COLLEGE ACHIEVE STUDENTS CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAP SURPASSING STATE AND DISTRICT BENCHMARKS AND DELIVERING TOP-TIER NJSLA RESULTS

CAPS Paterson ranks #1 among NJ charter management organizations in ELA for the second year; all CAPS campuses place among the state’s top five CMOs

January 28, 2026 at 4:07 PM

Neptune, NJ ― New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) results showed that students at College Achieve Public Schools (CAPS) campuses in Paterson, Central and Asbury exceeded statewide averages by 8 to nearly 20 points in English Language Arts (ELA) and outperformed surrounding districts by wide margins in both ELA and math. Across all three schools, Black, Hispanic, and economically disadvantaged students posted double‑digit proficiency gains, reinforcing that students from historically underserved communities excel when given the right supports.

“Across our network, our scholars are proving that with high expectations, personalized support, and strong instruction, all students can succeed,” said Michael Piscal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CAPS. “We’ve built a proven model that embeds college readiness from the earliest grades and our college acceptance and data demonstrate the long‑term impact of this approach to deliver both equity and excellence.”

CAPS Network 2025 Bright Spots:

For the second year in a row, CAPS Paterson ranks #1 among New Jersey charter management organizations (CMOs) in ELA, outperforming major networks statewide. Across the network, CAPS campuses in Plainfield and Greater Asbury Park placed among the top five CMOs in the state, with some of the largest year‑over‑year gains.

In math, CAPS Paterson ranked second statewide and showed one of the highest gains of any charter school, while CAPS Central ranked fourth with strong growth. Across the network, CAPS schools outperformed or matched the progress of every major CMO, reinforcing CAPS’ position as one of the highest‑impact charter organizations in the state.

CAPS Paterson Highlights:

  • ELA Overall Proficiency: 72.4%, far above the NJ state average (53.1%) and nearly triple Paterson Public Schools (26.2%).
  • Math Overall Proficiency: 42.9%, outperforming the state (All math grades 3-10 41.7%) and more than doubling Paterson Public Schools (16.8%).

CAPS Central Highlights:

  • ELA Overall Proficiency: 61.7% vs. NJ state average 53.1% and nearly double local districts North Plainfield (32.9%) and Plainfield (24.0%).
  • Math Overall Proficiency: 35.8%, nearly double most local districts North Plainfield (19.7%) and Plainfield (18.4%).

CAPS Asbury Highlights:

  • ELA Overall Proficiency: 52.2%, above the state average of 53.1% Asbury Park (14.6%) and Neptune (35.6%).
  • Math Overall Proficiency: 22.6%, roughly matching Neptune (22.2%) and more than double Asbury Park (10.3%).

College Achieve Public Schools has built a model rooted in academic excellence and rigor, embedding college readiness as early as elementary school through strong early literacy, evidence-based writing and data-informed classroom practices. All students are required to take a minimum of three AP courses to graduate, reinforcing the school’s commitment to preparing scholars for the demands of higher education. One hundred percent of CAPS scholars are accepted to college, with most attending four-year universities, including Ivy League institutions and top-ranking public universities.