CAPS to Expand in Paterson with Two New Campuses

Paterson, NJ — College Achieve Public Schools (CAPS), a leading network of K-12 public charter schools in New Jersey, will open two new campuses in Paterson in response to increasing community demand. With more than 800 families currently on the waitlist, the two schools will open their doors in August 2024, with convenient access in the neighborhood. CAPS Paterson first opened in the 2017-18 school year and has garnered national recognition for its unwavering commitment to providing all students with a high-quality education, regardless of background or resources. With the expansion, one in every ten students in Paterson will be a College Achieve student, helping to close the opportunity gap across the city with a college-prep education.

“CAPS Paterson is looking forward to expanding our footprint in the community, ensuring even more students have access to an exceptional education that prepares them to excel in their next chapter,” said Dr. Gemar Mills, Co-Founder & Executive Director of College Achieve Paterson Campus. "Our successful academic model at CAPS Paterson has proven to be more effective than most schools in the district. We are grateful for the state's approval of two new schools, recognizing the impact of our approach. We remain committed to disrupting the cycle of poverty through education, ensuring that every student can reach their full potential.”

The expansion is in direct response to the city’s increasing demand for more students to gain access to enhanced learning opportunities. In the wake of the pandemic, CAPS Paterson has made significant progress toward closing the achievement gap, which school leaders attribute to their rigorous academic model, college-going culture and individualized student support. Notably, in school year 2022-23, CAPS Paterson demonstrated a 20% increase in English language arts (ELA) proficiency and 14% increase in math, compared to the state which only saw an approximate 2.5% increase ELA and a 2% increase in math. Furthermore, in ELA, Latino scholars met or outperformed both the state and their white peers in all grades. Black scholars met or outperformed the state 6 out of 7 tested grades. This year, CAPS Paterson will proudly celebrate its inaugural graduating class. Thus far, 82 scholars have already been accepted into 4-year colleges, amounting to 96.5%.

“We seek to inspire our students to dream big and learn how to work hard to achieve their dreams. I’m proud we’re offering the CAPS model of high expectations to more children and families in Paterson,” said Michael Piscal, CEO and founder of College Achieve Public Schools. “This expansion will provide more students with a rigorous, character-building curriculum, including Advanced Placement opportunities for all. Under the tremendous leadership of Dr. Mills, CAPS is building on our mission to uplift the communities we serve by bringing more high-quality educational opportunities to more students.”

For more information or to enroll, please visit www.collegeachievepaterson.org.

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About College Achieve Public Schools

College Achieve Public Schools (CAPS) is a network of K-12 schools in Paterson, Plainfield, Asbury Park and Neptune Township that was created to serve youth who have enormous potential but limited resources. Its mission is to prepare all students to excel in and graduate from the top colleges and universities in the nation. For more information about our schools and how to enroll, visit us at collegeachieve.org/enrollment.