PATERSON, NJ – Paterson Public School No. 28, home to the district’s Paterson Academy for the Gifted and Talented, was ranked number one among 1,370 elementary schools and 715 middle schools in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report last week.
Both elementary and middle school students performed “well above expectations” in reading and math based on data from the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years, the report, which based the statewide rankings on student performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for high school, noted.
“This is indeed an honor for everyone at School 28 and in the district,” Superintendent of Schools Eileen F. Shafer said, offering her congratulations to Principal Nancy Castro, the teachers, the parents, and everyone who “works hard every day to help our students achieve their very best.”
“A distinction like this is not based on a school’s performance on a single day or week. It is based on a consistent effort over a long period of time, and I thank everyone in the School 28 community for bringing their ‘A-game’ every day and for continuing to sustain a desire to achieve excellence.”
Deputy Superintendent of Schools Susana Perón added her congratulations, and noted that while district officials are proud of all Paterson’s public schools, and everything students achieve, “we do appreciate this acknowledgement of the very special culture that is unique to School 28.”
“We look forward to seeing what School 28’s students and staff will achieve next,” Perón said
In 2018 School 28 received additional recognition for academic excellence when it became the first in the district to be awarded the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon School award.
“School 28’s consistent efforts getting this level of recognition should be an inspiration to us all,” said Board of Education President Kenneth L. Simmons. “Did people at School 28 have down days during those two school years that this report is based upon? Sure, they did. But they kept moving forward. The teachers, the students, the administrators, the custodians, food services workers, nurses, secretaries, instructional aides, everyone at that school kept moving forward. And the result is that School 28 ranks number one.”