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Newark Public Schools, New Jersey

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Newark Public Schools
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Newark, New Jersey
District details
Superintendent: Roger León
# of school board members: 9
Website: Link

Newark Public Schools is a school district in New Jersey.

Click on the links below to learn more about the school district's...

Superintendent

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 		This information is updated as we become aware of changes. Please contact us with any updates.

Roger León is the superintendent of Newark Public Schools. León was appointed superintendent on July 1, 2018. León's previous career experience includes working as a principal and as the superintendent of the district.[1]

Past superintendents

  • A. Robert Gregory was the interim superintendent of Newark Public Schools from 2017 to 2018. Gregory's previous career experience included working as a founding principal with American History High School in Newark, New Jersey.[2]
  • Chris Cerf was the superintendent of Newark Public Schools from 2015 to 2017. Cerf's previous career experience included working as the New Jersey Commissioner of Education, a history teacher, and a White House layer.[2][3][4]
  • Cami Anderson was the superintendent of Newark Public Schools from 2011 to 2015. Anderson's previous career experience included working as a public school teacher and the executive director of Teach for America.[5][6]

School board

The Newark Public Schools Board of Education consists of nine members elected to three-year terms. Members are elected at large.[7]


Elections

See also: Newark Public Schools, New Jersey, elections

Members of the Newark Public Schools Board of Education are elected to three-year terms. Elections are held in April or November each year.[7]

Three seats on the board were up for general election on April 15, 2025. The filing deadline was February 24, 2025

Ballotpedia covered school board elections in 367 school districts in 29 states in 2024. Those school districts had a total student enrollment of 12,203,404 students. Click here to read an analysis of those elections.


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Public participation in board meetings

The Newark Public Schools Board of Education maintains the following policy on public testimony during board meetings:[8]


District map

School district map

Budget

The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[9]

Revenue, 2020-2021
SOURCE AMOUNT AMOUNT PER STUDENT PERCENT
Federal: $97,340,000 $2,408 7%
Local: $160,699,000 $3,975 12%
State: $1,057,525,000 $26,161 80%
Total: $1,315,564,000 $32,545
Expenditures, 2020-2021
TYPE AMOUNT AMOUNT PER STUDENT PERCENT
Total Expenditures: $1,321,580,000 $32,693
Total Current Expenditures: $928,834,000 $22,977
Instructional Expenditures: $473,783,000 $11,720 36%
Student and Staff Support: $213,653,000 $5,285 16%
Administration: $71,106,000 $1,759 5%
Operations, Food Service, Other: $166,980,000 $4,130 13%
Total Capital Outlay: $20,494,000 $506
Construction: $18,544,000 $458
Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: $47,312,000 $1,170
Interest on Debt: $1,035,000 $25


Teacher salaries

The following salary information was pulled from the district's teacher salary schedule. A salary schedule is a list of expected compensations based on variables such as position, years employed, and education level. It may not reflect actual teacher salaries in the district.

Year Minimum Maximum
2024-2025[10] $65,000 $109,100
2023-2024[11] $55,500 $106,010
2022-2023[11] $55,500 $104,550
2021-2022[11] $55,000 $103,091

Academic performance

Each year, state and local education agencies use tests and other standards to assess student proficiency. Although the data below was published by the U.S. Department of Education, proficiency measurements are established by the states. As a result, proficiency levels are not comparable between different states and year-over-year proficiency levels within a district may not be comparable because states may change their proficiency measurements.[12]

The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:

School year All (%) Asian/Pacific Islander (%) Black (%) Hispanic (%) Native American (%) Two or More Races (%) White (%)
2020-2021 9 30-34 6 10 11-19 17
2018-2019 26 55-59 16 30 30-39 <=20 41
2017-2018 24 55-59 15 27 30-39 40-44 39
2016-2017 23 60-64 14 28 21-39 22 39
2015-2016 20 50-54 12 24 21-39 <=20 38
2014-2015 18 55-59 11 21 21-39 40-44 35
2013-2014 47 75-79 36 54 60-69 30-34 76
2012-2013 49 75-79 38 56 40-59 25-29 78
2011-2012 51 75-79 39 59 >=50 35-39 84
2010-2011 52 75-79 41 61 >=50 40-44 85

