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Rafael Cordero y Molina

Public Grades PK, KG-8
553rd
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,331 New Jersey Elementary Schools
Better than 58% of New Jersey elementary schools
Summary

Rafael Cordero y Molina is a Jersey City, New Jersey, public school serving 794 students in prekindergarten through eighth grade as part of Jersey City Public Schools. Its latest results show a striking split: third-grade scores are well above state results, but eighth-grade scores are far below them. In 2025–2026, third-grade ELA and math proficiency were 68% and 69%, compared with 48% and 49% statewide; eighth-grade ELA and math were 31% and 6%, compared with 53% and 23%. The most important takeaway is that strong early-grade performance does not carry through evenly to the upper grades.

Among nearby schools, Cordero’s grade 3–5 results generally trail the group, especially in math: its averages were 57% in ELA and 52% in math, versus nearby-school averages of 64% and 61%. Its fifth-grade math score, 29%, was the lowest among the 10 nearby schools reporting that grade. Against district and state results, the picture is more mixed: across grades 3–8, average ELA proficiency was 52%, above the district’s 44% and just above the state’s 51%; average math was 37%, above the district’s 33% but below the state’s 40%. Fifth-grade science was 35%, 8 points below the nearby-school average.

Results have changed unevenly over time: average ELA proficiency across grades 3–8 fell 10 points from 2022–2023 to 2025–2026, while math rose 10 points, and neither trend was a steady year-by-year climb. SchoolDigger gives Cordero 3 stars and a 58th-percentile statewide ranking for 2025–2026, up from the 18th percentile in 2015–2016; five of the 10 nearby schools rank higher. The student-teacher ratio was 10.7 in 2024–2025, below the nearby-school average of 13.0. Free/reduced lunch eligible students were 39% in 2024–2025, compared with a 46% nearby-school average. Chronic absenteeism was 26%, above the district’s 24% and the state’s 14%. SchoolDigger’s measure of how well the school serves Asian students ranks it at the 79th percentile, above its overall standing; for special education students, it ranks at the 20th percentile, below overall.

794
Students ?
10.7
Student/teacher ratio ?
$24,207
Per pupil spending ?
38.9%
Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?
 158 Erie St
       Jersey City, NJ  07302-1718

(201) 714-4390

District: Jersey City Public Schools


Students who attend Rafael Cordero y Molina usually attend:

High:    James J Ferris High School
Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
27.7%
Asian:
25.7%
White:
24.7%
more
 See top rated New Jersey elementary schools

 Compare Rafael Cordero y Molina to nearby elementary schools!
At a glance
▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 18th percentile in 2016 → 58th in 2026
Strengths
✓Ranking is trending up — up 40 percentile points since 2016
✓Among the top-ranked schools in Jersey City Public Schools
✓Above the New Jersey median (58th percentile)
Worth a look
!High chronic absenteeism (26% vs 14% New Jersey)
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?
This school44%
District avg36%
New Jersey avg43%
Elementary school
553rd of 1,331
New Jersey public elementary schools ?
Top 42%▲ up 41 pts since 2016
From bottom 18% (2016) to top 42% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of New Jersey Elementary Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
467th of 743
New Jersey public middle schools ?
Bottom 37%▲ up 24 pts since 2016
From bottom 13% (2016) to bottom 37% (2026)
See the entire ranking list of New Jersey Middle Schools →
★★★★★
SchoolDigger rating ?
4th of 25Elementary Schools in the Jersey City Public Schools
445th of 607Jersey City Public Schools among New Jersey districts
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202660.0553 of 133158.5%★★★☆☆
202555.8602 of 134755.3%★★★☆☆
202442.5761 of 133843.1%★★☆☆☆
202349.9670 of 134250.1%★★★☆☆
202250.5661 of 134550.9%★★★☆☆
202141.9703 of 131746.6%★★☆☆☆
201942.5822 of 136039.6%★★☆☆☆
201840.2858 of 135336.6%★★☆☆☆
201728.51002 of 135225.9%★☆☆☆☆
201620.81106 of 134617.8%★☆☆☆☆
201521.01099 of 135719.0%★☆☆☆☆
201426.01091 of 136320.0%★☆☆☆☆
201331.81035 of 136724.3%★☆☆☆☆
201223.71116 of 136318.1%★☆☆☆☆
201138.5980 of 136027.9%★☆☆☆☆
201034.11022 of 135424.5%★☆☆☆☆
200929.21070 of 134620.5%★☆☆☆☆
200821.61139 of 133814.9%★☆☆☆☆
200738.21003 of 132924.5%★☆☆☆☆
200663.6623 of 131452.6%★★★☆☆
200551.8793 of 130339.1%★★☆☆☆
200435.2980 of 129824.5%★☆☆☆☆
200366.8496 of 120458.8%★★★☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202638.3275 of 43436.6%★★☆☆☆
202548.7210 of 46354.6%★★★☆☆
202447.7229 of 46951.2%★★★☆☆
202361.1151 of 46367.4%★★★☆☆
202251.2228 of 49453.8%★★★☆☆
202146.2223 of 45651.1%★★★☆☆
201944.0294 of 52243.7%★★☆☆☆
201839.1292 of 51743.5%★★☆☆☆

