Best Public Schools in Paterson, NJ

The city of Paterson, New Jersey is home to 45 schools, including 31 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 9 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. The schools in this district serve a diverse student population and span a wide range of performance levels, with some standout high-performing schools as well as many low-performing schools.

A few schools stand out as high-performing, including School 28, which ranked 1st out of 1,342 New Jersey elementary schools and received a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. This school had exceptional test scores, with 100% proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Another strong performer is Norman S. Weir, which ranked 854th out of 1,342 New Jersey elementary schools and received a 2-star rating. In contrast, many Paterson schools struggle with very low proficiency rates and high chronic absenteeism, highlighting the stark performance disparities within the district.

The Paterson Public School District as a whole faces significant challenges, ranking 573rd out of 615 districts in New Jersey and receiving a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. However, the data does point to a few bright spots, such as the high-performing Paterson Arts and Science Charter School, which had a 98.2% four-year graduation rate and a 0% dropout rate. These success stories could provide valuable insights and best practices for the rest of the district as it works to address the equity concerns and improve outcomes for all students.