Philip's Academy Charter School

www.pacsnewark.org

Charter School 639 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 8th

School Overview

Phillip’s Academy Charter School (PACS), located on Central Avenue in Newark, New Jersey, is a tuition-free public charter school serving students in grades K–8. Founded with a commitment to academic rigor and character development, the school places a strong emphasis on a holistic educational approach. Its curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking and intellectual curiosity, often integrating experiential learning opportunities that bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world application.

Beyond traditional academics, the school is well-regarded for its focus on sustainability, nutrition, and wellness. Notably, Phillip’s Academy incorporates an "Eco-Spaces" initiative, which includes an on-site greenhouse and a rooftop garden. This program allows students to engage in hands-on science and nutrition education, teaching them about food systems and environmental responsibility. By combining high-standard educational programming with a focus on healthy living and community stewardship, PACS aims to prepare its diverse student body for success in high school and beyond.

639

Total Students

33.5

Full-Time Teachers

19.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

81.4%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Philip's Academy Charter School
Demographic	Student Count
White	1
Hispanic	64
Black	565
Asian	3
Two or More	1
American Indian	3
Pacific Islander	2

Black
565 (88.4 %)
Hispanic
64 (10.0 %)
Asian
3 (0.5 %)
American Indian
3 (0.5 %)
Pacific Islander
2 (0.3 %)
White
1 (0.2 %)
Two or More
1 (0.2 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Phillip's Academy Charter School
Phone:	(973)624-0644
Website:	http://www.pacsnewark.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 8th
Total Students:	639
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	33.5
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	19.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	433
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	87

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 60

Kindergarten 80

Grade 1 88

Grade 2 79

Grade 3 85

Grade 4 84

Grade 5 44

Grade 6 43

Grade 7 40

Grade 8 36