National Education Scorecard Ranks Newark Public Schools High In Nationwide Learning Rates

NEWARK, N.J. – Newark Public Schools ranked higher than 93% of districts nationwide in average learning rates during school years 2022 through 2025, according to a new report from the Education Scorecard, a national research collaboration led by the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, and faculty at Dartmouth College.

The report says that students in the Newark Public Schools learned at an average rate of 1.23 grade levels per year in reading and math during the 2022 to 2025 period, higher than the national average, New Jersey’s state average and the learning rates of similar New Jersey districts.  

The district’s success comes even as the nation as a whole has a “learning recession” began more than a decade ago and worsened during the pandemic, according to the report. While many districts continue to struggle with learning recovery, chronic absenteeism, and declining reading achievement, Newark showed stronger recovery trends than comparable districts in reading and mathematics, and the chronic absenteeism rate of the district continues to be well below the state average, three years in a row. The Newark Public Schools has also implemented high-impact tutoring programs to address learning loss, including launching Saturday School as well as before and after school academic support programs to help accelerate learning.

The Education Scorecard report is the latest indication of successful implementation of Newark’s historic 10-year strategic plan, transforming New Jersey’s largest school district. This further validates the district’s progress in combating chronic absenteeism and implementing programs that target specific learning areas, including literacy and mathematics competency.

“These findings affirm that our students are accelerating academically and demonstrating that transformation is possible when high expectations are paired with strong instruction from teachers and support staff, strategic principals and school leaders, and an unwavering confidence in our students and their families,” said Superintendent León. “Newark students are learning at one of the fastest rates in America and we are all committed to the work of academic excellence every day.”

“This national report confirms that Newark Public Schools is moving in the right direction and that our students are making extraordinary academic gains,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “To rank higher than 93% of districts nationwide in learning rates is a tremendous accomplishment for our city. It reflects years of focused investment, strong leadership, dedicated teachers, and the resilience of Newark’s students and families.”

In no way is Newark Public Schools reading the Education Scorecard’s findings and taking a victory lap. The district’s work is far from done. The Board and district administrators could not be more proud of the incredible accomplishments of administrators, teachers, staff, families, and, most especially, students, and it is edifying to see everyone’s hard work reflected in the Education Scorecard report’s findings. But they are not taking a victory lap. This district’s work is not done and will continue.