Graduation

Academic Awards Night – Class of 2023

Academic Awards Night - Homepage Slide 2023

Honorees with 3.5 GPA's and higher!

American History High School
Valerie Arreizaga
Leanne Brito-Perez
Aurelmy Aalyah Cabrera
Maximiliano A. Cedeno
Emily Cisneros
Aichatou Bailo Diallo
Nayelis Carol Ferrufino
Rashel Julisa Guaman
Marlon Hernandez
John Joseph Maldonado
Shela Adu Mensah
Destiny Nazario
Fernanda Araceli Ortiz
Marlon Silver Pena
Wendy Michelle Pino
Jamil Wayne Saxton
Eliel J. Serna
Luis Alexander Solorzano
Juan Fernando Tenesaca Tipanta
Paris Rosetta Williams

Arts High School
Amber M. Abraham
Zora Sade Allison
Marisol Alvarez
Aurora Amigon
Ebony Amirah Billups
Samiyah Britton
Devin Torey Brockett
Tia Jeanine Brockett
Samyra Caldwell
Anthony A. Castillo
Reiny Corcino
Jordan Grace Egerton
Oswald J. Garcia
Edwin Granados Granados
Khazandra Victoria Jimenez
Spencer Lamar Joyner
Sanaa Janaye Kelly
Gianna MacKenzie Marshall
Eliezer Musngi
Elijon Hassan Nix
Sophia Rocha
Joe’l Manuel Rojas
Ta-Marrae E. Sears
Celeste Reneisha Broklyn St Louis
David Ugbome
David A. Valencia
Arianna Valle
Tyler LaRon Velez
Kiyomie Beatrice Warsaw

Bard Early College High School
Anabhayan Ahruran
Iwinosa Alessia Amadasun
Jiles N. Ebai
Sydney Chiazor Ekwe
Mifdol Fayemi
Oluwakayode Joseph Gbenle
Ahyanna Renee Gordon El
Briana Lashea Hatcher
Chinelo Ivy Igwilloh
Franklin O. Iwuoha
Oluwaferanmi Joshua-Makun
Jacqueline Llivicota
Danielle Lopes
Amber Lynn Moniz
Emmanuella Olajide
Ikenna Onwuzuruike
Ifeoma Onyeka Precious Onyemauche
Laura Oghenetejiri Ovbiye
Damarie Quiles
Josselin Regalado
Araylia Szviatkovsky
Ny’Aira Razia Thomas
Christopher P. Ulloa Zaruma
Hailey Emily Vicente
Aniyah Lachelle Watson
Al-Quamir Wharton
Divine Deanna Wint

Barringer High School
Mitchel Oluwatunmise Elusanmi
Bryan Fontanez
Sandra Margarita Gomez Arias
Emely Hernandez-Padilla
Rahmatullah Jallow
Yisbely Yasier Lazala Bautista
Sebastian Alejandro Lopez Zurita
Brenda Marisol Matailo
Melanie Andrea Molina Castillo
Santiago Samuel Mosquera Cordova
Santiago David Parhuana
Paula Patricia Perez
Evony Pichardo
Dante Lito Ramirez
Rossairy Maria Rodriguez
Kathya Dayana Salto
Victor Manuel Santos
Sariya N. Shaw
Oscar Alejandro Solorzano
Xabier Alejandro Suarez Neira
Kevin Ariel Tamay Lata
Selena Christina Thompson

Central High School
Aishat Adeboye
Oluwagbemisola Michael Akinnawo
Kyala Briana Askew-Branch
Christopher Cabrera Nunez
Fortune Nkemjika Chetuya
Joshua Colon
Myrasidolph Croissy
Jesse-Rose Naa Ntaase Dadzie
Djenab Timbo Diallo
Deborah Edohwokui
Keisha Gesse
Stephanie Gomez
Wilfred Guillandeaux
Andy J. Hernandez
Jennyfer Issambi-Bonnes
Jalen J. Lyle
Nairobi N. Morillo
Jonathan Jouondo Ngouambe
Hawal Nikiema
Success Omolayo Odins
Adewunmi Rita Onabote
Fathiat Oyediran
Tabean Welch
Blandine Yakavi

