Public schools in Paterson, NJ
48 open public schools with an address in Paterson, operated by 7 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
48
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
27,297
47 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.5:1
New Jersey median 11.2:1
Charter schools
6
0 virtual
An overview of Paterson public schools
The federal directory lists 48 public schools in Paterson, NJ: 31 elementary, 4 middle, 9 high, 4 combined or other. The 47 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 27,297 students, an average of 581 per school. The largest campus is Eastside High School (2,073 students), and the largest elementary school is Community Charter School of Paterson (896).
Paterson Public School District operates the most schools here (42), plus 6 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 12.5:1, higher than the statewide school median of 11.2:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 6 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 10 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 7 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 5 of 10 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 72% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Paterson
Paterson Public School District
Public school district
42 schools in Paterson
College Achieve Paterson Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Paterson
Community Charter School of Paterson
Independent charter agency
1 school in Paterson
Paterson Arts and Science Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Paterson
Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology
Independent charter agency
1 school in Paterson
Paterson Preparatory Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Paterson
Philip's Academy Charter School of Paterson
Independent charter agency
1 school in Paterson
Elementary schools in Paterson
31| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Hamilton Academy Paterson Public School District | KG–08 | 439 | 13.7:1 | |
| Charles J. Riley/ School 9 Paterson Public School District | PK–05 | 682 | 11.6:1 | |
| Community Charter School of Paterson Community Charter School of Paterson · Charter | KG–08 | 896 | 18.3:1 | |
| Dale Avenue Paterson Public School District | PK–02 | 228 | 9.9:1 | |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Complex Paterson Public School District | PK–08 | 513 | 10.6:1 | |
| Edward W. Kilpatrick Paterson Public School District | PK–03 | 295 | 11.6:1 | |
| Maria Magda O'Keefe School Paterson Public School District | PK–08 | 668 | 12.3:1 | |
| Norman S. Weir Paterson Public School District | KG–08 | 272 | 10.1:1 | |
| Paterson Preparatory Charter School Paterson Preparatory Charter School · Charter | KG–07 | 362 | 15.1:1 | |
| Philip's Academy Charter School of Paterson Philip's Academy Charter School of Paterson · Charter | KG–08 | 683 | 13.3:1 | |
| Rev. Dr. Frank Napier Jr. School Paterson Public School District | 01–08 | 491 | 12.9:1 | |
| Roberto Clemente Paterson Public School District | KG–05 | 254 | 12.4:1 | |
| School 1 Paterson Public School District | KG–05 | 217 | 10.3:1 | |
| School 10 Paterson Public School District | KG–08 | 474 | 13.9:1 | |
| School 12 Paterson Public School District | KG–08 | 474 | 11.6:1 | |
| School 13 Paterson Public School District | KG–08 | 499 | 13.9:1 | |
| School 15 Paterson Public School District | PK–05 | 577 | 11.7:1 | |
| School 16 Paterson Public School District | PK–08 | 813 | 15:1 | |
| School 18 Paterson Public School District | KG–08 | 601 | 10.1:1 | |
| School 19 Paterson Public School District | KG–05 | 288 | 12.5:1 | |
| School 2 Paterson Public School District | KG–08 | 473 | 11.7:1 | |
| School 20 Paterson Public School District | KG–08 | 343 | 9.3:1 | |
| School 21 Paterson Public School District | PK–08 | 665 | 15.5:1 | |
| School 25 Paterson Public School District | PK–08 | 526 | 12.4:1 | |
| School 26 Paterson Public School District | PK–08 | 419 | 13.5:1 | |
| School 27 Paterson Public School District | PK–05 | 641 | 13.4:1 | |
| School 28 Paterson Public School District | PK–08 | 463 | 12:1 | |
| School 5 Paterson Public School District | KG–05 | 753 | 13:1 | |
| School 7 Paterson Public School District | KG–05 | 250 | 11.4:1 | |
| School 8 Paterson Public School District | KG–05 | 411 | 11.7:1 | |
| Senator Frank Lautenberg School Paterson Public School District | KG–08 | 605 | 16.8:1 |
Middle schools in Paterson
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Hani Awadallah Paterson Public School District | 06–08 | — | — | |
| Joseph A. Taub School Paterson Public School District | 06–08 | 976 | 17.3:1 | |
| New Roberto Clemente Paterson Public School District | 06–08 | 473 | 10.5:1 | |
| Young Men's Academy Paterson Public School District | 03–08 | 50 | 7.1:1 |
High schools in Paterson
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative High School Paterson Public School District · Alternative School | 09–12 | 81 | 3.9:1 | |
| Eastside High School Paterson Public School District | 09–12 | 2,073 | 15.9:1 | |
| International High School Paterson Public School District | 09–12 | 650 | 12.5:1 | |
| John F. Kennedy High School Paterson Public School District | 09–12 | 1,846 | 13.4:1 | |
| Newcomers High School Paterson Public School District | 09–12 | 106 | 17.7:1 | |
| Paterson P-TECH High School Paterson Public School District | 09–12 | 193 | 12.1:1 | |
| Paterson STEAM High School Paterson Public School District | 09–12 | 379 | 11.8:1 | |
| Rosa L. Parks School of Fine and Performing Arts Paterson Public School District | 09–12 | 258 | 9.9:1 | |
| Students Transitioning and Achieving Real Success Paterson Public School District · Special Education School | 09–12 | 112 | 14:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Paterson
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Iandoli Early Learning Center Paterson Public School District | PK–PK | 99 | — | |
| College Achieve Paterson Charter School College Achieve Paterson Charter School · Charter | KG–12 | 1,688 | 20.1:1 | |
| Paterson Arts and Science Charter School Paterson Arts and Science Charter School · Charter | KG–12 | 1,330 | 12.9:1 | |
| Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology · Charter | KG–12 | 1,708 | 12.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White3.9%
- Hispanic72.1%
- Black18.6%
- Asian5.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial0.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 47 Paterson schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (27,297 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Paterson
How many public schools are in Paterson, NJ?
The current NCES directory lists 48 open public schools with a location address in Paterson: 31 elementary, 4 middle, 9 high, 4 combined or other. Together they reported 27,297 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Paterson?
Schools with an address in Paterson belong to 7 education agencies, led by Paterson Public School District (42 schools), College Achieve Paterson Charter School (1 school), Community Charter School of Paterson (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Paterson?
Eastside High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Paterson, with 2,073 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Paterson?
Yes. 6 of the 48 public schools in Paterson are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including College Achieve Paterson Charter School, Community Charter School of Paterson, Paterson Arts and Science Charter School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Paterson schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Paterson public schools is 12.5:1, higher than the New Jersey school median of 11.2:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Paterson guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby New Jersey cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All New Jersey cities