Roger León

Newark Superintendent of Schools Roger León Announces and Recognizes NPS Students Who Received a Perfect Score on the PARCC Exam

Banquet Held for Students and Families – Students Honored at Board Meeting

[Newark, NJ – September 26, 2018] Newark’s Superintendent of Schools Roger León recognized the 42 students who obtained perfect scores on the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) Exam.  The students were recognized at the 2018 Perfect Scorers Banquet and featured at the September Board of Education public meeting.

Superintendent León said, “Last night, we recognized students who have excelled on the PARCC exam, who have set the bar high for achievement and set the stage of what is possible for other students.” The Superintendent continued, “The 42 students recognized represent the NPS mantra, ‘Where Passion Meets Progress’ – their passion for education and learning is worth recognizing and celebrating with the Newark Board of Education, their families, schools and the community.”

A total of 42 students from 16 schools, who were joined by parents and family members, were heralded at the 2018 Perfect Scorers Banquet and further recognized by the Newark Board of Education later in the evening at the Board meeting. Student honors were presented in English Language Arts, Mathematics and Algebra.

The students hail from:

  • Ann Street School
  • Arts High School
  • William H. Horton School
  • East Side High School
  • First Avenue School
  • Harriet Tubman
  • Lafayette Street School
  • Mount Vernon School
  • Oliver Street School
  • Park Elementary School
  • Rafael Hernandez
  • Ridge Street School
  • Roberto Clemente School
  • Science Park High School
  • Speedway Avenue School
  • Technology High School

“We are honoring these students because they are examples of all that is possible,” said Board Chairperson Josephine C. Garcia. “We are very proud of their accomplishments and wish them and all of our students continued success.”

Newark City of Learning Collaborative Announces Launch of Public Conversations to Strengthen Newark’s College-Going Culture

Learning Collaborative - 1[Newark, NJ – Sept. 19, 2018] Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León, Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC) Executive Director Reginald Lewis, Essex County Schools of Technology Superintendent Dr. James Pedersen, KIPP New Jersey Chief External Officer Ben Cope, and St. Benedict’s Prep Dean of Seniors and College Placement Didier Jean-Baptiste announced at a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 19, the launch of public conversations throughout the city of Newark to increase the number of Newark residents with college and other post-secondary certificates by 25 percent by 2025.

NCLC is an initiative created to help build Newark’s college-going culture by ensuring that all Newarkers have the tools and resources needed to matriculate at and graduate from college. Accordingly, the citywide public conversations will address topics and issues derived from Post-Secondary Outcomes of Newark High School Graduates, a report produced by NCLC in collaboration with the Rutgers University-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration that examines what college-going looks like for nearly 13,500 of Newark’s recent graduates. Covering approximately 85 percent of all Newark high school students who graduated between 2011 and 2016, the report examines college enrollment, persistence, and completion rates.

“The good news is that we know more Newark students are enrolling in college, but we also know that far too few are persisting to degree completion,” says NCLC Executive Director Reginald Lewis. “We hope that this report will serve as a resource to better understand the experiences of recent high school graduates.”

“As both a 22-year Newark Public Schools educator and mayor, one of my life’s greatest priorities has been to provide our youth with opportunities to advance their education after graduating from high school. The City is advancing this priority by collaborating with major partners to increase the number of Newark residents with college degrees and post-secondary certificates by 25 percent by 2025. To do so, we will talk to and listen to our residents and get their input, ideas, and concerns, in making this goal a reality. It will be attained, and our residents will be both the power behind it and the ultimate beneficiaries,” Mayor Baraka said.

At the press conference, representatives from all sectors of the K-12 spectrum (e.g., traditional public, charter, vocational technical, and private schools) also reaffirmed their unprecedented partnership and manifested their continued commitment to strengthen the high-school-to-college transition for all Newark students by signing a Statement of Commitment.

“The NCLC, City of Newark and Newark Board of Education are taking a monumental step in charting a new course for our beloved city,” said Superintendent León. “Through these community conversations, we are giving voice to the people who will help determine how soon we will become a national leader in the number of residents who are college graduates. León continued, “I am a proponent of engaging the community on all issues pertaining to them – that is why this exercise is integral to the success of our students and city. We will significantly shift the trajectory upward and provide a roadmap that will profoundly impact Newark and change it forever.”

“The cross-sector collaboration was one of the highlights of the project and enabled us to examine college-going for a wide range of Newark high school graduates. One of our goals was really to put schools in conversation – not competition – with one another to learn and share best practices throughout the community,” remarked the report’s co-author Dr. Kristi Donaldson.

