William L. Dickinson High is among most-improved Jersey City public high schools

William L. Dickinson High is among most-improved Jersey City public high schoolsPhoto: Unsplash
Hoodline
Published on August 13, 2019

How strong are the public high schools in Jersey City?

With a fresh school year kicking off, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com, which incorporates comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews to help you choose the right school, to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year, as well as those that top the city's best public high school rankings.

William L. Dickinson High School's overall rating improved the most among its peers in Jersey City, rising from a C+ to a B-, according to data from Niche.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 2 Palisade Ave., enrolls 1,692 students. William L. Dickinson High School serves a diverse population: 48% of students identify as Hispanic, 24% identify as Asian and 14% identify as black. Niche gave the school mixed grades: C on an A-D scale for academics, C+ for administration and B+ for clubs and activities.

The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.

Academically, 12% of William L. Dickinson High School's students scored proficient or above in math, and 31% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 29% in math and 53% in reading. The school's improved rating is notable since it serves a less-affluent population, with 78% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 14% more than the city average.

It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Henry Snyder High School saw its overall rating improve from a C- to a C. The school is located at 239 Bergen Ave. and is much smaller, currently serving 685 students, of whom 67% identify as black and 23% identify as Hispanic.

Niche gave Henry Snyder High School mixed grades: C- on an A-D scale for academics, B+ for administration and B+ for clubs and activities. Its latest math proficiency was 8%, and reading proficiency was 22%. The school also serves a less-affluent population, with 74% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Infinity Institute also saw improvement in its overall rating, from an A- to an A. The school is located at 193 Old Bergen Road and has 253 students currently enrolled, of whom 27% identify as Asian, 26% identify as Hispanic and 26% identify as black.

Niche gave Infinity Institute mixed grades — A- on an A-D scale for academics, A for administration and B- for clubs and activities. The school's latest math proficiency was 82%, and reading proficiency was 95%.

While some public high schools are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:

  • Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, with an overall rating of A+.
  • County Prep High School, with an A rating overall.
  • Liberty High School, rated B+ overall.

This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.