Paterson Public School District

Paterson Public School District serves 24,795 students across 45 schools in Passaic County, New Jersey. The district experienced minimal enrollment decline of 0.2% in the prior year, indicating relative stability. With a student-teacher ratio of 14.0:1 and 1,769 teachers, the district maintains staffing levels comparable to state norms.

Academic performance shows significant gaps compared to state averages. Math proficiency stands at 14.2% against the state average of 40.2%, while reading proficiency reaches 24.0% compared to 51.7% statewide. The graduation rate of 75.2% trails the state average of 90.0%. Chronic absenteeism affects 35.7% of students, notably above typical district benchmarks.

The student population reflects substantial economic and linguistic diversity. Approximately 64.3% of students qualify as economically disadvantaged, 37.7% are English learners, and 16.1% receive special education services. Hispanic students represent 72.2% of enrollment, followed by Black students at 16.2%, Asian students at 6.1%, and White students at 5.1%.

Financially, the district operates a $739.9M budget with per-pupil spending of $12,746, slightly below the state average of $13,992. Revenue relies heavily on state funding at 83.7%, with federal funding comprising 8.0% and local sources 8.2%. This funding structure reflects limited local revenue capacity relative to student needs and enrollment size.