Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Jersey City Public Schools

New Jersey · Public School District
39
Schools
25,395
Students
$35,033
Per-Pupil Spend
+144% nat'l
55.4%
Free Lunch Rate
≈ nat'l avg
75.6%
Graduation Rate
-10.9pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Jersey City Public Schools is a public school district in New Jersey serving 25,395 students across 39 schools. It includes 26 elementary, 4 middle, 8 high schools. Its graduation rate of 75.6% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $35,033 is above average for a US public school district. 55% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 33/100.

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All Schools (39)
Elementary Schools26 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Alexander D. Sullivan SchoolPK–05629
Alfred Zampella SchoolPK–08802
Chaplain Charles Watters SchoolPK–08697
Charles E. Trefurt SchoolPK–05648
Christa McAuliffe SchoolPK–08918
Cornelia F. Bradford SchoolPK–05962
Dr. Charles P. DeFuccio SchoolPK–08302
Dr. Maya Angelou Elementary SchoolPK–05674
Dr. Michael Conti SchoolPK–08672
Dr. Paul Rafalides SchoolPK–04364
Frank R Conwell SchoolPK–05507
Gladys Nunery SchoolPK–05273
James F. Murray SchoolPK–08805
Joseph H. Brensinger SchoolPK–081,092
Jotham W. Wakeman SchoolPK–05598
Julia A. Barnes SchoolPK–08340
Mahatma K. Gandhi SchoolPK–081,001
Martin Center for the ArtsPK–08425
Martin Luther King Jr. SchoolPK–08776
Nicolaus Copernicus SchoolPK–05521
Ollie Culbreth Jr. SchoolPK–08422
Patricia M. Noonan School PS #26PK–05529
President Barack Obama Elementary SchoolPK–08420
Rafael Cordero y MolinaPK–08735
Rev. Dr. Ercel F. Webb SchoolPK–05741
Whitney M. Young Jr. SchoolPK–08655
Middle Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Academy I06–08403
Ezra L. Nolan School06–08234
Franklin L. Williams School06–08854
Middle School # 406–08669
High Schools8 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Dr Ronald McNair High School09–12701
Henry Snyder High School09–12849
Infinity Institute06–12326
Innovation High School09–12272
James J Ferris High School09–121,348
Liberty High School09–12194
Lincoln High School09–12942
William L Dickinson High School09–122,024
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Regional Day SchoolPK–1271
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$35,033+144% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
53%
38%
State
53.5%
Local (property tax)
38.5%
Federal
8.0%

Funding is shared between state (53%) and local sources (38%), with limited federal reliance.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
39
Schools
25,395
Students
55%
Free Lunch
$35K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate75.6%
Opportunity Score33/100
StateNew Jersey →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $35,033 per pupil — 144% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 39 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average graduation rate
At 75.6%, graduation is 10.9 points below the national average of 86.5%.
Low opportunity scores
Median opportunity score of 33/100, below the national median of 50, which can correlate with weaker long-term economic mobility for students.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Jersey City Public Schools?
Jersey City Public Schools has 39 public schools, serving a total of 25,395 students.
What is the graduation rate for Jersey City Public Schools?
The graduation rate is 75.6%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Jersey City Public Schools spend per student?
Jersey City Public Schools spends $35,033 per pupil — 144% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Jersey City Public Schools?
55% of students in Jersey City Public Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Jersey City Public Schools?
No, Jersey City Public Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Jersey City Public Schools serve?
Jersey City Public Schools serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Jersey City Public Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Jersey City Public Schools is 33/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.