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202676.473 of 34178.6%★★★★☆
202572.693 of 33071.8%★★★★☆
202478.654 of 34084.1%★★★★☆
202373.181 of 34676.6%★★★★☆
202282.937 of 34889.4%★★★★☆
202170.295 of 33972.0%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202655.0603 of 131154.0%★★★☆☆
202557.5545 of 132658.9%★★★☆☆
202439.8782 of 131740.6%★★☆☆☆
202349.9640 of 131851.4%★★★☆☆
202243.7733 of 132644.7%★★☆☆☆
202138.3753 of 129041.6%★★☆☆☆
201942.7804 of 133139.6%★★☆☆☆
201842.4819 of 133338.6%★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202661.1336 of 99166.1%★★★☆☆
202554.1410 of 103260.3%★★★☆☆
202437.5609 of 98938.4%★★☆☆☆
202354.6383 of 98261.0%★★★☆☆
202246.7446 of 95353.2%★★★☆☆
202143.0465 of 89648.1%★★☆☆☆
201952.9385 of 89957.2%★★★☆☆
201849.7402 of 87053.8%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202640.9620 of 100238.1%★★☆☆☆
202537.4685 of 102333.0%★★☆☆☆
202428.5689 of 93926.6%★☆☆☆☆
202343.8476 of 91047.7%★★☆☆☆
202246.4419 of 86351.4%★★★☆☆
202131.5606 of 83927.8%★☆☆☆☆
201945.9471 of 94850.3%★★★☆☆
201844.2561 of 94240.4%★★☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202664.0481 of 130663.2%★★★☆☆
202553.4603 of 131854.2%★★★☆☆
202445.8703 of 131346.5%★★☆☆☆
202348.5664 of 131549.5%★★☆☆☆
202257.5557 of 132457.9%★★★☆☆
202146.4624 of 129751.9%★★★☆☆
201941.5800 of 133540.1%★★☆☆☆
201838.9850 of 133436.3%★★☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202622.8775 of 97020.1%★☆☆☆☆
202115.4787 of 8689.3%☆☆☆☆☆

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202667.1302 of 95168.2%★★★☆☆
202283.4111 of 97688.6%★★★★☆
202193.815 of 96498.4%★★★★★
201960.0402 of 102360.7%★★★☆☆
201870.0288 of 102271.8%★★★★☆
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202635.7467 of 74337.1%★★☆☆☆
202544.8405 of 75246.1%★★☆☆☆
202441.1416 of 74344.0%★★☆☆☆
202349.4346 of 74853.7%★★★☆☆
202246.9368 of 74550.6%★★★☆☆
202129.2431 of 65233.9%★★☆☆☆
201937.1480 of 74535.6%★★☆☆☆
201816.2609 of 71614.9%★☆☆☆☆
201719.9573 of 71219.5%★☆☆☆☆
201613.5622 of 71312.8%★☆☆☆☆
201517.3597 of 71316.3%★☆☆☆☆
201425.9551 of 71723.2%★☆☆☆☆
201325.5547 of 70422.3%★☆☆☆☆
201226.0543 of 67719.8%★☆☆☆☆
201135.1501 of 68426.8%★☆☆☆☆
201029.8514 of 67724.1%★☆☆☆☆
200935.6497 of 66425.2%★☆☆☆☆
200820.6527 of 64017.7%★☆☆☆☆
200735.1479 of 63124.1%★☆☆☆☆
200654.6375 of 61539.0%★★☆☆☆
200526.1472 of 59921.2%★☆☆☆☆
200451.3373 of 58836.6%★★☆☆☆
200318.0486 of 57415.3%★☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202643.6178 of 33146.2%★★☆☆☆
202564.390 of 35974.9%★★★★☆
202463.790 of 35274.4%★★★★☆
202354.9127 of 36164.8%★★★☆☆
202244.9172 of 35651.7%★★★☆☆
202143.9144 of 29150.5%★★★☆☆
201945.1171 of 32647.5%★★☆☆☆
201828.0238 of 32627.0%★☆☆☆☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202643.9387 of 71645.9%★★☆☆☆
202548.6356 of 72851.1%★★★☆☆
202436.1443 of 71738.2%★★☆☆☆
202349.7338 of 72053.1%★★★☆☆
202242.4395 of 72645.6%★★☆☆☆
202126.1447 of 62528.5%★☆☆☆☆
201937.1469 of 70333.3%★★☆☆☆
201821.8551 of 68019.0%★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202650.0265 of 58955.0%★★★☆☆
202551.4263 of 60856.7%★★★☆☆
202450.6253 of 58957.0%★★★☆☆
202366.8140 of 58776.1%★★★★☆
202261.2168 of 59171.6%★★★★☆
202139.9265 of 48044.8%★★☆☆☆
201956.9197 of 52462.4%★★★☆☆
201830.5372 of 50426.2%★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202639.4367 of 59037.8%★★☆☆☆
202549.6285 of 61353.5%★★★☆☆
202452.8226 of 58461.3%★★★☆☆
202356.2170 of 56870.1%★★★★☆
202256.2160 of 54970.9%★★★★☆
202135.2302 of 46735.3%★★☆☆☆
201951.6228 of 54157.9%★★★☆☆
201820.6421 of 52219.3%★☆☆☆☆

