Best Public Schools in Zip Code 07502

The 07502 zip code of Paterson, New Jersey is home to 5 schools that serve students from elementary through high school, all part of the Paterson Public School District. While the schools face significant challenges, with low performance on state assessments and high rates of poverty, a few standout institutions show promise.

School 19, an elementary school, has the highest performance on state assessments, with 54.1% of 4th graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the district average of 27.3% and the state average of 53.6%. Joseph A. Taub School, a middle school, also stands out with strong Algebra I proficiency rates and English Language Arts scores above the district average.

However, the majority of schools in the 07502 zip code struggle, with John F. Kennedy High School ranking in the bottom 5% of high schools statewide and all schools rated 0 or 1 out of 5 stars by SchoolDigger. The high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, ranging from 47.99% to 81.49%, suggest these schools serve predominantly low-income communities, which can present additional challenges. Despite these obstacles, the standout performance of a few schools indicates that there may be opportunities to learn from their successes and improve outcomes for students across the district.