Essex County Schools of Technology

The Essex County Schools of Technology district in New Jersey operates three high schools: Essex County Donald M. Payne Senior School of Technology, Essex County Newark Technical, and Essex County West Caldwell Technical. These schools serve a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population, with high percentages of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.

Among the three schools, Essex County Donald M. Payne Senior School of Technology stands out as the highest-ranked, placing 148th out of 426 New Jersey high schools. This school has the strongest academic performance, with the highest test scores across various NJSLA assessments and a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 12.4. Essex County West Caldwell Technical is the second-highest ranked, with a student-teacher ratio of 8.8 and the highest spending per student at $13,110.

Despite the differences in performance, the three schools within the Essex County Schools of Technology district exhibit relatively consistent metrics, such as a 91.1% four-year graduation rate and a 1.2% dropout rate. However, all three schools face challenges with chronic absenteeism, which is higher than the state average at 16.6%. The district's focus on addressing these areas of improvement, while building on the strengths of its standout schools, could lead to enhanced educational outcomes for all students.