East Side High School
Laura P. Abreu Marte
Karol Daniela Acosta-Mendez
Heidi J. Ajila
Emilly C. Alves Dos Prazeres
Jennifer N. Alves
Joan S. Angamarca Siguencia
Marifer A. Angamarca
Augusto Arins Vernizi
Jennifer D. Avila Orellana
Allan K. Baculima
Emely E. Baez Reyes
Brianna N. Barroqueiro
Cindy R. Belchior
Jhano Briones
Karolin Y. Brito Chacon
Elizabeth A. Caguana Tamay
Patrick N. Carabajal
Kattya L. Carangui
Brianna M. Carpio
Karen L. Casanova Torres
Alisson E. Castro Perez
Breoghan Conchas Marquez
Jamileth N. Condoy Estrada
Christopher M. Cruz
Guadalupe Cumbicos
John M. Cumbicos
Perla C. Cutrim Lopez
Igor Ferreira Da Silva
Sarah A. Da Silva
Laysa M. De Almeida
Rhosanna De La Rosa-Martinez
Anselmo D. De Morais Aquino
Marianna D. De Oliveira
Emily A. De Souza
Sawyer M. Diaz Moreira
Thais R. Domingos Dos Santos
Soniel Duran
Erick G. Esquivel
Jackelyne A. Esquivel
Ana V. Estevam
Alexa Estevez Fernandez
Eliane A. Faria Fortes
Fatimatu Fenning
Alexandra R. Ferreira
Ana E. Ferreira
Elias Ferreira
Genesis I. Flores Chirinos
Natalie B. Flores
Zeana M. Fortes
Belkis D. Funes Mejia
Skylah E. Gomes Moreira
Joana F. Gomes Sequeira
Angelica Gomes
Isabella R. Gonzales
Christopher Guaillas Vazquez
Heidy Guale
Jomaira V. Guaman Caguana
Jenifer A. Guaman Mainato
Nicole A. Guamancela Jarro
Giulia M. Gudeiki Faquini Da Silva
Mariana Guerini
Tania M. Guillca
Samantha C. Ladeira
Javier Lago
Octavio G. Lago
Naidelyn J. Lema Amboya
Briana D. Lima
Simone N. Lino
Ines S. Lourenco Silva
Kemilly V. Machado
Nycollas Dutra Machado
Cidney P. Martinez
Kaitlyn Cravo Martins
Julia Mascarenhas Da Silva
Alison P. Mendez Sandoval
Diego K. Millano
Bryan J. Miranda
Gisela Moreno Carrancio
Ana M. Moura Sarabando
Alexandre Z. Neto
Joyce F. Nunes
Ruthy O. Ocasio
Anthony M. Oliveira
Alicia G. Olivo
Alexis Orozco
Melissa Orrego
Luz M. Ortiz Vargas
Maria J. Osorto Padilla
Hellen M. Pacheco Pardo
Ivania S. Pardo Santin
Angie N. Puglla Cobos
Narcisa H. Quishpe Navas
Gabriela V. Ribau
Julissa F. Roca
Geovanna Rocha Nunes
Daniel Rodrigues Da Silva
Mariana Rodrigues Silva
Guillermo I. Romero Cusco
Christian Rosario
William A. Ruhno
Carla M. Santacruz Munoz
Jairielly E. Santos Costa
Larissa D. Santos
Nayeli J. Sarango Jaramillo
Emilin N. Siguencia
Paloma Soares Dos Santos
Alejandra M. Torres
Kevin D. Urgiles Santillan
Jessica Ventura Oliveira
Erik D. Verdugo Once
Amanda M. Vilela
Andrew Zacaula Limon

John F. Kennedy School
Asiyah A. Floyd
Fajr McCray
Evette Victor Nicklson
Anderson Reyes
Yashimm McKeil Robinson
Ashley Smith
Iyonia Marian Sutton
Elijah Traynham-Brown
Romaine Williams

