Paterson Public Schools

Overview:

The Paterson Public School District is a diverse, urban school district located in northern New Jersey, 18 miles west of New York City. The third largest school district in New Jersey, the Paterson Public School District enrolls 25,247 students in grades Kindergarten through 12 and an additional 2,900 pre-kindergarten students with community providers. The district’s population mirrors the demographic trend of urban communities in New Jersey: 66.5 percent of all students are of Hispanic origin; 23.7 percent are African-American and approximately 10 percent are of Caucasian, Middle Eastern or Asian descent. Nearly 50 percent of all students in Paterson speak a primary language other than English, with a total of 37 languages spoken in district schools.The district currently has 54 schools with 2,526 certified teachers to accommodate students in kindergarten through grade 12. The district also provides a comprehensive preschool program, serving OVER 3500 three-and four-year-old students in 23 early childhood community provider centers and 13 in-district sites.