College Achieve Central Outperforms State Average on NJSLA English Language Arts

English Language Arts Results More Than Double Neighboring Districts

January 23, 2026 at 4:07 PM

Plainfield, NJ ― College Achieve Central Charter School (CAPS Central), serving students from one of New Jersey’s highest‑need regions, has posted breakthrough results on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA), outperforming state and local peers in both English Language Arts (ELA) and demonstrating major gains across every subgroup in math.

In ELA, 61.7% of students are proficient, more than eight points above the New Jersey State Average (53.1%). Black and Hispanic students are leading the way, and economically disadvantaged students are making significant strides.

These results show that CAPS Central is not just beating the odds; it is redefining what is possible for students in our highest‑need communities.

“These results reflect years of intentional work to understand what truly drives student achievement and to refine those practices with precision,” said Natica Brown, Head of School, CAPS Central. “By grounding our instruction in data, evidence‑based writing, early intervention, and targeted small‑group support, we are closing long‑standing achievement gaps and ensuring our scholars build the skills they need to excel through high school and succeed in college. This is not accidental success. It is the result of a deliberate, proven approach to teaching and learning.”

CAPS Central 2025 ELA Performance

CAPS Central achieved 61.7% overall proficiency on the NJSLA ELA assessment, well above the New Jersey state average of 53.1%. Compared to local districts, CAPS Central students more than double that of North Plainfield (32.9%) and more than two and a half times that of Plainfield (24.0%), highlighting regional leadership in literacy outcomes.

Economically Disadvantaged: 59.6%, nearly twice the rate of North Plainfield (29.2%) and almost two and a half times Plainfield (23.4%).
Hispanic Students: 59.8%, more than double North Plainfield (29.0%) and nearly three times Plainfield (21.1%).
Black/African American Students: 68.5%, far surpassing North Plainfield (38.6%) and Plainfield (36.2%).
Students with Disabilities: 25.8%, significantly above North Plainfield (12.2%) and Plainfield (12.7%).
ML Students: 37.7%, compared to (15.5%) North Plainfield and (14.1%) Plainfield.

Math Performance (Grades 3–10, excluding 11–12)

In math, CAPS Central achieved 35.8% overall proficiency, exceeding North Plainfield (19.7%) and Plainfield (18.4%) by wide margins. While overall math proficiency for grades 3‑10 is slightly behind the state average (41.7%), key subgroups demonstrate strong equity gains.

Economically Disadvantaged: 33.4%, nearly double North Plainfield (17.5%) and Plainfield (18.3%).
Hispanic Students: 36.3%, more than twice North Plainfield (16.7%) and nearly double Plainfield (18.4%) and 10.9% above the state average of 25.4%.
Black/African American Students: 35.5%, Above not only the State average of (21.5%), but well above North Plainfield (23.4%) and more than twice Plainfield (16.8%).
Students with Disabilities: 13.6%, almost double North Plainfield (7.3%) and slightly above Plainfield (12.1%).
ML Students: 24.5%, above the State average of 20.6%, and nearly double compared to local districts 10.5% in North Plainfield and 15.1% in Plainfield.

The significant gains seen in this year’s state assessments reflect the school’s dedication to closing the achievement gap through data‑driven instruction, rigorous academics and targeted support. The CAPS promise is to help students through high school and through college.

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 students in the past graduating classes being accepted to Princeton, Harvard and MIT.

The school’s success stems from a focus on foundational pre‑algebra and Algebra instruction, data‑driven teaching, small group instruction, and evidence‑based writing strategies, ensuring students are prepared for college and beyond. CAPS Central has been recognized as one of the “Top Three Charter High Schools” in New Jersey and ranks in the top 8% nationally in U.S. News & World Report rankings.