Malcolm X Shabazz High School
Ayisha Amankwah Boateng
Jillian Natalie Lopez

Newark Vocational High School
Victoria Alegunlade
Nana Amosah
Hephzibah Oyindamola Awoyinfa
Malique Voshon Bernard
Raven Burwell
Roxy A. Caguana
Amaya Charles
Saniya J. Davis
Ifeoluwa V. Elegbede
Kassandra A. Fuentes
Joe D’mitri S. Gonzalez-Cardona
Ayana Jordan
Clyvens Jules
Yeurys Y. Medrano
Aaliyah G. Muhammad
Joy Ogunmileto
Jeremiah Pellew
Flordelis Torres

Science Park High School
Ayomide Adewole Adekoya
Adefolarin Mofetoluwa Ajibade
Derek R. Almeida
Adrian Andres Alvarez
Arianna Sophia Alves
Ashely Mabel Andeliz-Mendez
Alexandra Vada Avalos
Alyce Yessenia Avila
Oluwadunbarin Onaopemipo Balogun
Andrea Magnolia Barbaran
Gabriela Barreto Batista
Sekna Kassandra Bazzi
Miguel Bigao
Gyamfi Bioh Boampong
Melanie Paola Bravo-Cartagena
Jesse Brefo-Kesse
Timothy Brown
Jennifer M. Caguana
Mirian Caguana
Bryan A. Carpio-Bonilla
Isabella Castillo
John Paul Chacon
Mara Sykes Coelho
Tymiah Counts
Nylah Yvonne Dashiell Sykes
Mia Glory De Almeida
Amber Diaz
Lian Diaz
Jaelyn R. Dotson
Joseph E. Fernandes
Kevin Franca Figueiredo
Ayomikun Abigeal Fisher
Sthefany Ayumi Fukagawa
Lizbeth Gonzalez
Dianne Granados
Helen Guale
Alexandria Hall
Sahara Heras
Ashley Ilene Hernandez
Mathew J. Hernandez
Taneil Maria Hinds
Ara-Oluwa Jacob
Kaleb Jeffries
Evadne Johnson
Ryan Alexander Leon
Erica Lliguichuzhca Zapata
Anderson Lopez
Beverly Lopez
Karla D. Masin
Hector Enmanuel Mauricio
Alexander Mathew Milton
Paula Daniela Molina
Roselyn Muniz
William G. Neto
Kamila C. Nieves
Yaniamichelle Novoa
Rodiyat Ogundipe
Achunike Obinna Okafor
Covenant Oladosu
Lauren Oliveira
Kaylee Pena
Stephanie D. Penafiel
Sophia Rempel
Aaron S. Rivera
Melanie B. Rivera
Vivian D. Robles-Pinos
Raquel Rodrigues
Amanda Roman
Sofia Maren Ryals
Joshua W. Saint Pierre
Joanna Elsie Saint-Pierre
Jeff Ramiro Salas
Rooney Salas
Jennifer Sanmartin
Chris Santiak
Mirian P. Sapatanga Guncay
Mahfuzur Rahman Shohid
Elizaveta V. Silifonova
Thanusa Sivanesan
D’Andre Clive Shelton Snipe
Brandon Solano Flores
Kiara T. Solano
Rubi Alexandra Solano
John Paul Sucuzhanay Sacoto
Cristian Alexander Sumba
Luis Angel Valarezo
Milagros Andrea Villalba
Liana Maanu Zempare
Ruby Zumba

