Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Summary:

Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School is an elementary school in Jersey City, New Jersey, serving 380 students from kindergarten to 8th grade. The school faces significant challenges, with a student population that is predominantly African American, consistently low academic performance, and high rates of chronic absenteeism.

Compared to the surrounding public schools, such as Joseph H. Brensinger School, Rev. Dr. Ercel F. Webb School, and Chaplain Charles Watters School, which also struggle academically, Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School's performance is particularly concerning. The school consistently ranks in the bottom quartile of New Jersey elementary schools, with its students, especially African American and special education students, performing significantly below state averages. Additionally, the school's chronic absenteeism rate has steadily increased, reaching 37.1% in the 2021-2022 school year, which is much higher than the state average.

Despite the school's relatively high per-student spending and low student-teacher ratio, the issues at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School appear to be more complex than just a lack of resources. The school's challenges likely stem from a combination of socioeconomic factors, ineffective resource allocation, and the need for a comprehensive improvement plan to address the root causes of the school's struggles and provide a high-quality education for all its students. As part of the Jersey City Public Schools district, which is ranked 567 out of 615 districts in New Jersey, the school's performance reflects the broader challenges facing the district and the need for systemic change to support the academic success of all students.


Detail:

Public, Charter K-8

 509 Bramhall Ave.
       Jersey City, NJ  07304


(201) 433-5300

District: Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

SchoolDigger Rank:
1131st of 1,342 New Jersey Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,336 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  14.0 Help
Number of students:  380

Racial breakdown:

African American:
83.4%
Hispanic:
15.3%
Asian:
0.8%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  75.3% Help


 See top rated New Jersey elementary schools

 Compare Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School ranks worse than 84.3% of elementary schools in New Jersey. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 16.66. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School ranks worse than 82% of middle schools in New Jersey. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 18.62. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (83.4%), Hispanic (15.3%), Asian (0.8%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 75.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School is 14. (See more...)
Help
Compare Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School employs 27 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School is $10,336.
Schooldigger 2023 Rankings:

Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School 1131st of 1342 New Jersey public elementary schools. (See Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:

SchoolDigger ranks Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School 613th of 748 New Jersey public middle schools. (See Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Special Education students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:


Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School:

SchoolDigger ranks Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School 567th of 615 New Jersey school districts. (See district ranking list.)


What do you think?

Your rating for Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School?

Rank History for Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Help
Compare

Rank History for all elementary school students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2014 8.62 1254th 1363 8.0%
2015 11.74 1220th 1357 10.1%
2016 12.78 1189th 1346 11.7%
2017 12.36 1191st 1352 11.9%
2018 7.13 1275th 1353 5.8%
2019 13.81 1187th 1360 12.7%
2021 24.60 943rd 1317 28.4%
2022 13.20 1187th 1345 11.7%
2023 16.66 1131st 1342 15.7%
See the entire list of New Jersey Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for elementary school Special Education students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 19.80 803rd 1007 20.3%
2021 12.29 837th 868 3.6%
2022 23.57 706th 949 25.6%
2023 15.93 844th 958 11.9%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for elementary school Low Socio Economic Status students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 24.71 716th 948 24.5%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for elementary school Female students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 6.26 1261st 1333 5.4%
2019 15.23 1154th 1331 13.3%
2021 23.43 973rd 1290 24.6%
2022 15.22 1124th 1326 15.2%
2023 15.43 1118th 1318 15.2%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for elementary school Male students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 9.94 1215th 1334 8.9%
2019 13.33 1163rd 1335 12.9%
2021 25.92 901st 1297 30.5%
2022 13.70 1150th 1324 13.1%
2023 22.39 1013th 1315 23.0%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for elementary school African American students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 27.65 375th 517 27.5%
2019 37.25 350th 522 33.0%
2021 40.41 264th 456 42.1%
2022 30.43 363rd 494 26.5%
2023 36.79 298th 463 35.6%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: New Jersey Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Help
Compare

Rank History for all middle school students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2014 21.47 573rd 717 20.1%
2015 28.56 515th 713 27.8%
2016 19.04 587th 713 17.7%
2017 23.59 543rd 712 23.7%
2018 21.11 586th 716 18.2%
2019 35.23 491st 745 34.1%
2021 32.09 413th 652 36.7%
2022 19.12 603rd 745 19.1%
2023 18.62 613th 748 18.0%
See the entire list of New Jersey Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for middle school Special Education students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 18.82 476th 505 5.7%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for middle school Low Socio Economic Status students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 50.10 243rd 541 55.1%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for middle school Female students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.40 578th 680 15.0%
2019 32.15 499th 703 29.0%
2021 39.07 349th 625 44.2%
2022 23.04 560th 726 22.9%
2023 23.16 548th 720 23.9%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for middle school Male students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.51 496th 675 26.5%
2019 39.77 430th 697 38.3%
2021 25.64 440th 635 30.7%
2022 15.89 623rd 730 14.7%
2023 14.49 642nd 718 10.6%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for middle school African American students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools NJ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 42.02 178th 326 45.4%
2019 65.07 85th 326 73.9%
2021 57.43 74th 291 74.6%
2022 39.25 209th 356 41.3%
2023 35.10 236th 361 34.6%
See the entire list of Best New Jersey Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: New Jersey Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 