The following table shows the percentage of district students who scored at or above the proficiency level each school year:

School year All (%) Asian/Pacific Islander (%) Black (%) Hispanic (%) Native American (%) Two or More Races (%) White (%)
2020-2021 26 45-49 24 25 21-39 32
2018-2019 36 65-69 28 38 50-59 21-39 54
2017-2018 35 60-64 27 38 40-49 50-54 53
2016-2017 32 55-59 24 36 60-79 31 49
2015-2016 29 60-64 21 32 21-39 21-39 48
2014-2015 23 50-54 17 26 <=20 50-54 40
2013-2014 41 65-69 35 44 30-39 20-24 65
2012-2013 42 65-69 34 47 40-59 15-19 69
2011-2012 42 65-69 35 46 <50 30-34 71
2010-2011 43 65-69 35 48 >=50 35-39 73

The following table shows the graduation rate of district students each school year:

School year All (%) Asian/Pacific Islander (%) Black (%) Hispanic (%) Native American (%) Two or More Races (%) White (%)
2019-2020 81 80-89 78 82 PS 85-89
2018-2019 76 >=80 75 75 PS 85-89
2017-2018 76 >=80 75 75 PS PS 80-84
2016-2017 78 >=80 77 79 >=50 80-84
2015-2016 73 >=80 72 74 >=50 PS 80-84
2014-2015 70 70-79 69 70 PS 70-74
2013-2014 69 >=80 67 69 PS PS 80-84
2012-2013 68 60-79 67 66 PS 75-79
2011-2012 69 60-79 68 68 >=50 80-84
2010-2011 61 60-79 61 59 PS 70-74


Students

Year Enrollment Year-to-year change (%)
2022-2023 41,672 1.9
2021-2022 40,876 1.1
2020-2021 40,423 -3.0
2019-2020 41,629 2.8
2018-2019 40,448 -1.5
2017-2018 41,060 1.3
2016-2017 40,514 -0.9
2015-2016 40,889 14.7
2014-2015 34,861 -0.3
2013-2014 34,976 -1.7
2012-2013 35,588 0.1
2011-2012 35,543 -16.0
2010-2011 41,235 4.3
2009-2010 39,443 -1.4
2008-2009 39,992 -1.3
2007-2008 40,507 -1.9
2006-2007 41,266 -1.4
2005-2006 41,857 -0.4
2004-2005 42,033 -11.4
2003-2004 46,825 9.5
2002-2003 42,395 0.4
2001-2002 42,241 0.2
2000-2001 42,150 0.1
1999-2000 42,101 0.0
Racial Demographics, 2022-2023
RACE Newark Public Schools (%) New Jersey K-12 STUDENTS (%)
American Indian/Alaska Native 0.4 0.2
Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander 0.8 10.2
Black 36.3 14.7
Hispanic 55.2 33.1
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.2 0.2
Two or More Races 0.0 3.0
White 7.1 38.5

Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


Staff

As of the 2022-2023 school year, Newark Public Schools had 2,849.00 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 14.63.

Teachers, 2022-2023 school year
TYPE NUMBER OF TEACHERS
Prekindergarten: 165.00
Kindergarten: 102.00
Elementary: 822.50
Secondary: 1,031.00
Total: 2,849.00

Newark Public Schools employed 27.00 district administrators and 230.00 school administrators as of the 2022-2023 school year.