Technology High School
Grace T. Ajiboye
Shannon Alani Andrade
Courtney Andrews
Alicia Olivia Arthurs
Heidie J. Balladares
Sarah M. Banda
Katerine Michell Castaneda
Jeremias Elias Castillo
Noemi Dias Cerqueira
Heaven Jamiah Coleman
Kevin Luis Contreras
Derline Cosmeus
Jahari R. Cruz
Larissa Didek Dos Santos
Mia J. Espinoza
Muhammed Fakunmoju
Jazlynne Lazlym Fernandez
Doris Flores
Maryori Dayana Galdamez
Moneeke Alexis Goncalves
Brandon Guadalupe
Kenny G. Hernandez
Marlon Dariel Herrera
Blossom Ekinadoese Ibudeh
Isaiah Iriagbonse Ibudeh
Chibuikem Victor Ike
Faheema Isahawk
Aurelis Jimenez
Luis D. Lazo Cazho
Victor Ferreira Lima
Dayana A. Moscoso
Bryan Schiavon Mussato
Bao Chi Nguyen
Esther Mercy Ojo
Jamileth Ordonez
Mya Pacheco Reyes
Lara Massiel Parada-Tixe
Danell Joshua Perdomo
Joshua Danell Perdomo
Calebe Pereira
Joselyn J. Pichasaca
Stephany B. Piedra-Aguayza
Alicia Pomaquiza
Joe Pomavilla
Michael Eduardo Recinos
Shantel Y. Rivas
Alejandra Luciana Rodriguez Tello
Emmanuel Nestor Rodriguez
Junisse Alexandra Rosario
Gustavo Rossi
Cristian Ruiz
Jazmin Milagros Sanmartin
Ashley Kimberly Sarango
Domarklyne Soireau
Suly S. Solano
Steven J. Soza
Fareida Tahawy
Ahmed Mahir Tajwar
Emily A. Tapia
Kimberly C. Tenezaca
Abigaelle Sophia Thermitus
Shaianne Thomas
Emmanuel Torres
Hisshne Uthayasooriya
Angela Grace Valentin
Marvin F. Vega Munoz
Pablo Vega
Kayla Q. Velez
Tacarra Synai Williams
Katheline Paris Yanqui

University High School
Khyasia N. Andrews
Drake J. Barnes
Zakie Berry
Destiny Bethea
Fawaz Oluwafikayomi Bilewu
Sejada M. Campbell
Deirdre Jewel Corbett
Delimar Cuevas-Nunez
Kamaya Asmani Flemming
Nagee Asim Johnson Nunez, Jr.
Fanta A. Kamara
Rylie S. McMillan
Brandon A. Palacios
Arshad Muayad Persaud
Janasia K. Scott
Simone Marli Sunley
Kawiona Young

Weequahic High School
Elliot Oppong Ampofo
Annisha Janee George
Skyla Paris Harmon
Aishat Jimoh-Kuku
Faatiha Kalam
Udochukwu Laura Nwanebu
Merytsheena Pean
Fathiat Omobolanle Rilwan
Michelange Senat
Jennifer M. Tshimanga

West Side High School
Fathia Ajibola
Peter Oreoluwa Ayansiji
Joseph Bio
Favour Enakhimion
Chidindu Colette Ezeanyim
Lisandra Isabel Gimenez
Ayoola Kalejaiye
Whelmina Nadia Koomson
Isaiah Laborde
Fuhaad Lawal
Abigail Mbanugo
Saniya Katherine-Alicia Wright

Academic Awards Night – Class of 2020

Academic Awards 2020 - Main Image

Honorees with 3.5 GPA's and higher!

American History High School
Mimi Celine Agbobli
Britney A. Ajila-Chavez
Brahima Cisse Camara
Jessica Melissa Castillo
Shakon Naim Cummings
Sergi Emanuel Duque
Brenno Barreto Furtado
Vanessa Garcia
Reina Guardado
Victor M. Gutierrez
Raijohn Hicks
Fatima Jawneh
Karyn Jean-Jacques
Ayoko A. Kessouagni
Tanasia Jasmine McDougal
Sabria Ma'shay Mitchell
Natalie Navarrete
Joshua Rodriguez
Cristian Jose Solano
Manuel Sosa-Garcia
Raissa Toure
Destiny N. Valenzuela
Dymesha I. Wilson
Keyla Zaruma

Arts High School
Estefany Nicole Abrego
Ifeoluwa C. Adewale
Domonyquk Symeer Alexander
Maria Alvarado
Tamiah Boyer
Nayellie Collazo
Leila J. Delaney
Daissa Dereme
Euda Dongo
Karla Dayanara Gonzalez
Veronica Gravato
Kelly Herreros
Madison Mckinney
Bryan Steven Ospina Montenegro
A'Lysai A. Robinson
Mandy Rodrigues
Sabirna Salam
Ryan Soria
Orchid Sylvester
Amy Christine Torres
Valerie Valle
Dennis Velasco
Sol A. Velasquez
Natavia Arie Williams

