Best Public Schools in Trenton, NJ

The city of Trenton, New Jersey is home to 33 schools, including 17 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, 5 high schools, and 1 alternative school. These schools are part of the Trenton Public School District, which is ranked 613 out of 613 districts in New Jersey and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

A few schools stand out in the data. Mercer County Technical School Health Sciences Academy, a public high school, is ranked 55 out of 426 high schools in New Jersey and has a 4-star rating. It has strong academic performance, with 100% of 9th graders proficient in English Language Arts and 50% proficient in Algebra I. Additionally, Foundation Academy Charter School and Paul Robeson Charter School for the Humanities, both public charter schools, outperform the district on academic measures, with proficiency rates significantly higher than the district average.

However, the overall academic performance in the Trenton Public School District is very low. Proficiency rates on the NJSLA assessments are under 20% in math and English Language Arts across most schools, with the district-wide average for 3rd grade math at 9.4% and 8th grade math at 1.4% proficient. The district also faces challenges with high rates of chronic absenteeism and economic disadvantage, with many schools reporting over 70% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. While spending per student is around the state average, the data suggests that factors beyond funding, such as curriculum, instruction, and school leadership, are contributing to the district's struggles.