The New Jersey Department of Education released the spring 2025 New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) results last week, providing updated insight into student performance in reading and math across all public school districts. The data shows that charter schools continue to post strong outcomes, particularly in urban communities with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students.
Statewide, charter schools serve about 64,000 students. More than three-quarters of these students, or 76%, come from economically disadvantaged households, and a large majority are students of color. Across all charter schools, 51.9% of students demonstrated reading proficiency, compared with a statewide average of 53.1%.
- Charter school students in New Jersey’s largest cities are far more likely to meet grade-level reading and math standards than students in district schools.
- Jersey City and Newark charter schools exceed the statewide reading proficiency rate, while Plainfield and Paterson outperform their own pre-pandemic benchmarks.
- Charter schools primarily serve economically disadvantaged and diverse student populations while continuing to demonstrate measurable academic progress.
Jersey City and Newark Charter Schools Post Reading Rates Above the State
Jersey City charter schools recorded the highest reading proficiency results in the state. The city has 11 charter schools enrolling nearly 7,000 students. Student demographics show that 34% are Black, 32% are Latino, 22% are Asian, and 14% are White. Roughly two-thirds of students, or about 66%, are economically disadvantaged. The 2025 NJSLA data shows that 58.6% of Jersey City charter students are reading at grade level, which is 5.5 percentage points higher than the statewide rate.
In Newark, charter schools also exceeded the state average in reading for the third consecutive year. The city enrolls about 20,000 charter school students, with 85% coming from low-income backgrounds. Results from the 2025 assessment show that 53.6% of Newark charter students achieved proficiency levels 4 or 5 in English language arts, slightly higher than the statewide proficiency rate of 53.1%. Both district-run and charter schools in Newark have recorded steady academic improvement over recent years.
Robert Treat Academy Charter School in Newark surpassed the statewide reading proficiency rate by 17 percentage points, even though the school serves nearly twice the share of economically disadvantaged students compared with the state as a whole.
Charter Students Consistently Outperform District Peers in Major Cities
A closer review of assessment results across six cities with the largest charter school enrollments—Newark, Camden, Paterson, Trenton, Jersey City, and Plainfield—shows similar trends. Charter school students in these cities are, on average, 71% more likely to read at grade level and 65% more likely to meet grade-level expectations in math than students attending district schools.
When viewed statewide, charter students are about half again as likely to reach grade-level reading standards, or 50% more likely, and nearly half again as likely, or 47% more likely, to meet math standards compared with district peers. These figures reflect the share of students scoring at proficiency levels 4 or 5 on the NJSLA in English language arts and mathematics.
The New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association points to instructional focus, extended school days, additional professional development, and consistent school culture as factors connected to these outcomes.
Plainfield and Paterson Charter Schools Exceed Pre-Pandemic Reading Benchmarks
Plainfield operates five charter schools serving approximately 3,300 students. Among this group, 84% are from economically disadvantaged households, and 14% are multilingual learners. Reading proficiency among Plainfield charter students rose from 39.9% in 2019 to 51.2% in 2025, marking a double-digit increase beyond pre-pandemic levels.
In Paterson, charter schools serve around 7,400 students, with 86% identified as economically disadvantaged. Alongside easing overcrowding in district schools, Paterson charters posted reading proficiency rates of 48.7% in 2025, surpassing the city’s 2019 pre-pandemic rate of 47.1%.
Queen City Academy Charter School in Plainfield, a K–12 school enrolling 506 students, also exceeded its pre-pandemic reading proficiency level. At Queen City, 87% of students are economically disadvantaged. The school’s 2025 results show reading proficiency that is 12 percentage points higher than the statewide average, supported by data-driven instruction, personalized learning strategies, and added academic supports such as weekday and Saturday academies.
Trenton Charter Schools Represent a Majority of Grade-Level Readers
Trenton charter schools serve about 4,200 students. Of these students, 85% are economically disadvantaged, 10% receive special education services, and 9% are multilingual learners. Analysis of 2025 results shows that charter students in Trenton are four and a half times more likely to read at grade level than their district peers.
Although charter schools enroll about one-fifth, or 20%, of Trenton’s public school students, they account for nearly three-fifths, or close to 60%, of all students reading at grade level in the city. Foundation Academy Charter School in Trenton reported a 22 percentage point increase in reading proficiency since 2022 and is now performing above pre-pandemic levels while approaching the statewide average.
Camden Schools Record Faster Growth Than the State Average
Camden district, charter, and renaissance schools have shown accelerated improvement compared with statewide trends. The share of Camden students reading at grade level increased from 17% in 2022 to 27% in 2025, reflecting a 10 percentage point gain that more than doubled the statewide improvement rate over the same period.
From 2024 to 2025, Camden charter and renaissance schools also posted year-over-year gains, with reading proficiency rising by 4.2 percentage points and math proficiency increasing by 3.3 percentage points across all grade levels.