Bard Early College High School
Adeola Adetayo
Melvin Afriyie
Nana Serwah Agyeman
Zaniyah Bellinger
Fathia O. Bilewu
Veronica Nube Campoverde
Bashaina Judie Dumerant
Daisy Garcia
Jamesia Griffin
Shanya P. Hopkins
Malaejah Jeter
Agartha Kankam
Kutorkor Kotey
Amber Landecho
Cristopher Lozada
Nana Otoo
Anjali Panchu
Ashley Marie Perez
Lennyn Prado
Nasir Smith-Noble
Gabrielle Smith
Germaya Bryanna Smith
Yvette Tannor
Areeha Zia

Barringer High School
Oyebola Fauziat Ajayi-Bembe
Douglas Alfaro
Mubarak Oriyomi Arohunfara
Alondra Berrios
Marcela Alejandra Cardenas Durand
Yoset Alejandra Ceron
Aslyn Cruz Pineda
Julissa L. Cruz Sanchez
Derrick Lamont Daniels
Evelyn Garcia
Brenda Gomez Monrroy
Kaitlyn Leilani Gomez
Melanie Denisse Gonzalez Castillo
Karina Henriquez Dominguez
Viviana Maria Hernandez
Osmarlin Dejesus Maria-Rosario
Kensy M. Molina-Herrera
Israt Ogundipe
Patricia Quito
Ginaury M. Ramirez
Katherine Reyes
Andreina Rivero Moreno
Antonio Rodriguez
Cristian Saul Salazar Meraz
Malik Saleem
Adarilys Juliana Sanchez
Yaireni Altagracia Santana
Angilee Santos
Mally Y. Sarita-Ventura
Derrick Sarpong

Central High School
Akou V. Edohwokui
Diannetae Henry
Gabriel N. Jaquez
Oluwadamilare Odukomaiya
Tasnim Tabassum
Annie Danna Thermitus

East Side High School
Carina Afonso
Nayibi Ajila Gonzalez
Aliysha Almonte
Maby Amador
Glenda Araujo
Brandon L. Arocho
Belen G. Avila Mendez
Luana Barbosa Prates
Zachary S. Barros
Livia Bassotto Brunorio
Julia C. Birch Gielow
Abner P. Bonifacio
Winder E. Buezo
Julissa K. Burguan
Jasmin A. Calle
Jean Cando
Sophia Capra
Kayla G. Carvalho
Gregory Chacon
Cinthya Chuquirima
Caue D. Coradi
Angela R. Costa
Evelyn V. Criollo Barros
Gabriella R. Da Silva
Leonardo M. DaSilva
Geovana De Almeida Neves
Pamela A. Diaz
Samantha Diaz
Edwardo O. Espinosa Rodriguez
Sophia V. Freitas Baptista
Susana E. Fuentes
Pedro Giarola Romano
Cristiana M. Godinho
Keyli D. Hernandez Pineda
Leslie Jimenez Ovando
Andrea E. Jimenez-Guaman
Lucas Luqui Santana
Dayana S. Macas
Jheniffer F. Marques
Jennifer N. Marquez Rivas
Brittney A. Mauricio
Arnol A. Melgar
Emily M. Munoz Valarezo
Gia N. Nunez-Cueva
Esther Ocasio
Diogo Pinto Rebelo
Helen D. Quinde
Yeraldy M. Remachi-Villa
Rashell Rondon Reynoso
Kelbin G. Ruiz
Leslie Ruiz
Sheila M. Ruiz
Justin Sabedra Vijay
Melissa N. Sarabando
Frank J. Satian-Ramos
Gessica A. Silva
Julia Silva
Thasyla M. Silva
Kevin R. Singh
Maria C. Sotelo-Quinones
Johan J. Urena
Willie Weng

Eagle Academy for Young Men of Newark
Omosola Mustapha-Adekoya

John F. Kennedy School
Mekhi Roberts
Marisa Rodrigues
Ariel Tapia
Colville Tobias
Qu’Wann Walker

Malcolm X Shabazz High School
Oreoluwa Adedoyin
ZaKendria Batts
Ashanti Bush
Keily X. Duarte
Tequan Robert Edmonds
Erica Mends
Quan'Ye White

