, Black, and Asian students. A substantial majority of families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the high-poverty context of the community.

On state assessments, School 25’s proficiency rates are low across all tested subjects and grade levels. In math, the share of students scoring proficient hovers at roughly one in six or fewer, with no single grade reaching a level that would be considered adequate by state standards. Reading and language arts results are somewhat higher, particularly in the early and middle grades, but still well below typical state averages. Science results, available for fifth and eighth grades, are similarly low. When compared to other districts in Passaic County, School 25’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. A parent considering this school will want to ask directly about the strategies in place for academic intervention and individualized support, especially in math, where the gap is most pronounced.

The school operates as a standard neighborhood public school; it is not a charter, magnet, or alternative program. Data on special-education enrollment, English learner status, staffing ratios, and discipline are not available in the profile, so a family should request that information from the school or district to get a fuller picture of the learning environment. Because School 25 ends at eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. Students move on to a Paterson high school after completing this program.

Paterson is a dense, historically industrial city that today is home to a diverse immigrant population. It remains one of New Jersey’s largest municipalities and has a poverty rate that is high relative to state averages. The city’s commercial corridors reflect the many ethnic communities that make up its fabric. Housing in the area is priced moderately compared to statewide benchmarks, though affordability is stretched for many families. The Paterson Public School District recently adopted a five-year strategic plan aimed at improving student achievement and post-graduation readiness, and it approved a budget that includes an increase in the property tax levy, the maximum allowed under state caps. These district-level developments signal an effort to address long-standing challenges, though it will take time to see classroom-level effects.

For a family living in Paterson, School 25 is one of many elementary and middle school options within the district. Its test scores are low, consistent with the broader pattern in a high-poverty urban system. What the data cannot tell a parent is the quality of teaching, the school climate, or how well the staff supports students who are behind grade level. Those are questions best answered by visiting the school, talking to the principal, and speaking with other parents. The school’s role as a neighborhood anchor in a dense city means it likely serves a tight geographic community, which can be a benefit for families who value proximity and familiarity.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 315%

School 15% · District 23% · ▼ 8 pts below district

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

Grade 414%

School 14% · District 20% · ▼ 6 pts below district

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

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 15% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 610%

School 10% · District 13% · ▼ 3 pts below district

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

Grade 716%

School 16% · District 14% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 811%

School 11% · District 8% · ▲ 3 pts above district

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

English language arts

Grade 336%

School 36% · District 22% · ▲ 13 pts above district

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

Grade 423%

School 23% · District 27% · ▼ 4 pts below district

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

Grade 518%

School 18% · District 24% · ▼ 6 pts below district

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

Grade 630%

School 30% · District 28% · ▲ 2 pts above district

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

Grade 727%

School 27% · District 30% · ▼ 2 pts below district

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

Grade 836%

School 36% · District 34% · ▲ 3 pts above district

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

Science

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 10% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 1 pts below county median

Grade 87%

School 7% · District 4% · ▲ 3 pts above district

▼ 6 pts below state median · even with county median

This schoolPaterson Public School District, 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-income37%Higher-income30%7 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income14%Higher-income18%4 pp gap