The first two rounds of public discussions will take place in October as follows:

East Ward Roundtable
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
East Side High School
238 Van Buren Street
Newark, NJ 07105		 West Ward Roundtable
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Jehovah-Jireh Praise & Worship Church Center
505 South 15th Street
Newark, NJ 07103

Click here to download a pdf of Post-Secondary Outcomes of Newark High School Graduates.
Click here for more information about NCLC.

Overall College Enrollment Increases for Newark High School Graduates But There’s Room for Improvement

By: Chanel L. Donaldson | July 30, 2018

Photo Courtesy: Montclair State University
Photo Courtesy: Montclair State University

[Newark, NJ July 30, 2018] Today, the Newark City of Learning Collaborative (NCLC) released Post-Secondary Outcomes of Newark High School Graduates, an analysis of what college-going looks like for nearly 13,500 of Newark’s recent graduates. Housed at the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, NCLC is working to build Newark’s college-going culture by ensuring that all Newarkers have the tools and resources needed to get to and through college. The report was produced in collaboration with the Rutgers University-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration.

Covering approximately 85 percent of all Newark high school students who graduated between 2011 and 2016, the report examines college enrollment, persistence, and completion rates.

“The good news is that we know more Newark students are enrolling in college, but we also know that far too few are persisting to degree completion,” says NCLC Executive Director Reginald Lewis. “We hope that this report will serve as a resource to better understand the experiences of recent high school graduates.”

Post-Secondary Outcomes is truly groundbreaking because it is representative of graduates from traditional public, charter, vocational technical, and private schools. The report is the first of its kind, involving the participation of representatives from all of Newark’s school sectors.

“The cross-sector collaboration was one of the highlights of the project and enabled us to examine college-going for a wide range of Newark high school graduates. One of our goals was really to put schools in conversation – not competition – with one another to learn and share best practices throughout the community,” remarks the report’s co-author Dr. Kristi Donaldson.

Newark Public Schools currently enrolls over 60% of all Newark high school students. Newly appointed Superintendent Roger León has already demonstrated interest in collaboration and making college-going and college persistence a priority for NPS students. “I would like to thank Rutgers–Newark, the Newark City of Learning Collaborative, and SPAA for capturing this important data on Newark Public Schools high school graduates over the span of the last six years,” said Superintendent León. “While these numbers represent improvement over previous years, they remain far from where we should be. Our goal in Newark and my commitment is to propel students in an upward trajectory. Our students can soar academically and can compete nationally.”

Ryan Hill, founder and CEO of KIPP New Jersey, noted “the academic rigor of our K-12 education and the support we give our alumni and their families as they navigate their lives after high school have been critically important in helping our kids close the college opportunity gap and reach their potential.” Hill also highlighted the importance of “collectively work[ing] to expand college opportunities for Newark students.” In fact, KIPP recently supported a group of Newark Public School guidance counselors to attend their College Counseling Institute in San Antonio, TX, indicating greater interest in working together. [1]

With an increasingly large share of Newark students enrolled, Essex County Schools of Technology (formerly Essex County Vocational Technical Schools or ECVTS), made up the second largest subset of students in the study. Superintendent Dr. James M. Pedersen commented on the importance of Post-Secondary Outcomes by saying, “As we continue to improve our practices in preparing students to be successful in college and in the area of career-technical education, the findings and recommendations of this report will help us shape programs that hold students to high academic standards and spur better outcomes for them.”

As the only private school involved, St. Benedict’s Prep’s Headmaster Fr. Edwin Leahy noted his enthusiasm in taking part in the project adding, “We are eager to share what experience has taught us about not only getting young men into college, but also playing a role in supporting them through it … [and] learning from the other participating high schools as we continue our work to ensure that an even greater number of our graduates receive their college degrees within four or six years of leaving us.”

Ultimately, the findings of Post-Secondary Outcomes will help school leaders, educators, parents, and policymakers from across the city evaluate and strengthen the high school to college transition.

“This can help the city to make informed policy decisions to ensure as many young people as possible succeed at the college level,” says Lewis.

Community roundtables in each of Newark’s five wards are scheduled to take place this fall, beginning with a press launch at Newark City Hall in September.

To download the full report, visit www.nclc2025.org.

