Community Charter School of Paterson

What Community Charter School of Paterson does

Community Charter School of Paterson (CCSP) is a public K-8 charter school founded in 2008 in Paterson, New Jersey, by the nonprofit New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC). It serves approximately 900 students across two campuses: the 75 Spruce Elementary School serving grades K-4 and the 8 Morris Middle School serving grades 5-8, both located in Paterson's Great Falls Historic District. The school operates under a Community Schools model that integrates academic instruction with wraparound services including before/after care, tutoring, Saturday Academy, summer programming, and family engagement through a Home School Council. CCSP reports that more than 95% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and more than 95% identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Its mission centers on advancing racial equity through excellent education that prepares students for college and choice-filled lives, and it is currently accepting applications for the 2026-2027 school year.

CCSP's academic infrastructure relies on industry-standard educational technology platforms rather than proprietary systems: i-Ready provides benchmark diagnostic assessments in reading and math; Wonders delivers the literacy curriculum aligned with the Science of Reading; and Into Math serves as the core math curriculum emphasizing real-world problem-solving. SchoolMint powers the electronic lottery used for fair enrollment, and Zoom supports virtual open houses and lottery events. Administrative technology includes ADP Workforce Now for payroll, Paycom for applicant tracking, DocuSign for forms, and FD Meal Planner for menus. The school also participates in federally funded programs including the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant for after-school programming in grades 3-8 and the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for universal free breakfast and lunch.

The school's revenue model is anchored in public per-pupil funding from federal, state, and local sources, supplemented by federal grants (21st CCLC, USDA meal reimbursement) and nominal fees for before-school ($80/year, K-8) and after-school ($100/year, K-2) programs. No tuition is charged. CCSP is governed by a 7-member Board of Trustees with three seats affiliated with the founding organization NJCDC, two parent representatives, and two community-at-large members. The current CEO is Ira Griffith, appointed in July 2023. Recent initiatives include launching a CCSP-branded merchandise store, partnering with College Achieve Paterson on a literacy awareness documentary screening, and redesigning the school's website with a women-owned technology firm.

Name

Community Charter School of Paterson

Legal name

Community Charter School of Paterson

Website

https://ccsp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Community Charter School of Paterson is a public K-8 charter school in Paterson, NJ serving ~900 students across two campuses. Founded in 2008 by NJCDC, it operates a Community Schools model with wraparound services including before/after care and tutoring.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-8 Charter School Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Charter Schools (Single-Site) (EDAJACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter School Networks (Multi-Site) (EDAJACAC)

Keywords

• K-8 charter school
• Community school programs
• Before after school care
• Tutoring enrichment services
• Elementary middle education

Headquarters

HQ city

Paterson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Charter School Funding: As a public charter school, receives per-pupil funding from federal, state, and local sources based on enrollment.
2. 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Grant: Federal grant funding under Title IV, Part B of ESSA for before/after school programming through NJDOE partnership.
3. Community Eligibility Provision (CEP): Provides free meals to all students through USDA program; school receives federal meal reimbursement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Charter School of Paterson operates a K-8 public charter school serving roughly 900 students across two campuses in Paterson, NJ: an elementary campus (75 Spruce, grades K-4) and a middle school campus (8 Morris, grades 5-8). The core offering combines daily academic instruction (Wonders literacy, Into Math, i-Ready benchmarking) with a Community Schools wraparound program of before/after care, tutoring, Saturday Academy, summer programming, free meals, special education services, and a National Junior Honor Society chapter. Enrollment is non-tuition and administered through a transparent electronic lottery on the SchoolMint platform.

Product overview

Community Charter School of Paterson operates as a single-site K-8 charter school with two distinct campuses: 75 Spruce Elementary School (grades K-4) and 8 Morris Middle School (grades 5-8), serving approximately 900 students. The school provides core academic instruction supplemented by a comprehensive Community School Program that includes before/after school care, tutoring, Saturday Academy, and summer programming. Specialized programs include a Gifted and Talented Program and National Junior Honor Society membership. The school also offers support services including free school meals through CEP, Summer EBT benefits, and family engagement through the Home School Council. Administrative services include an online enrollment system with lottery-based admission via SchoolMint, with academic instruction utilizing Wonders (literacy), Into Math (mathematics), and i-Ready (assessment) programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 75 Spruce Elementary School: Elementary school campus located at 75 Spruce St., Paterson, NJ 07501, serving grades K-4. The campus focuses on fostering curiosity and individuality through hands-on exploration, peer-to-peer discussion, and real-life problem-solving.
• 8 Morris Middle School
• Community School Programs