Science Park High School
Olivia Machado Aires
Tariq Jeremiah Alexander
Shah Bano
Alexis Beade
Julie D. Begalli
Sarah Bernard
Simone Braithwaite
Domenica Bueno
Yasmeen Carneiro
Nathaniel William Ceus
Ingrid Cobbinah
Bruno Sykes Coelho
Laura P. Costa
Nancy Cunha
Yasmin De Siqueira
Gabriela G. De Souza
Lunna Lima Dias
Fedora Dorgilles
Michelle Elorduy
Ashley V. Flores
Joel Florim
Abigail Liara George
David Griffin
Naomi Groeger
John-Paul Aleksei Harris
Michelle C. Hunter
Jose Lasso
Ashley Laveriano
Carlos Daniel Leonardo Layme
Luz Lopez
Shirley Lopez
Joao Pedro Machado
Sheirleyn T. Maneiro
Dequan Marshall
Zahlea Tyrene Martin
Gabriela Jasmine Martinez
Kaiel Maynor
Eileen Mendez
Leandra Mendez
Andrew J. Milton
Veronica Ferreira Moreira
Arianna Moreno
Temitope Ogundare
Teslimah Ojifinni
Amarachi Onyemaobi
Eiyannah Alexandria Orphelia
Jennifer Ortiz
Christabel Hollie Otoo
Brisnid Pardo
Emily Pina
Abinaya Ravichandren
Jayleen E. Rolon
Kaitlyn Brianna Sanchez
Jenna Santana
Thanalini Sivanesan
Jadsika Sivaranshan
Christal St. Clair
Laysha W. Suero
John Sumba-Sumba
D'Andra Thomas
Diane C. Ulloa-Naranjo
Tyler Adams Vagueiro
Aze Siani Williams
Jennifer Zarate

Technology High School
Omar Abuattieh
Andy L. Allaico-Lema
Emerson Paul Altamirano
Bryan Amador
Mabelin Jeomaira Calle Cuesta
Fransua D. Carangui
Emely Ninewt Carbajal Martinez
Amanda Da Silva
Nathan De Andrade
Lizbeth Fernandez
Carlos Garcia
Erik Guaman
Mike G. Gutierrez Rodriguez
Jessica Jara
Roslynn Karla Jumbo
Johnny Lupian
Giovanni Martinez-Gonzalez
Raphael Moreira
Nichole Nogueira Guimaraes
Catherine J. Ochoa
Daniel Ortega
Jossue Ortiz
Beatriz Pardal
John Penafiel
Andre Peregrino
Yaracelys Perez
Katherine Melissa Recinos
Angelica Rivera
Yadhira Rivera
Vilma Iveth Rodriguez
Samball Samboy
Yhimara Sarango
Jocelyn Rangel Tapia
Anojan Thirukumaran
Faith Valerius
Joshua E. Wilson
Michelle Zhang

University High School
Tosin Adebayo
Chidiogo Anemelu
Jamirr Baker
Shah Begum
Shaphan Edward Callahan-Longus
Maliha Rashid Chowdhury
Riniah N. Christmas
Devon Christopher Corry
Kamill Dawkins
Millene Dias Ferreira
Rafi Hossain
Karla Mariano
Fortune Nwamara
Aaziyah JH Sellers
Dreonna E. Starks-Jones
Christopher Ernesto Vargas
Yoskar R. Vasquez-Diaz
Kamari E. Williams
Lafayia S. Wright

Weequahic High School
Foluso Augustine Adedeji
Emmanuella Appiah-Mensah
Kelvin A. Boakye
Favour C. Ikedife
Mariam Ajoke Kadiri
Treionna Scott

West Side High School
Boluwatife Precious Afolayan
Tomiwa Samuel Agbebiyi
Faridat Dasola Ayuba
Akai Nii-Moi Bortey
Shakina J. Boulding
Ashantea Dontea Hylton
Oyinkansola Omoshalewa Kudaisi
Daniel Lloyd
Joselyn Ocasio
Deborah Tobi Okubanjo
Omolara Sandra Olorunpomi
Ahmad Omotola Oyediran
Vashu Girishkumar Patel
Liyalani E. Roebuck
Julian Dontaye Rosario
Justinian Chaarabadyah Rosario
Adeola Salawu
Sharra Bianca Sorhaindo
Raul Wayne Walker

5 Trends That Newark Leaders Say Show Schools Are Turning A Corner

By: Jessica Mazzola | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com | Email the author | Follow on Twitter

NEWARK – The nearly 2,000 Newark students who have graduated high school over the past few weeks, district leaders say, are a symbol. The long-struggling district — which is in the midst of transitioning out of a twenty-plus year period of state control — is finally seeing signs of progress across the board, Deputy Superintendent Robert Gregory said in a phone interview last week.