Administrators, 2022-2023 school year
TYPE NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS
District Administrators: 27.00
District Administrative Support: 120.00
School Administrators: 230.00
School Administrative Support: 180.00
Other staff, 2022-2023 school year
TYPE NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF
Instructional Aides: 935.00
Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: 328.00
Total Guidance Counselors: 86.50
Elementary Guidance Counselors: 0.00
Secondary Guidance Counselors: 0.00
Librarians/Media Specialists: 10.00
Library/Media Support: 0.00
Student Support Services: 427.70
Other Support Services: 988.00


Schools

Newark Public Schools operates 63 schools. They are listed below in alphabetical order.
List of schools
SCHOOL NAMENUMBER OF STUDENTSGRADES
Abington Avenue School837PK-8
American History High School3739-12
Ann Street School1,200KG-8
Arts High School5939-12
Avon Avenue School563PK-8
Bard Early College High School3819-12
Barringer High School1,7349-12
Belmont Runyon Elementary School539PK-8
Bruce Street School41PK-8
Camden Street Elementary School573PK-8
Central High School8949-12
Chancellor Avenue School618PK-8
Dr. E. Alma Flagg School516PK-8
Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School754PK-8
Eagle Academy For Young Men Of Newark1407-12
Early Childhood School - North92PK-PK
East Side High School2,2559-12
East Ward Elementary School666PK-5
Elliott Street Elementary School885PK-8
First Avenue School1,083PK-8
Fourteenth Avenue School101PK-8
Franklin Elementary School745PK-8
George Washington Carver Elementary School486PK-8
Grover Cleveland Elementary School341PK-8
Harriet Tubman Elementary School326PK-8
Hawkins Street School726KG-8
Hawthorne Avenue School393PK-8
Ironbound Academy Elementary School190KG-4
Ivy Hill Elementary School471PK-8
John F. Kennedy School138PK-12
Lafayette Street School1,180PK-8
Lincoln Elementary School377PK-8
Louise A. Spencer Elementary School755PK-8
Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School826PK-8
Malcolm X Shabazz High School2729-12
Mckinley Elementary School686PK-8
Michelle Obama Elementary School131PK-3
Mt Vernon Place School809PK-8
Newark Sch Of Data Science And Information Technology1999-10
Newark School Of Fashion & Design1569-10
Newark School Of Global Studies2909-11
Newark Vocational High School5839-12
Nj Regional Day School - Newark115KG-12
Oliver Street School1,045PK-8
Park Elementary School810PK-8
Peshine Avenue School503PK-8
Quitman Street School710PK-8
Rafael Hernandez School553PK-8
Ridge Street School578PK-8
Roberto Clemente Elementary School753PK-8
Salome Urena Elementary School443PK-8
Science Park High School9387-12
Sir Isaac Newton Elementary School176PK-3
South 17th Street School335PK-8
South Street Elementary School864PK-8
Speedway Avenue School566PK-8
Sussex Avenue School513PK-8
Technology High School6659-12
Thirteenth Avenue School589PK-8
University High School4267-12
Weequahic High School4549-12
West Side High School6099-12
Wilson Avenue School1,099KG-8

Noteworthy events

1995-2017: State control over school district

The New Jersey State Board of Education took control over the Newark Public Schools school district in 1995, citing budgetary and management issues, and academic underperformance. Full local control was returned to the school district on September 13, 2017.[13]

2013-2014: Superintendent Cami Anderson's tenure with school district

2014: Superintendent proposes One Newark initiative

Superintendent Cami Anderson proposed a district reform plan, One Newark, that included teacher layoffs, Teach for America hirings, universal enrollment, expansion of the charter school program, and the closure or consolidation of more than 12 schools.[14][15]

In response to the proposal, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten sent a letter to Gov. Chris Christie (R) asking for control of the schools to be returned to the school district, stating that the local community did not support the One Newark Plan, and had lost confidence in Superintendent Anderson.[14][16][17]

2014: Five school principals suspended indefinitely, file federal lawsuit

On January 17, 2014, five Newark principals were suspended indefinitely by the school district's administration. A letter from the administration's head of personnel said that the suspensions resulted from an investigation that was launched in response to an undescribed incident that took place on or around January 15, 2014.[18] Four of the suspended principals had spoken in opposition to Superintendent Anderson's One Newark reform proposal on January 15 at a community meeting. Newark Councilman Ras Baraka denounced the suspensions and demanded Superintendent Anderson's removal.[18]