Products and services

• 75 Spruce Elementary School Core academic service operating the elementary campus at 75 Spruce St., Paterson, NJ, serving grades K-4 with whole group, small group, and individualized instruction, instilling a love of learning and foundational academic skills and character traits for middle and high school success.
• 8 Morris Middle School Core academic service operating the middle school campus at 8 Morris St., Paterson, NJ (with standalone gym at 6 Morris St.), serving grades 5-8 in a college-ready culture blending academic rigor, social-emotional learning, and increasing independence for choice-filled secondary education pathways.
• Community School Programs (Before/After Care, Tutoring, Saturday Academy, Summer Program) Wraparound Community Schools offering including before-school care (K-8, 7:15 am, $80 per student per year), after-school care (K-2, 3:00-6:00 pm, $100 per student per year, 50 students per grade), Saturday Academy academic enrichment, and summer programming operated through community partnerships.
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) After School Program Federally funded after-school program for grades 3-8 providing academic enrichment and youth development activities through Title IV, Part B of ESSA funding administered via the New Jersey Department of Education; offered free of charge to enrolled students.
• Gifted and Talented Program Comprehensive K-8 identification and programming for gifted and talented students using multiple objective measures including standardized test scores, cognitive ability testing, teacher recommendations, portfolio assessment, and parent nominations.
• School Meals Program (Free Breakfast and Lunch) Free breakfast and lunch program for all enrolled students implemented through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2025-2026 academic year, with menus published via FD Meal Planner.
• National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Chapter School chapter of the nationwide National Junior Honor Society at 8 Morris Middle School, recognizing outstanding students in grades 6-8 based on scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship.
• Home School Council Parent and family advisory council that advocates for students, elects representatives to the School Site Council, raises funds for school activities, and promotes family engagement across CCSP.
• Online Enrollment System (Lottery-Based Admission) Digital enrollment application and lottery system for K-8 admission powered by SchoolMint, with sibling preference and enrollment preference groups and an annual transparent electronic lottery process for the following school year.
• Summer EBT Program USDA Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program providing food benefits to eligible children during summer months.
• SUN (Summer Nutrition) Programs USDA Summer Nutrition Programs offering free summer meals and grocery benefits for children 18 and under.
• CCSP School Store Online store offering CCSP-branded apparel and merchandise for students, families, and staff, operated via beepromerch.com and accessible from the school's website.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced Tier 3 students (3+ years behind) by over 50%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• College Achieve (Paterson)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Partnered with College Achieve (Paterson) to host a complimentary screening of 'The Right to Read' documentary at Passaic Community College Auditorium, promoting literacy awareness and community engagement.
• Passaic Community CollegeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2024Venue partner for 'The Right to Read' documentary screening event.
• Women-Owned Website Development CompanyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 March 2024Created new school website during Women's History Month, showcasing women-owned business in tech industry.
• New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Founding organization that convened Paterson families and community stakeholders to create CCSP. CCSP's community school model, family engagement focus, and wraparound services are core elements from NJCDC's mission. Three of seven Board trustees are affiliated with NJCDC.
• Paterson Public SchoolscoreOthersProvides transportation services for students residing 2.1 miles or more from CCSP campuses.
• New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE)coreOthersGrant provider for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program funding through Title IV, Part B of ESSA.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• North Star Academy: Uncommon Schools-operated charter network in Newark, NJ serving K-12 with a rigorous college-prep curriculum and long school days. Closest direct peer given same New Jersey urban charter market and K-12 grade span.
• Great Oaks Charter School: Multi-site urban charter school network with high-dosage tutoring and extended-day programming. Comparable mission to CCSP's wraparound, college-prep community school model.
• Belmont Charter School: Community-rooted urban charter school serving K-8 in a high-need neighborhood with wraparound services and family engagement. Comparable community school positioning to CCSP.
• KIPP New Jersey: Multi-campus public charter school network serving K-12 students across Newark and Paterson, NJ. Operates an extended-day, college-prep model with wraparound services, directly comparable to CCSP's mission and community school approach.
• TEAM Academy Charter School: Newark, NJ KIPP-affiliated charter school offering extended-day, college-prep education to urban students. Comparable model and grade band to CCSP within the same New Jersey charter ecosystem.
• Paterson Community Charter School: Public charter school operating within Paterson, NJ serving K-8. Direct geographic and grade-band peer competing for the same local lottery pool of families.
• College Achieve (Paterson): Public charter school operator with a Paterson campus that already partners with CCSP on community literacy events. Operates similar K-12 college-prep charter model in the same city.

Broad incumbents

• Uncommon Schools: Regional charter management organization operating multiple schools across NJ, NY, and MA. Broader incumbent in the same urban charter category with overlapping instructional philosophy.
• Passaic Public Schools: Adjacent public school district serving the broader Passaic County region. Functions as the traditional district alternative to which CCSP families are likely to compare.

Others

• New Jersey Department of Education Office of Charter Schools: State regulator and grant administrator that oversees all NJ charter schools including CCSP, and routes 21st CCLC and other federal program funds. Not a competitor but the dominant ecosystem counterparty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCommunityCharterSchoolOfPaterson
• Instagraminstagram.com/ccspnj
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-charter-school-of-paterson-nj

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Community Charter School of Paterson