NJ Tree Foundation and Newark Public School Students Plant 24 Trees at Elliott Street School


[NEWARK, NJ – July 3, 2018] Students at Newark Public School’s Elliott Street School joined the New Jersey Tree Foundation for the planting of 24 trees around the school, located in Newark’s North Ward. The trees were donated by the NJ Tree Foundation. The students were joined by Senator Teresa Ruiz, North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos, Superintendent Roger León and others.

Superintendent of Newark Public Schools Roger León said, “Thank you to the NJ Tree Foundation for helping to beautify Elliott Street School – a crowned jewel in our district.” I want to also thank our students, their teacher and Principal Nicole T. Johnson for developing a STEM based curriculum supporting the planting of the 24 trees.”

The Superintendent also thanked Senator Ruiz and Councilman Ramos for encouraging the students to continue to protect the environment and to contribute to beautification efforts around their school and in the community.

Rhodes Scholar Jordan Thomas Continues To Share His Experiences with Students at Two NPS High Schools

“Newark has Prepared Me Well for My Future”

[NEWARK, NJ – February 12, 2018] Princeton University student Jordan Thomas is sharing his academic and personal experiences with students as a way to inspire Newark Public Schools students to create their own path to success in college and beyond. The 2014 graduate of University High School recently went back to his Alma Mater to talk to students about staying focused in high school, planning their path through college and deciding their future goals, beginning now.

Thomas said, “Your freshman year is as important as your senior year in high school, you have to be serious about your studies from the day you walk into the school until the day you graduate.” Many of the students approached Jordan after the event to get personal recommendations on challenges and opportunities. Principal Edwin Mendez said, “It was an honor to meet with Jordan to discuss his research project for Princeton and to see him engage the students in a way that was informative and interesting to them.”

Thomas also met with more than 50 grammar school age male students at Hawthorne Avenue School. All of the young men are members of the Young Men’s Leadership Academy, established by Principal Henry James. Every week for more than 8 years at Hawthorne, Principal James meets with 6th, 7th and 8th grade male students to discuss challenges in their lives and at school and opportunities for them to soar. Principal James said, “Our neighborhoods need you to come back and help prepare the next generation of leaders which is what Mr. Thomas has done.” Principal James also noted three students who attended Hawthorne are employed at Hawthorne as teaching assistants and mentors to the boys.

Interim Superintendent Gregory said, “I grew up down the street from this school on South 11th. Street. I know what it’s like to be a NPS elementary school student; I am an example of what you can do with the opportunities before you.” He added, “Jordan Thomas is an example of where education and opportunity can take you, as well. As a student, as a person, it is important that you never live just in the moment but plan five years ahead and decide how you can empower yourself through education. My final message is to always believe in yourself and what you have the power to do in your life.”

This was Thomas’ first time speaking to an elementary school. He thanked Assistant Superintendent Roger León for recommending him to speak at Hawthorne Avenue Elementary School. León told the student you can accomplish your goals – whatever they are – but you must first have a plan of action.

In closing, Thomas said, “You must start with a vision of what you want to do and who you want to be in your life. This is the moment – you are powerful, soak up all of the knowledge and wisdom you can as a student. I would not be the person I am today, had I not grown up in Newark. This city has prepared me well for my future.”

Newark Public Schools Officially Opens Oliver Street School

[Newark, NJ – June 13, 2016] – This Tuesday, Newark Public Schools (NPS) will be participating in a ribbon cutting ceremony officially welcoming students, parents and teachers to the grand opening of the new Oliver Street School in the East Ward of Newark. Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf, and state and local officials will be attending the event.

The Schools Development Authority (SDA) invested $73.6 million dollars to build the state-of-the-art school, which is the second newly constructed facility in the school district after Elliott Street School since 2010.

Media planning to attend should RSVP to Dreena Whitfield at DWhitfield@nullNPS.K12.NJ.US.

Oliver Street School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Who:

  • Mayor Ras J. Baraka (City of Newark)
  • Superintendent Christopher D. Cerf (Newark Public Schools)
  • Councilman Augusto Amador (East Ward, City of Newark)
  • Chairperson Antoinette Baskerville-Richardson (Board of Education, City of Newark)
  • Douglas J. Petty (Principal, Elliott Street School)
  • Senator M. Teresa Ruiz (State Senator, District 29)
  • County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. (Essex County)
  • Charles McKenna (CEO, New Jersey Schools Development Authority)
  • Assistant Superintendent Roger León (Newark Public Schools)

When:

  • Tuesday, June 14, 2016
    11:00am

Where:

  • Oliver Street School
    86 Oliver Street
    Newark, NJ 07105