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202628.5513 of 71428.2%★☆☆☆☆
202552.0316 of 72656.5%★★★☆☆
202456.3282 of 71960.8%★★★☆☆
202351.0320 of 71855.4%★★★☆☆
202255.7278 of 73061.9%★★★☆☆
202133.9382 of 63539.8%★★☆☆☆
201942.5401 of 69742.5%★★☆☆☆
201817.4575 of 67514.8%★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankNew Jersey percentileRating
202115.4382 of 4014.7%☆☆☆☆☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Elementary school
Asian (2026)79th percentile+20 vs school
White (2026)68th percentile+10 vs school
Hispanic (2026)66th percentile+8 vs school
Male (2026)63rd percentile+5 vs school
Female (2026)54th percentile-4 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)38th percentile-20 vs school
African American (2026)37th percentile-22 vs school
Special Education (2026)20th percentile-38 vs school
Middle school
Hispanic (2026)55th percentile+18 vs school
African American (2026)46th percentile+9 vs school
Female (2026)46th percentile+9 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2026)38th percentile~ school
Male (2026)28th percentile-9 vs school
Special Education (2021)5th percentile-29 vs school
By subject vs New Jersey (2025-2026) ?
English Language Arts54%~ state avg
Mathematics41%~ state avg
Science24%~ state avg

3.7
3 ratings · 3 written reviews
5★2
4★0
3★0
2★0
1★1
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What people are saying
by a parent
Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Open Quote Our child is in Kindergarten at Cordero and attended Pre-K there. The teachers and staff are great and really seem to care about the children. Diverse student body with a strong PTA and high community involvement dedicated to continuing to improve and enhance the school and the student experience in general. The school seems to improve year over year. Highly recommend Cordero PS 37! Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, May 2, 2019

Open Quote Most staff members are occupied during school hours on their secondary job or business through internet. Close Quote


by a parent
Thursday, November 24, 2011

Open Quote My daughter is in Second grade at Rafael Cordero (PS.37) She 's been part of this school since Kindergarten. I have great experiences with the teachers. She loves going to school and the system works great.
Totally recommended. Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Rafael Cordero y Molina

Students who attend Rafael Cordero y Molina usually go on to attend:

High : James J Ferris High School

Students at Rafael Cordero y Molina are 28% Hispanic, 26% Asian, 25% White, 19% African American, 3% Two or more races.

In the 2024-25 school year, 794 students attended Rafael Cordero y Molina.

Rafael Cordero y Molina ranks 553rd of 1331 New Jersey elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

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Latest New Jersey data All new data »
2025–26 NJGPA, NJSLA & NJSLA-S test scoresNewNov 4, 2026
2019–20 through 2024–25 school spending dataOct 6, 2026
2024–25 attendance data, dropout rates & graduation ratesJun 13, 2026
2024–25 NJGPA, NJSLA & NJSLA-S test scoresDec 3, 2025


SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the New Jersey Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.

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