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Needs Improvement

#2437 of 2,466 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

3.2

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

New Jersey schools

#2,437 of 2,466

In Passaic

#19 of 19

public schools

In district

#18 of 18

Passaic City School District

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Passaic High School No. 12

3.2/10

High School in Passaic · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Mesivta of North Jersey

Nearby

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Yeshiva Ktana of Passaic Girls

2.9/10

0.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Passaic High School No. 12

Passaic High School No. 12 is a public high school in Passaic, NJ, part of Passaic City School District. Passaic High School No. 12 serves approximately 2,580 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio. Passaic High School No. 12 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 out of 10 and ranks #2,437 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

Structured state assessment records for Passaic High School No. 12 show 16% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares3.1 pts below district
  • This school 3.2 · Needs Improvement
  • District avg 6.3
  • NJ avg 5.8

What Parents Should Know

Passaic High School No. 12 is a large school: 2,580 students. Size usually brings more course choices and activities than a smaller school can staff, but kids can also blend into the crowd. Ask how the school keeps students known and supported.

43% of students at Passaic High School No. 12 were chronically absent in the 2022-23 school year, above the national average. Chronic absenteeism means missing 15 or more school days, and at high rates it drags on classroom pacing for everyone. Ask what the school does to help families get kids to class consistently.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress3.2Needs Improvement25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-4.95 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics2.8Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency1% (2025 NJSLA)
Reading/ELA Proficiency6.9% (2025 NJSLA)
Math vs. State Avg-40.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-51.3 pts
Overall Proficiency4% (2025 NJSLA, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)13% (model expectation from 2025 NJSLA)
vs. Expected-8.8 pts
Adjusted Percentile10th
College Readiness4.2Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate53%
AP Participation14.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.0Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.9:1
Per-Pupil Spending$33,289
Chronic Absenteeism43.4%

Passaic High School No. 12 — Students at Passaic High School No. 12 score 4% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 13%).

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 (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 16.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
51.4% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)
ELA Proficiency 33.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
54.1% (multi-year state average, 2024-2025)

Based on 33 test records from NJ state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
41%
ELA
59%
2010
Math
40%
ELA
64%
2011
Math
51%
ELA
71%
2012
Math
53%
ELA
68%
2013
Math
46%
ELA
78%
2014
Math
5%
ELA
14%
2015
Math
10%
ELA
22%
2016
Math
7%
ELA
20%
2017
Math
8%
ELA
17%
2018
Math
4%
ELA
15%
2019
Math
4%
ELA
15%
2020*
Math
2%
ELA
26%
2021*
Math
2%
ELA
26%
2022
Math
2%
ELA
14%
2024
Math
0.8%
ELA
17%
2025
Math
1%
ELA
6.9%

* 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: 3.2/10.

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
3.2/10
1th percentile in NJ
Academic
2.8/10
Needs Improvement
Growth
3.2/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
2.0/10
Needs Improvement
AP Courses
1
State avg: 3.2
Sports
10
5 boys' · 5 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
98%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
173 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
43.4%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs1 AP course offered
14.8% participation·State avg: 3.2 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics10sports offered
5 boys'·5 girls'·28 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

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 9.4/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Passaic Preparatory Academy (rated 6.4/10, 0.3 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Hope Academy (rated 4.8/10, 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 6.8
Passaic Academy for Science and Engineering Passaic 0.3 mi 9.4
Passaic Preparatory Academy Passaic 0.3 mi 6.4
Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20 Passaic 0.4 mi 7.9
Sonia Sotomayor School #21 Passaic 0.4 mi 5.4
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 4.8
William B. Cruise Memorial School No. 11 Passaic 0.5 mi 6.1
Mario Drago School No. 3 Passaic 0.6 mi 6.5
Thomas Jefferson School No. 1 Passaic 0.6 mi 8.0
Vincent Capuana School No. 15 Passaic 0.6 mi 7.0
Jefferson (Annex) Elementary School Wallington 0.7 mi 3.7
Etta Gero School No. 9 Passaic 0.9 mi 4.3
Hope Academy Passaic 1.0 mi 4.8
Sallie D. Gamble School No. 7 Passaic 0.9 mi 6.9
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

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
East Orange Campus High School East Orange, NJ 3.2
Central Regional High School Bayville, NJ 3.3
Irvington High School Irvington, NJ 3.3
John F. Kennedy High School Paterson, NJ 3.3
Millville High School Millville, NJ 3.3
Plainfield High School Plainfield, NJ 3.3

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 ranks #2,437 of 2,466 schools in NJ.

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

Passaic High School No. 12 has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.2 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Passaic High School No. 12?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Passaic High School No. 12 has 16% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 33% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
43.4%
4-Year Graduation
53.0%

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