Four of Paterson’s five citywide elementary choice schools will close at the end of the 2026 school year, a move the district says is part of a long-term restructuring plan. The decision has sparked outrage from parents and school board members alike.
Combined, the schools serve roughly 1,000 students, and they’re all scheduled to shut down in June. Students will be reassigned to neighborhood schools beginning in the fall as part of a district-led effort to expand a middle school model designed to better prepare students for high school.
Superintendent Laurie Newell announced the closures on January 23 as part of Phase 3 of the district’s restructuring plan. She emphasized the long-term plan, stating that changes are designed to strengthen neighborhood schools, improve efficiency in learning, and bring high-quality programs closer to where students live.
Not everyone is convinced.
Several members of the Paterson Board of Education are now saying that the decision was made without a proper approval process or community input.
Kenneth Simmons, the board’s longest-serving commissioner, called the move “asinine,” according to NJ.com, stating that the board did not get a say in the decision.
Parents worry closures could accelerate enrollment losses, pushing families toward charter schools instead of neighborhood options. Others fear that merging students from different neighborhoods will intensify tensions.
Board member Corey Teague warned that the plan would result in chaos.
Parents Say Choice Is Being Taken Away
The schools affected are: Alexander Hamilton Academy, Renaissance School 1, Norman S. Weir, and Young Men’s Leadership Academy. Parents say they chose these schools for stability, specialized programs, and healthy learning environments.
Overcrowding at neighborhood schools, lengthened commutes, and the ability to meet the needs of students with disabilities and individualized education plans are some of the other primary concerns for parents.
Parents at Alexander Hamilton Academy launched a petition opposing the closure, arguing expansion efforts disrupt children’s education and takes choice away from families within the community.
District Says to Trust the Process
District officials say the closures are not related to school performance and emphasize that the buildings will be repurposed for future use.
Under the new plan, School 21 will serve grades 6 through 8, while Schools 10, 18, and 26 will enroll students through grade 5.
As the transition moves forward, Superintendent Newell has assured that the district plans to hold community forums to address concerns as the transition moves forward.
However, for many Paterson families, it’s too little, too late.
As Paterson moves ahead with one of its most significant school restructurings to date, many are fed up—warning the district is quickly losing the trust of parents and students alike.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.