Jersey City Public Schools

The Jersey City Public Schools district consists of 39 schools, including 26 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 8 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district serves a diverse student population and exhibits a wide range of academic performance, with some standout high-performing schools as well as lower-performing institutions.

Several schools in the district stand out for their exceptional academic achievements. Dr. Ronald McNair High School is ranked 11th out of 426 high schools in New Jersey and has a 5-star rating, with impressive proficiency rates in Algebra I, Science, and a high graduation rate. Similarly, Infinity Institute, a 6-12 grade school, is ranked 2nd out of 426 high schools and also has a 5-star rating, with 100% proficiency in multiple subjects. Academy I, a middle school, is ranked 33rd out of 743 middle schools and has outstanding performance in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

While the district has these high-performing schools, the overall Jersey City Public Schools district is ranked 455th out of 613 districts in New Jersey and has a 1-star rating, indicating below-average performance compared to other districts in the state. The district also faces challenges, such as a high 16.6% chronic absenteeism rate across all schools, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to address this issue. The wide range in per-student spending, from $6,621 to $16,245, also suggests the district may need to examine how resources are allocated to ensure more equitable funding across all schools.