PATERSON, N.J. — The Paterson school district has gained state approval to permanently close four elementary schools as part of a broader restructuring plan, officials said.
The district will shutter Alexander Hamilton Academy, Norman S. Weir School, Public School 1 and Young Men’s Leadership Academy following the last day of classes on June 26, Superintendent Laurie Newell announced. The decision follows a reversal by Passaic County education officials after a brief suspension order earlier this month.
The closures were initially announced in January as Phase 3 of the district’s long-running restructuring efforts. On June 8, Kesha T. Drakeford, Passaic County’s interim executive county superintendent, ordered the district to suspend the planned closures and raised concerns about other elements of the plan, including proposals for special education designations and middle school grade reconfigurations.
Drakeford’s directive was rescinded on Wednesday, allowing the closures to proceed, Newell said in a statement. The four schools, which operate as citywide choice schools, together have capacity for around 1,000 students and draw enrollment from across Paterson.
“The district remains committed to implementing initiatives approved by the Board of Education and guided by established district planning processes, including efforts associated with the Long-Range Facilities Plan and the continued implementation of the Middle School Model,” Newell said. “These initiatives are designed to strengthen educational opportunities and better serve the needs of our students and families.”
Paterson, New Jersey’s third-largest city, enrolls approximately 25,000 students. The restructuring comes amid ongoing financial pressures. The school board recently approved an $851 million budget for the 2026-27 academic year that includes the elimination of 89 positions, among them 39 teachers, with another 243 positions cut through retirements and unfilled vacancies.
The plan has drawn criticism from some board members and community stakeholders who previously questioned aspects of the decision-making process and its impact on students. Details on how students from the closing schools will be reassigned to other neighborhood schools were outlined in earlier district communications.
County superintendents in New Jersey serve as intermediaries between local districts and the state Department of Education, ensuring compliance with regulations on school closures and facilities planning. Drakeford and state education officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reversal.
As of late Wednesday, the district said it would continue to inform families and the community about the transition. The closures are set to take effect at the end of the current school year, with the new configuration in place for the 2026-27 academic year.
