Enrollment of MLLs triple at Newark charter schools while academic achievement bests state and district levels
July 27, 2026 [Newark, NJ] – The number of multilingual learners are dramatically increasing at Newark charter schools and are outperforming students in the district as well as statewide, according to new data released by the New Jersey Department of Education, analyzed in concert with Newark Common App.
Application data shows increased demand for Newark charter schools from multilingual learner (MLL) students (defined as a student acquiring English who comes from a primary language background other than English). Newark charter schools, which are predominantly located in Central, South, and West Wards, continue to serve a lower percentage of MLLs than district schools, however, the trends strongly suggest that they will soon catch up. The MLL student population among Newark charter schools has grown 10x from .73% (114 MLL students) in 2015-16 to 5.6% (1,215 MLL students) in the 2025-2026 school year.
As importantly, as Newark charter schools have scaled their MLL population, academic achievement data suggests that the students’ academic growth has been swift. State test data shows that MLLs in charter schools are achieving at nearly twice the level as MLLs in the state or in district schools.
“This finding is incredibly important. At Newark Common App we want to see Newark charter schools serve more students learning English as a matter of equity,” said Maria Andrade, chief of school support. “This data demonstrate that not only have charters risen to the challenge in serving more students learning English, but that they are becoming very effective in helping those learners achieve academically.”
When analyzing enrollment data from schools who participate in the common enrollment system for public charter schools in Newark Common App, a few data points stand out illuminating this trend in the application year (for the 2026-27 school year):
- There are record numbers of families applying in Spanish and Portuguese on Newark Common App this year with the share of families identifying Spanish or Portuguese as their primary language growing from 7% three years ago to 11% in 2026
- From last year to this year, the share of Newark Common App applications from multilingual learners in general increased from 10% to 14%
Multilingual learners are thriving in Newark charter schools, the data also show. In 2025, 43% of MLL students in Newark charter schools were proficient in literacy, compared to 22% in the district and 25% of MLL students statewide. In fact, MLL students in Newark charter schools performed better than 76% of MLL students in other districts.
“As a former multilingual learner myself, the power in these numbers is inspiring,” Andrade said. “The data also match the conversations we’ve had with dozens of charter families who tell me how quickly their children are advancing in their charter schools, reading and writing in two languages as they gain confidence in their new skills.”
While data is more limited on outcomes for former multilingual learners, over 70% of former MLL students in charter schools were proficient in ELA in 2025. MLL students in charter schools also demonstrate strong growth, with a median student growth percentile (SGP) of 61, meaning that most MLL charter students are growing academically at a faster rate than their peers across the state.
“This is not to diminish the solid work of the Newark Public Schools, many of whom are also serving large populations of English learners with great success,” Andrade said. “What is important about this data is that we can say that charters are continuing to positively add to the many great choices that families have for a public district or charter education in Newark. This data shows that the public education ecosystem for Newark families learning English is getting stronger.”