Best Public Schools in Camden, NJ

The city of Camden, New Jersey, is home to 22 schools, including 11 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 5 high schools, and 5 alternative schools. These schools serve a diverse student population and face significant socioeconomic challenges, as evidenced by the high rates of free and reduced-price lunch eligibility across the district.

Among the standout schools in the area are Mastery Schools of Camden Inc. and Camden's Promise Charter School, both alternative schools with impressive four-year graduation rates of 91.3% and low dropout rates of 1.0%. Another high-performing school is Leap Academy University Charter School, which excels in the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment, with 79.8% of 11th-grade students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 44% in Mathematics, significantly above the state averages.

While the charter schools in the area generally outperform the traditional public schools, the Camden City School District, which encompasses most of the schools, is ranked 606 out of 609 districts in New Jersey and is rated 0 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger. This indicates the significant challenges facing the district and the need for substantial improvements in areas such as test scores, chronic absenteeism, and overall academic achievement.