Cameron Barrett

N.J. teen sets school district academic record. Next up, Harvard

N.J. teen sets school district academic record. Next up, Harvard

As a high schooler in Newark, Achunike Okafor says that all he tried to do was work hard each and every day.

Dedicating seven hours a night to his studies was not uncommon, Okafor said, but it was only to be a decent student. So when he learned that he is the new record holder for the highest GPA in the school district, the 18-year-old graduate said the news came as a shock.

“I couldn’t believe my four years of hard work could amount to this,” he said. “My goal was to just get into college. This was unexpected, but I’m extremely grateful for it.”

Okafor exited Science Park High School with a GPA of 4.625, which the Science Park High School Principal, Darleen Gearhart, says is the highest ever in Newark. That earned him more than 40 scholarship offers to some of the nation’s top universities – including Harvard, where he will enter the freshman class in the fall to study neuroscience and film on a full ride.

“I have a need and want to serve others around me,” Okafor told NJ Advance Media. “That’s been my biggest motivation.”

Science Park High School, which has about 1,000 students, is located in the heart of Newark. A magnet school, it focuses on offering high-quality education to students with a passion for STEM and the arts.

Okafor credits a lot of his success to his father, Godfrey Okafor, a high school algebra teacher who taught him early on that education is a path to future success.

“My dad made it clear to me that having a college degree should be priority,” Okafor explained. “He told me that success comes from hard work and will lead to financial stability.”

Okafor was also a member of the International Baccalaureate program, which helps create a better and more peaceful world through education, and the Audible Future Leaders program, a paid internship and college scholarship program for Newark high school students. Both, he says, taught him time management skills and how to prepare for the real world.

“We’re so proud of Achunike’s incredible achievements that were made possible by his hard work and tireless work ethic,” said Jeff Anderson, Director of Community Education at Audible. “The Strategy and Corporate Development team loved working with Achunike and he always excelled at his task."

Gearhart praised Okafor’s commitment.

“Achunike Okafor’s exceptional work and determination are a testament to what persistence can accomplish,” Gearhart said. “I am privileged to know such a wonderful student and impressive human being.”

Okafor says his ultimate goal is to become a doctor and give back to the city that has shaped who he is.

“A lot of people from here become successful and never look back,” Okafor added. “That isn’t how I want my story to end. I want to come back and serve Newark to the best of my ability.”

Source: https://www.nj.com/news/2023/08/nj-teen-sets-school-district-academic-record-next-up-harvard.html

Two Newark High Schools Have a Multiyear Track Record for Making the U.S. News 2022 “Best High Schools in NJ” List

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On Tuesday, April 26, 2022, U.S. News & World Report released their latest rankings of the best public high schools in America.  More than 400 high schools from New Jersey made the list and two of them are from Newark, New Jersey; Science Park High School ranked #27 and Technology High School ranked #38, have a multiyear track record of success in making the U.S. Best Schools List.

Superintendent León shared, “This is an incredible honor and I congratulate the students and their families, and the administrators and teachers at each school for their dedication and hard work, especially during a pandemic.  We look forward to seeing more of our schools on The Best High Schools in America list.”

U.S. News & World Report system uses a scale of college readiness, reading and math performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.

#27: Science Park High School is a magnet school located in the Central Ward that prepares students for careers in science, mathematics, and technology. Principal Kcyied Zahir said, “Our rigorous curriculum is punctuated by college-level coursework driven by interdisciplinary study, research, ethical leadership, global perspective, and service. We are proud of what our staff and students have accomplished.” The SAT scores remain some of the highest in the country and the school’s curriculum is highly specialized.

#38: Technology High School is a magnet high school located in Newark’s North Ward with a vision of developing global leaders by providing them with tools to succeed in a world driven by technology. “We develop global leaders by providing them with the tools to succeed in a world driven by technology,” said Principal Edwin Reyes. “This recognition is evidence of what can happen when you have dedicated students and staff.”

Board President Dawn Haynes echoed the Superintendent’s sentiment, “I am excited and proud that two of our high schools received this honor.  They set the bar high and we are confident that more will be added in the future.”

Newark Board of Education Installs the First Remote Power Unit Off-Grid Wind/Solar LED Street Light in the City of Newark

Newark Board of Education Installs the First Remote Power Unit Off-Grid Wind/Solar LED Street Light in the City of Newark

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The Newark Board of Education takes great pride in the upkeep of our campus and adopting cutting edge technologies. We continue to invest in and provide our students and staff with the best facilities and educational experiences possible.

In the fall of 2019, Rodney Williams, Director of Energy & Sustainability of the Newark Board of Education and staff members, met with Aris Wind to discuss renewable energy solutions for the district. They were particularly interested in Aris’ wind and solar powered streetlight that is called a Remote Power Unit (RPU).

“I want to thank Superintendent León and Mr. Steve Morlino for allowing me and my staff to be a part of such a progressive team.  We took advantage of the opportunity to do something beyond the need of light, and our students and community will benefit from years to come,” said Rodney.

After extensive research, the decision was made to locate the RPU outside of the flagship Science Park High School.  The District felt this investment would be a wonderful improvement to the campus landscape and provide a great learning opportunity for the student body.  The RPU is off the grid and will provide resilient power and light. The district plans to incorporate the unit’s wind and solar data into its STEM curriculum at Science Park High School.

“The RPU is an important key that unlocks a wealth of cutting edge 21st Century technology and is aligned with the priorities outlined in our strategic plan, The Next Decade: 2020-30,” said Superintendent of Schools, Roger León.  “The installation of the RPU is the first of its kind to be installed in the City of Newark.  It will teach and expose our students to different ways to be leaders in helping their community become more sustainable,” he added.

The wind turbine and solar panel on the RPU will provide 100% renewable clean energy. Improving the safety and security of the grounds, it will provide power and light, even in the event of a grid outage. The RPU will capture wind and solar energy year-round which can be stored for up to five-days, depending on usage and demand.

The Newark Board of Education is very enthusiastic about the many opportunities this RPU will create for the students to learn about the science of renewable energy.

Dan Connors, COO of Aris Wind commented, “We are very pleased with the opportunity to provide one of our RPU’s to Newark Schools, particularly at this location!   The Science Park team’s commitments to sustainability, their STEM curriculum, and security of their students, is perfectly matched to the RPU.”

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For more information, please contact:

Newark Board of Education
Nancy Deering, Interim Executive Director
Communications
973-733-6265

About The Newark Public Schools District
The Newark Public Schools District, with 66 schools, 5,877 employees and a student population of 37,291 is the largest and one of the oldest school systems in New Jersey. Its origin dates back to 1676. Barringer High School, in Newark’s North Ward, is the third oldest public high school in the nation. The ethnic diversity of the city provides a rich educational experience for pre-kindergarten to secondary school students. The district continues to revise its services to meet the changing needs of students.