Community Charter School of Paterson Named One of New Jersey’s Highest Growth Schools in Reading and Math

Watch our short video to see what teachers, students, and leadership have to say about this incredible achievement

At NJCDC, we’ve always believed that education is one of the most powerful tools to transform lives and communities. That’s why, more than 15 years ago, we brought together a group of Paterson parents and local stakeholders with a bold vision — to create a new kind of school in the heart of Paterson’s Great Falls Historic District. A school that would offer educational excellence, strengthen families, and serve as a true community anchor.

That vision became the Community Charter School of Paterson (CCSP) — and today, we’re thrilled to share that CCSP has been recognized as one of the highest growth schools in New Jersey in both Reading and Math.

This tremendous accomplishment was recently highlighted in a new analysis by the New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association, which showed that CCSP was the second-ranked school in the state for student growth. The analysis used state testing data to measure student growth in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math between the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 school years. Strikingly, while charter schools serve fewer than 5% of all public school students in New Jersey, they made up 60% of the top 10 highest-growth districts — and CCSP stood out among them.

For us, this recognition is much more than a number — it’s a reflection of the dedication of our educators, the resilience of our students, and the strength of our Paterson community.

“As school founder, I could not be more proud,” said NJCDC’s Founder & CEO and CCSP Lead Founder Bob Guarasci. “Coming out of the pandemic, like so many other schools, we struggled. But hearing this news about how well our students performed on recent standardized testing really warms my heart. And it tells me that we can do better and that we will do better. I congratulate our students for their great job on last year's standardized test, and I say, let's do even better this year.”

CCSP’s leadership also credits a unified effort from students, families, teachers, and staff. “We are really excited to learn that we were in the top 1% of student growth on last year's NJSLA standardized testing assessment,” said CCSP CEO Ira Griffith. “It speaks to the hard work and dedication of our families for entrusting us with their students’ futures; of our staff for their tireless commitment to planning, providing feedback, loving on kids, and, most of all, believing that they can; and of our leaders investing in our teacher development and ensuring that our teachers feel developed and supported along the way.”

Founded in 2008 as a small K–3 school with just 400 students, CCSP has grown to serve more than 900 students in grades K–8. Located in Paterson’s historic Great Falls district, the school is part of NJCDC’s larger mission to create opportunities for children and families throughout our neighborhood. We strive every day to provide a learning environment where all children are supported, challenged, and inspired.

Kindergarten teacher Nelly Garcia-Claudio emphasized how data-driven, personalized instruction helps make that vision a reality. “Our method is driven based on data to then prepare lessons to meet the needs of our students,” she said. “We can see who is mastering certain standards and moving up, who’s developing at an average level, and who is struggling. By giving them that personalized, individualized attention, every student grows and every student learns.”

For students like eighth-grader Ariana Carnero-Fitzpatrick, the growth is deeply personal. “I'm very proud of myself and I'm astonished,” she said. “When I look back at my writing last year, I can definitely see a big growth in my vocabulary and my articulation. Now I love to read and I'm always happy to have new texts to read and to learn more about literature.”

But beyond academics, Ariana says it's the school culture that makes CCSP feel like home. “What I love most about CCSP is the environment and the community we have. I feel like we're a big family with all our teachers, who form relationships with us and make sure that we're engaged. CCSP has prepared me for high school, and I feel very confident in my education within all of the core subjects.”

Teachers are at the heart of this success. “What makes CCSP such a strong environment for students’ growth is the inclusivity,” said eighth grade ELA teacher Joseph McLean. “This is a place where everyone belongs, everyone grows, and the entire staff has a vested interest in the kids’ future.”

As a Paterson native himself, McLean connects deeply with his students. “I sympathize with them. I'm a kid from the inner city, so I understand some of the challenges they face and how they show up. So I just try to meet them where they are and help them to get to where they need to be. These kids, they see a guy like me from an inner city environment who had an opportunity and took advantage of it; that message translates to my kids and they can see that hard work pays off.”

Younger students are feeling the impact too. Fourth grader Hailey Smith shared, “My teachers find unique ways to teach the scholars and make us more excited to learn — and this year, I've learned so many things! And, when I don't understand something, I'll ask my teachers and they work with me to understand by explaining it in different ways.”

This recent accolade is more than a data point — it’s a testament to the strength of a school deeply rooted in community, and to what’s possible when high expectations meet high levels of support. It also reaffirms what we’ve believed since day one: that every child in Paterson deserves access to a world-class education.

We couldn’t be more proud of CCSP and everyone who’s helped make this milestone a reality. We’re excited about the road ahead — and we’ll continue working to help students build a choice-filled life and make meaningful contributions in Paterson and beyond.

To learn more about CCSP, visit www.ccsp.org and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.