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Below Average

#2070 of 2,463 schools in NJ

North Star Academy Charter School

School · North Star Academy Charter School

10 WASHINGTON PLACE, Newark, NJ 07102

Charter

Enrollment

6,476

Student-Teacher

25.9:1

Score

4.6

Grades

Kindergarten – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Newark

#44 of 61

public schools

New Jersey schools

#93 of 104

Equity

9.5 / 10

Exceptional

About North Star Academy Charter School

North Star Academy Charter School serves 6,476 students from kindergarten through 12th grade in Newark, making it one of the larger educational institutions in Essex County. With 250 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a student-teacher ratio of 25.9:1 across its comprehensive K-12 program. Academically, North Star Academy ranks in the middle tier of New Jersey schools, holding the 1,265th position out of 2,475 schools statewide, placing it in the 49th percentile.

The school shows stronger performance in English Language Arts, where 62% of students achieve proficiency or above across grade levels, while mathematics presents an area with room for growth, with 42% of students meeting proficiency standards. As a charter school operating in Newark's urban environment, North Star Academy serves a diverse community where families face economic challenges, with the surrounding ZIP code showing a median household income of $35,515 and a poverty rate of 32.2%. Despite these challenges, the area maintains a sense of community with 29% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher.

The school is centrally located at 10 Washington Place in Newark's urban core, providing educational opportunities within a large city setting that offers both challenges and rich cultural experiences for its student body.

What Parents Should Know

North Star Academy Charter School is a large school with 6,476 students enrolled. Larger schools typically offer a wider range of academic programs, electives, and extracurricular activities. Parents may want to ask about how the school maintains a sense of community and ensures students don't get lost in the crowd.

The student-teacher ratio at North Star Academy Charter School is 25.9:1, which is higher than the national average. This may mean larger class sizes, so parents should ask about classroom support, teaching assistants, and how the school differentiates instruction for students who need extra help.

North Star Academy Charter School is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress3.5Fair25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change-2.46 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendDeclining
Academics8.6Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42%
Reading/ELA Proficiency62%
Math vs. State Avg+0.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+18.1 pts
Overall Proficiency52%
Expected (poverty-adj.)14%
vs. Expected+37.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile79th
College Readiness4.3Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation12.5%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment1.2Significantly Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio25.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$20,158

North Star Academy Charter School — Students at North Star Academy Charter School score 52% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 14%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

84.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 45.0%
School
State
38.5%
ELA Proficiency 64.5%
School
State
52.5%

Based on 21 test records from NJ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
65%
ELA
75%
2021*
Math
20%
ELA
48%
2022
Math
42%
ELA
62%
2024
Math
46.2%
ELA
65.6%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 3.5/10.

How North Star Academy Charter School Compares

See how North Star Academy Charter School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
4.6/10
16th percentile in NJ
Academic
8.6/10
8.6/10
Growth
3.5/10
Below average
Environment
1.2/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
85%
Teaching Staff
26:1 student-teacher ratio
250 teachers

Location

10 WASHINGTON PLACE, Newark, NJ 07102

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering North Star Academy Charter School may also want to explore other schools in the area. Marion P. Thomas Charter School (rated 4.7/10, 0.6 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (rated 4.1/10, 0.7 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Newark, see our Newark schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 0.8 mi
School Distance Rating
ALIF MUHAMMAD WIA SCHOOL Newark 0.3 mi 4.0
Discovery Charter School Newark 0.6 mi 5.5
Newark School of Global Studies Newark 0.7 mi 5.7
McKinley Elementary School Newark 0.6 mi 6.3
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School Newark 0.7 mi 4.1
Marion P. Thomas Charter School Newark 0.6 mi 4.7
Essex County Newark Tech Newark 0.6 mi 6.9
The Gray Charter School Newark 0.8 mi 7.4
Hamilton Intermediate School Harrison 0.7 mi 6.2
Arts High School Newark 0.8 mi 6.8
MARWAH ACADEMY Harrison 0.7 mi
Newark Educators Community Charter School Newark 0.8 mi 7.5
Franklin Elementary School Newark 0.9 mi 6.1
ST MICHAEL SCHOOL Newark 1.0 mi 5.5
Science Park High School Newark 0.8 mi 8.7
Lafayette Street School Newark 1.0 mi 4.8
East Newark Elementary School E. Newark 0.9 mi 4.6
NEWARK BOYS CHORUS SCHOOL Newark 1.0 mi 5.6
Technology High School Newark 1.0 mi 8.2
Philip's Academy Charter School Newark 0.8 mi 6.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 07102 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$37,093

Median Home Value

$293,900

Median Rent

$1,141/mo

Population

12,954

College Educated

30.5%

Homeownership

5.5%

Avg Commute

35.4 min

Poverty Rate

31.4%

Median Age

32.3

Community Profile

The community surrounding North Star Academy Charter School has a median household income of $37,093. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $293,900, with a median rent of $1,141/month. The area has a poverty rate of 31.4%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute in the area is 35 minutes, which is above the national average. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
TEAM Academy Charter School Newark, NJ 4.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about North Star Academy Charter School

What grades does North Star Academy Charter School serve?

North Star Academy Charter School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How many students attend North Star Academy Charter School?

North Star Academy Charter School has an enrollment of approximately 6,476 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at North Star Academy Charter School?

The student-teacher ratio at North Star Academy Charter School is 25.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does North Star Academy Charter School rank in NJ?

North Star Academy Charter School is ranked #2070 out of 2,463 schools in NJ.

What is North Star Academy Charter School's MySchoolScout rating?

North Star Academy Charter School has a composite rating of 4.6 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at North Star Academy Charter School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, North Star Academy Charter School has 45.0% math proficiency and 64.5% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is North Star Academy Charter School a charter school?

Yes, North Star Academy Charter School is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is North Star Academy Charter School a Title I school?

No, North Star Academy Charter School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for North Star Academy Charter School?

84.7% of students at North Star Academy Charter School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
96 Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
84 Excellent Transit
Bike Score
71 Very Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,542/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Newark). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 12th
Enrollment
6,476
Student-Teacher Ratio
25.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
250
Free/Reduced Lunch
84.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Essex County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

North Star Academy Charter School
District Enrollment
6,490
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$23,288
District Rank
#1 of 1

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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