Middle Schools in Jersey City Public Schools

The Jersey City Public Schools district is home to 4 middle schools, serving students in grades 6-8. These schools vary significantly in their academic performance, with Academy I standing out as the top-performing school in the district and Ezra L. Nolan School being the lowest-performing. Academy I is ranked 18th out of 748 New Jersey middle schools and has a 5-star rating, while Ezra L. Nolan is ranked 717th and has a 0-star rating.

The academic gap between these schools is stark. At Academy I, over 80% of students are proficient or better in English Language Arts, and nearly 90% are proficient or better in math. In contrast, at Ezra L. Nolan, only 13-25% of students are proficient in ELA, and just 1-4% are proficient in math. This disparity is likely exacerbated by Ezra L. Nolan's high chronic absenteeism rate of 48%, well above the district average of 22.1%.

The schools also differ in their student demographics and socioeconomic factors. Jersey City Public Schools serve a diverse population, and this is reflected in the varying racial compositions and free/reduced lunch rates across the middle schools. Academy I has a higher percentage of Asian and white students, as well as a lower free/reduced lunch rate, compared to the other schools. Addressing these inequities and ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education should be a priority for the district.