The five principals and a local parent who was banned from the premises of a district school for protesting Superintendent Anderson's reforms filed a federal lawsuit against the superintendent. In the lawsuit, they argued that Anderson violated their constitutional right to free speech and claimed that the district administration was engaged in a "concerted effort to undermine, intimidate and coerce" both the community and district employees.[19] The day after the lawsuit was filed, three of the principals were reinstated to their schools and two were reassigned to different schools in the district.[19]

2014: Protest of superintendent at school board meeting

In January 2014, more than 500 attendees protested Superintendent Cami Anderson’s One Newark initiative and calling for her ouster. Anderson left the meeting prior to its adjournment following a comment by community activist Natasha Allen. On February 25, 2014, Anderson released a letter stating that she would no longer attend school advisory board meetings.[15][20]

2014: Superintendent's contract extended three years

In May 2014, Anderson publicly rejected calls for her resignation and objections to her reforms in an interview with NJTV.[21][22] On June 27, 2014, the Christie administration announced that the state and Anderson established a hybrid contract agreement for the ensuing three years which required both the commissioner and superintendent to agree to an additional one-year contract extension.[23]

Contact information

Newark Public Schools seal.jpg

Newark Public Schools
765 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 973-733-7333
Email: hello@nps.k12.nj.us

About school boards

Education legislation in New Jersey

Bills are monitored by BillTrack50 and sorted by action history.

See also

New Jersey School Board Elections News and Analysis
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Newark Public Schools, "Roger León, Superintendent," accessed May 18, 2021
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chalkbeat Newark, "‘All eyes are on Newark’: As the city regains control of its schools, a look at what’s to come," February 1, 2018
  3. ↑ NJ.com, "Cerf narrowly wins approval to become Newark schools chief," July 8, 2015
  4. ↑ NJ.com, "Will Cerf bring new game plan or old lessons to Newark?" June 22, 2015
  5. ↑ Local Talk News, "New York Educator Appointed to Head Newark Schools," May 4, 2011
  6. ↑ Newark Trust for Education, "A brief bio of Newark's New Superintendent," May 4, 2011
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Newark Public Schools, "NJSBA – Boards of Education – An Overview," last updated October 18, 2018
  8. ↑ Newark Public Schools, "FILE CODE 1200 PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC," accessed January 28, 2024
  9. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed June 17, 2024
  10. ↑ Teach Newark, "Salary scaled," accessed April 18, 2025
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Newark Teachers Union ,"Salary Progressions," accessed May 18, 2021
  12. ↑ U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC: EDFacts, "State Assessments in Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics- School Year 2018-19 EDFacts Data Documentation," accessed February 25, 2021
  13. ↑ The Washington Post, "Largest New Jersey city regaining control of its schools," September 13, 2017
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 The Washington Post, "Gov. Christie’s new crisis: Protests grow over state control of Newark schools," February 27, 2014
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 NJ Spotlight News, "Raucous Newark Crowd Drives Superintendent from School Board Meeting," January 29, 2014
  16. ↑ American Federation of Teachers, "Letter from Randi Weingarten to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on the school crisis in Newark," February 26, 2014
  17. ↑ The Star-Ledger, "Newark schools chief warns of massive teacher layoffs; wants pink slips tied to performance," February 25, 2014
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Star-Ledger, "5 Newark principals suspended indefinitely, allegedly for opposing One Newark plan," January 20, 2014
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 POLITICO, "Christie faces uproar in Newark," January 26, 2014
  20. ↑ NJ Spotlight News, "Fine Print: Anderson Says She’ll No Longer Attend School Board Meetings," February 26, 2014
  21. ↑ Education Week, "Despite Calls for Resignation, Newark Superintendent Vows to Stay," June 2, 2014
  22. ↑ NJTV News, "In NJTV Exclusive, Cami Anderson Says She Plans to Stay on in Newark," May 29, 2014
  23. ↑ State of New Jersey Department of Education, "Christie Administration Renews Newark Superintendent Contract, Continues School Reform in Newark," June 27, 2014
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