“We are definitely trending up, and at the same time, trying to transform, and create a college-going culture at each school,” Gregory said, noting that different high schools in the city have had different practices and strategies in place, leading to vastly different graduation rates and student performance.

“We are trying to create systemic solutions to systemic failures,” he said. “Past inequities have shaped current realities.”

Class of 2017

Newark’s 16 high schools graduated more than 1,900 students, which Superintendent Christopher Cerf called a “monumental milestone” for the kids.

Though district officials say statistics about the Class of 2017 will not be finalized until August graduates are counted, preliminary numbers show statistics are moving in a positive direction. Gregory said the trends are thanks to several key graduation and post-grad policies the district has implemented over the past few school years.

1. Graduation rate

The district has long struggled with its graduation rate. Even after a four-point bump to 73.5 percent last year, it still remained well below the statewide 90.1 percent graduation rate.

The numbers of students graduating also varied dramatically school to school within Newark Public Schools.

Though the numbers are not yet finalized for this year, “we definitely expect to see an increase in graduation rates based on the data we’re seeing right now,” Gregory said. The immediate goal, he said, is to raise the district-wide graduation rate to 80 percent, which officials project should be attainable within the next several years.

The anticipated increase, Gregory said, can be traced to several new practices, including allowing students to make up failed classes online, and at night school. The district has also mandated every school implement graduation trackers, which chart the progress of every senior in every school, and require school leaders to intervene if students fall behind on graduation requirements. The district’s new credit accumulation trackers chart the credits earned each quarter by every student in every high school, starting freshman year.

2. College culture

About 75 percent of students who graduated this year are expected to attend two- or four-year schools, officials said. The Class of 2017 members have been accepted to 135 technical, community, and four-year colleges across the country.

Seven students will be attending Ivy League universities (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and the University of Pennsylvania) on full scholarships.

Before this year, Gregory said schools were not required to track students’ post-graduation plans, so only about six of the district’s high schools did. Now that it is centrally required, he said, this year’s graduating class can “act as a baseline” to which future classes will be compared.

3. Acceptances

School officials said about 14 percent of this year’s graduating seniors were accepted to five or more colleges. The move to focus on college while kids are still in high school can also be seen, officials said, in several programs that this year saw 71 students graduate high school with Associate’s Degrees from Essex County College and Bard College.

Another 52 students, officials said, plan to join the armed forces.

4. Scholarships

Newark seniors have received more than $15.7 million in scholarships, school officials said.

Several students who plan on going to school this fall on full scholarships articulated an attitude Gregory said the district is working to spread to the whole student body in every high school.

Michael Lawrence, a West Side High graduate going to NJIT, said his family members, friends, and teachers “pushed me to be someone who is passionate for success.” Lucia Couto, Arts High School’s valedictorian, who will be attending Harvard, said she was thankful to take advantage of opportunities in the city.

“Don’t let people’s opinions about where you come from make you think in a certain way,” she said. “I love Newark and I’m proud to say I live here. A lot of good things and people come from Newark.”

5. Keeping track

Many of the district’s new strategies, Gregory said, focus on keeping centralized tabs on students’ progress through high school, and on generating excitement about college and post-graduation plans among students and their families.

To those ends, he said, the Newark City Learning Collaborative — an organization supporting post-secondary education for city residents — has hired a College and Career Readiness specialist and a College Coordinator, who will work with Newark seniors.

NPS has also purchased software that Gregory said will allow it to more easily track student progress, and work with individual students to set post-graduation plans. Better data management in central administration will allow for more pointed intervention and student progress management, he said.

“We want every student to be accounted for,” he said.

View the story on nj.com.

Graduation

Graduation-2021

Oliver Street School Graduation 2021

Oliver Street School Graduation 2021

University High School Graduation 2021

University High School Graduation 2021

American History High