Skip to main content

Average

#1738 of 2,463 schools in NJ

Passaic High School No. 12

High School · Passaic City School District

170 Paulison Ave., Passaic, NJ 07055

Enrollment

2,580

Student-Teacher

14.9:1

Score

5.4

Grades

9th – 12th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Passaic

#17 of 18

public schools

New Jersey high schools

#297 of 422

In district

#17 of 18

Passaic City School District

Academic growth

7.6 / 10

Very strong

About Passaic High School No. 12

Passaic High School No. 12 serves 2,580 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14.9:1 and 173 full-time equivalent teachers. This large public high school is currently working through significant academic challenges, with considerable room for growth in both English Language Arts, where 14% of students perform at proficient levels, and mathematics, where 2% achieve proficiency. The school ranks in the bottom percentile among New Jersey's high schools, reflecting the ongoing efforts needed to support student achievement.

Located on Paulison Avenue in Passaic, the school serves a diverse community where the median household income is $57,832 and nearly 22% of residents face economic hardships. The surrounding neighborhood has a college graduation rate of 16%, suggesting opportunities for the school to strengthen pathways to higher education for its students. Despite current academic standings, the school's substantial enrollment and manageable class sizes provide a foundation for focused improvement efforts.

The institution operates within a working-class community where median home values reach $379,800, indicating stable residential roots. Passaic High School No. 12 sits in a large suburban setting that serves as home to over 70,000 residents in the surrounding ZIP code area.

What Parents Should Know

Passaic High School No. 12 is a large school with 2,580 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.

While current test scores at Passaic High School No. 12 are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress7.6Very Good25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change-0.26 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendStable
Academics4.3Below Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency2%
Reading/ELA Proficiency14%
Math vs. State Avg-39.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-44.2 pts
Overall Proficiency8%
Expected (poverty-adj.)7%
vs. Expected+1.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile24th
College Readiness4.9Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
AP Participation14.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment4.6Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$29,274

Passaic High School No. 12 — Students at Passaic High School No. 12 score 8% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 7%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

97.9%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NJ NJSLA (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 1.9%
School
State
55.2%
ELA Proficiency 18.0%
School
State
58.2%

Based on 9 test records from NJ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

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

2019
Math
4%
ELA
15%
2021*
Math
2%
ELA
26%
2022
Math
2%
ELA
14%
2024
Math
0.8%
ELA
17%

* 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: 7.6/10.

How Passaic High School No. 12 Compares

See how Passaic High School No. 12 performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.4/10
30th percentile in NJ
Academic
4.3/10
4.3/10
Growth
7.6/10
Above average
Environment
4.6/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
98%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
173 teachers

Location

170 Paulison Ave., Passaic, NJ 07055

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Passaic High School No. 12 may also want to explore other high schools in the area. Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering (rated 8.9/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Passaic Preparatory Academy (rated 8.6/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Hope Academy (rated 7.6/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Passaic, see our Passaic schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 1.0 mi
School Distance Rating
MESIVTA OF NORTH JERSEY Passaic 0.1 mi
YESHIVA KTANA OF PASSAIC GIRLS Passaic 0.3 mi 2.9
Passaic Arts and Science Charter School Fair Lawn 0.3 mi 5.5
Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering Passaic 0.3 mi 8.9
Passaic Preparatory Academy Passaic 0.3 mi 8.6
Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20 Passaic 0.4 mi 8.9
Sonia Sotomayor School #21 Passaic 0.4 mi 8.1
COLLEGIATE SCHOOL Passaic 0.4 mi 6.8
NOBLE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY Passaic 0.5 mi 6.5
YBH OF PASSAIC-HILLEL Passaic 0.5 mi 4.8
Martin Luther King Jr. School No. 6 Passaic 0.6 mi 6.1
William B. Cruise Memorial School No. 11 Passaic 0.5 mi 6.8
Mario Drago School No. 3 Passaic 0.6 mi 6.0
Thomas Jefferson School No. 1 Passaic 0.6 mi 7.7
Vincent Capuana School No. 15 Passaic 0.6 mi 7.1
Jefferson (Annex) Elementary School Wallington 0.7 mi 2.6
Etta Gero School No. 9 Passaic 0.9 mi 5.9
Hope Academy Passaic 1.0 mi 7.6
Sallie D. Gamble School No. 7 Passaic 0.9 mi 7.3
Abraham Lincoln School Number 24 Passaic 1.0 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 07055 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$56,780

Median Home Value

$406,500

Median Rent

$1,392/mo

Population

69,651

College Educated

16.9%

Homeownership

23.5%

Avg Commute

25.9 min

Poverty Rate

23%

Median Age

30.9

Community Profile

The community surrounding Passaic High School No. 12 has a median household income of $56,780. It is a community where 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $406,500, with a median rent of $1,392/month. The area has a poverty rate of 23.0%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
John F. Kennedy High School Paterson, NJ 5.4
Gloucester County Institute of Technology Sewell, NJ 5.5
Phillipsburg High School Phillipsburg, NJ 5.5
Bloomfield High School Bloomfield, NJ 5.3
Clifton High School Clifton, NJ 5.3
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Scotch Plains, NJ 5.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Passaic High School No. 12

What grades does Passaic High School No. 12 serve?

Passaic High School No. 12 serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend Passaic High School No. 12?

Passaic High School No. 12 has an enrollment of approximately 2,580 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Passaic High School No. 12?

The student-teacher ratio at Passaic High School No. 12 is 14.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Passaic High School No. 12 rank in NJ?

Passaic High School No. 12 is ranked #1738 out of 2,463 schools in NJ.

What is Passaic High School No. 12's MySchoolScout rating?

Passaic High School No. 12 has a composite rating of 5.4 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 Passaic High School No. 12?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Passaic High School No. 12 has 1.9% math proficiency and 18.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Passaic High School No. 12 a charter school?

No, Passaic High School No. 12 is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Passaic High School No. 12 a Title I school?

No, Passaic High School No. 12 is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Passaic High School No. 12?

97.9% of students at Passaic High School No. 12 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
89 Very Walkable
Transit Score
59 Good Transit
Bike Score
37 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
High (2,559/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

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

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
2,580
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
Teachers (FTE)
173
Free/Reduced Lunch
97.9%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Passaic County
Data Year
2023–2024

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

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.