Back To School In Newark: ‘This Is What Local Control Looks Like’

NEWARK, NJ — Another academic year began in Newark this week, and administrators say there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future of New Jersey’s largest public school district.

The district held its annual convocation on Thursday at the Prudential Center – the first time it’s been held there since 2018. The event included performances and presentations from several local students (see below).

Board of Education President Hasani Council said the district has come a long way since taking back the reins from the state in 2018.

“This is what local control looks like,” Council said.

Mayor Ras Baraka – a former high school principal who had also worked in Newark as a substitute teacher, teacher and vice-principal – urged attendees to “build the young people we want to see.”

“We know how to believe in things that are greater and bigger than ourselves and make the darkest moments beautiful,” the mayor said. “This is what we need to teach our children.”

New Jersey Sen. Teresa Ruiz (NJ-29) also attended the event to offer some words of encouragement.

“Whether you greet a child in the morning crossing the street, whether you’re serving breakfast, whether you’re the key teacher or a paraprofessional in the classroom,” Ruiz said. “You raise the next generation of champions.”

District administrators pointed to improvements in graduation rates and attendance as signs of improvement:

• Graduation rate projected at 89.6% (up from 86.3% last year)
• Districtwide attendance is 95.1% (up from 94.8%)
• Chronic absenteeism is down for the third straight year to 10.4% (below the state average)

Meanwhile, the district’s increase in enrollment since the pandemic remains the highest among America’s urban school districts, according to the Council of Great City Schools.

Other figures presented at this year’s convocation included:

CLASS OF 2025 – The Class of 2025 earned $218 million in scholarships, $15.6 million in college tuition savings through dual enrollment, 184 associate’s degrees and 457 Seals of Biliteracy. There were 631 high school graduates with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

MATH – “In math, scores grew across all grades, and the district is now just three points shy of pre-pandemic levels.”

ALGEBRA – “On state tests, the top schools in each grade were recognized, along with the most improved — including an eight-way tie by eighth grade students from elementary schools for Algebra’s top spot (Franklin, Hawkins, Ivy Hill, Lincoln, Mount Vernon, Park, Ridge, and Speedway Elementary Schools).”

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS – “English Language Arts scores in the district are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. Grade 6 students are up 0.6%, and Grade 9 is up 2.8%, scoring above pre-pandemic levels for the second year in a row.”

GRADUATION – “On the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment, six high schools outpaced the state in English Language Arts (Arts High School, Bard High School Early College, and Data Science & Information Technology, Science Park, Technology, and University High Schools), while four exceeded the state in math (Bard, Data Science & Information Technology, Science Park, Technology).”

Superintendent Roger León pointed out that the district is entering its sixth year of a historic 10-year strategic plan.

While there is still more work to be done, the district’s successes are a result of the “transformative work” of everyone who was at the Prudential Center, León said.

“You did that!” the superintendent told employees as arena screens displayed the district’s high-performing rating from the New Jersey Department of Education.

• See Related: Newark Schools Are ‘High Performing,’ BOE Prez Cheers QSAC Milestone
• See Related: Newark Schools Are Making Progress On 'Chronic Absenteeism,' District Says

HONORING 50 YEARS

During this year's convocation, Patricia Pavlo Triano – a teacher coach at Fourteenth Street School – was honored for 50 years of dedicated service to the Newark Public School District.

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STUDENT PRESENTATIONS

This year’s convocation included presentations from several local students:

• Justin Martinez, a rising freshman at Technology High School, brought the audience to attention with “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King, Jr.”, which he performed last spring as a McKinley School eighth grader
• The John F. Kennedy School Band performed James Brown’s “I Feel Good” under the direction of teacher Miyuki Takahashi-Rivera, with Andrea Simon on vocals
• Jamal Kirton, a Central High School senior and national champion in dramatic interpretation, delivered Langston Hughes’ “A Dream Deferred” and an excerpt from his portrayal of Emmett Till
• The Science Park High School “Legion of Boom” Marching Band, led by 2025 Teacher of the Year Mario Banks, electrified the arena with “Get Ready” by The Temptations
• Two Arts High School graduates returned to perform: Carlos Crespo with a dance choreographed by his dance teacher Ronnie Carney and Keliana Xavier singing Andra Day’s “Rise Up.” The Arts High School Latin Band opened with “Keep On Movin’,” and closed with “La Murga” featuring baritone saxophonist Miguel Rodriguez Bermudez, who made headlines in June when he was offered a teaching job at graduation.
• The Malcolm X Shabazz High School Boys Indoor Track Team — David Edokpolor, Khalid Raheem, Michael Odins, Justin Parris, and Head Coach Hassan N. Wilson — was honored with a video of their national championship victory at the Millrose Games 4x400 relay
• Omari Gaines, the former Malcolm X Shabazz High School Football safety, was also honored as he is now playing his first season at Stanford University. His father, Malcolm X Shabazz Head Football Coach Nasir Gaines, proudly took photos of his son’s image projected on the arena’s screen.

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