As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of 50 schools, had an enrollment of 25,937 students and 1,916.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.5:1.[1] For the 2014–15 school year, the district anticipated a budget with total expenditures of $591 million and per pupil spending of $16,696.[7]
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "A", the lowest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.[8]
Among the 594 students who took the SAT in 2013, the mean combined score was 1120 and there were 19 students (3.2% of those taking the exam) who achieved the combined score of 1550 that the College Board considers an indicator of college readiness, a decline from the 26 students (4.3%) who achieved the standard the previous year.[9][10]
District enrollment in Paterson surged at the start of the 2015–16 school year, creating a public school enrollment of 700 students higher than expected and putting the school district in a situation of needing to hire teachers rapidly not long after the district had laid off 300 positions.[11]
State intervention
The district is one of two districts in New Jersey (along with Newark Public Schools under "state intervention", which authorizes the commissioner of education to intervene in governance of a local public school district (and to intervene in the areas of instruction and program, operations, personnel, and fiscal management) if the commissioner has determined that a school district failed or was unable to take corrective actions necessary to establish a thorough and efficient system of education.[12]
The district's board of education, comprised of nine members, sets policy and oversees the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2014) as part of the November general election. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district.[77][78][79]
The district voted in September 2013 voted by a 5-4 margin to move school elections from April to November.[80] An attempt by members of the Paterson City Council in January 2022 to shift elections back to April failed after the vote ended in a 4-4 tie.[81]
^Paterson Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Paterson Public Schools. Accessed March 28, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve in the Paterson School District. Composition: The Paterson School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the City of Paterson."
^What We Do: History, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the Abbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'."
^Malinconico, Joe. "Latest SAT results: Number of Paterson 'college-ready' students drops to 19", Paterson Press, October 14, 2014. Accessed December 11, 2014. "A report released by the school district last week showed 19 of the 594 Paterson students who took the SATs this year had scores that met the 'college-ready' criteria established by the College Board, which conducts the standardized tests."
^Laine, Tamara. "Chasing College Ready", WWOR-TV, December 1, 2014. Accessed December 1, 2014. "In Paterson, New Jersey only 19 kids who took the SAT's are considered college ready. This means that they scored at least a 1500 out of 2400 on the standardized test, and this number is truly shocking considering how large the school district is."
^Malinconico, Joe. "Months after layoffs, unexpected enrollment puts Paterson school district in hiring scramble", The Record, September 17, 2015. Accessed September 17, 2015. "Just months after imposing more than 300 layoffs, the city school district is scrambling to hire dozens of extra teachers to handle an unexpected enrollment increase of about 700 students.... But far more immigrants have moved into Paterson than were expected, the superintendent said."
^"Governor Corzine Announces New Paterson Superintendent", Governor of New JerseyJon Corzine, press release dated March 31, 2009. Accessed January 27, 2015. "During a visit to PANTHER Academy, Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the recommendation of Dr. Donnie W. Evans as Paterson's new Superintendent of Schools.... Education Commissioner Lucille Davy will formally propose Dr. Evan's appointment to the State Board of Education. At that time, the State Board of Education will cast a vote to make the Evans appointment official."
^Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Paterson Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed May 2, 2024. "The Paterson Public Schools (the 'Board' or the 'District') is an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey, established to function as an educational institution. The Board consists of nine elected officials. On August 7, 1991, pursuant to the order of the Department of Education, State of New Jersey, the Paterson Board of Education was dissolved and a state-operated school district was created (N.J.S.A. 18A:7A-34). A State Superintendent of Schools was appointed to assume all powers and duties of the former Board of Education members. The State-appointed Superintendent is responsible for the fiscal and administrative control of the District.... The Superintendent of Schools is the Chief Administrative Officer of the District who is responsible for general supervision of all schools, planning and operational functions of the District. The School Business Administrator/Board Secretary is the Chief Financial Officer and is responsible for budgeting, financial accounting and reporting and reports through the Superintendent to the Board. "See "Roster of Officials" on page 30.
^"Board of Education election moved to November", Paterson Times, September 5, 2013. Accessed March 29, 2022. "The Paterson Board of Education election has been moved from April to November after a close vote on Tuesday: five school board members — Chrystal Cleaves, Christopher Irving, Manny Martinez, Kenneth Simmons, and Corey Teague — voted for the move; while four others — Wendy Guzman, Jonathan Hodges, Errol Kerr and Alex Mendez — voted against the measure."
^Malconico, Joe. "Paterson City Council's attempt to move school elections fails", Paterson Press, January 19, 2022. Accessed March 29, 2022. "In a 4-4 vote, the City Council on Tuesday night rejected a proposal to move Paterson’s school elections from November to April, an outcome decided only after Councilman Alex Mendez changed his mind at the last minute."