Data source: New Jersey Department of Education

We're sorry, but no reviews have been submitted for Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School.

If you have first-hand knowledge about Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School, submit a rating!


Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Help
Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
2012 0 320 5 20 1 0 0 0 346
2013 0 365 2 15 2 0 0 0 384
2014 0 348 2 17 2 0 0 0 369
2015 0 345 1 22 1 0 0 0 369
2016 0 353 2 30 1 0 2 0 388
2017 2 346 2 34 0 0 3 0 387
2018 1 337 2 41 1 0 2 0 384
2019 1 348 2 41 1 0 0 0 393
2020 2 346 1 42 2 0 0 0 393
2021 0 338 3 47 2 1 0 0 391
2022 0 331 3 49 2 1 0 0 386
2023 0 317 3 58 2 0 0 0 380

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2012 346 n/a n/a n/a
2013 384 24.0 16.0 85.7
2014 369 29.0 12.7 8.7
2015 369 28.0 13.1 40.7
2016 388 27.0 14.3 10.8
2017 387 28.0 13.8 89.4
2018 384 28.0 13.7 83.3
2019 393 29.0 13.5 86
2020 393 26.0 15.1 87.8
2021 391 27.0 14.4 86.4
2022 386 26.0 14.8 86.3
2023 380 27.0 14.0 75.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Help
Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
2012 346 n/a n/a n/a
2013 384 24.0 16.0 85.7
2014 369 29.0 12.7 8.7
2015 369 28.0 13.1 40.7
2016 388 27.0 14.3 10.8
2017 387 28.0 13.8 89.4
2018 384 28.0 13.7 83.3
2019 393 29.0 13.5 86
2020 393 26.0 15.1 87.8
2021 391 27.0 14.4 86.4
2022 386 26.0 14.8 86.3
2023 380 27.0 14.0 75.3

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Help

YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,186 (11.5%) $9,150 (88.5%) $10,336

Data source: New Jersey Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 1187th of 1360 Elementary schoolsRanks 1131st of 1342 Elementary schools
 3%
Ranks 491st of 745 Middle schoolsRanks 613th of 748 Middle schools
 16%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)26.128
 1.9%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)26.128
 1.9%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)50.242
 8.2%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)30.428
 2.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)30.428
 2.4%
   3rd Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)55.145.9
 9.2%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)20.916.2
 4.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)20.916.2
 4.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)57.451.3
 6.1%
4th Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)25.618.9
 6.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)25.618.9
 6.7%
   4th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)5144.3
 6.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)2541.7
 16.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)2541.7
 16.7%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)57.953.2
 4.7%
5th Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)13.713.9
 0.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)13.713.9
 0.2%
   5th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)46.840.1
 6.7%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)52.326.3
 26%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)52.326.3
 26%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)56.149
 7.1%
6th Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)13.60
 13.6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)13.60
 13.6%
   6th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)40.634.3
 6.3%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)58.228.6
 29.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)58.228.6
 29.6%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)62.855.7
 7.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)18.77.2
 11.5%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)18.77.2
 11.5%
   7th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)42.133.8
 8.3%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)66.750
 16.7%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)66.750
 16.7%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (New Jersey)62.955.3
 7.6%
8th Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)21.58.8
 12.7%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School)21.58.8
 12.7%
   8th Grade Mathematics (New Jersey)29.317.8
 11.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students393380
 3.3%
African American348317
 8.9%
American Indian12
 100%
Asian23
 50%
Hispanic4158
 41.5%
Pacific Islander00
White10
 100%
Two or More Races00
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients86%75.3%
 10.7%


Schools Near Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School









Frequently Asked Questions about Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School

Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School ranks in the bottom 15.7% of New Jersey elementary schools.

Students at Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School are 83% African American, 15% Hispanic.

In the 2022-23 school year, 380 students attended Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School.


Rate Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School!



Sign up for updates!

Be the first to know when there is an update for Dr Lena Edwards Academic Charter School!




SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





Diagnostics

None retrieved from Database in 182 milliseconds.