Philip's Academy Charter School of Paterson

We believe love fuels everything.
We believe every child has a spark of genius.
We believe the right environment unleashes potential.
We believe results matter.
We believe we can always find a better way.


Philip’s Academy has a rich history of providing a rigorous and nurturing educational program to families from urban areas for almost 3 decades. The first Philip’s school opened its doors in Newark in 1988, after sadly no students could be found to meet the rigorous standards to receive a full scholarship to St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire. It was decided that such an opportunity would not pass by Newark students again, and St. Philip’s Academy was established to provide students with the academic skills necessary to thrive at independent secondary schools across the nation, thereby preparing them for a lifetime of personal achievement.

In the fall of 2013, St. Philip’s Academy made history when it became the first independent school in New Jersey to convert to a Charter School under a new state law. Converting from St. Philips Academy to Philip’s Academy Charter School enables the organization to extend its successful educational model to more students. Our challenge is to continually “raise the bar” to provide our students with the best educational experience. Leadership qualities and a sense of community responsibility are developed in small classes and taught by caring and innovative teachers. Two years after the conversion, in the fall of 2015, the Philip’s organization received approval to move ahead with expansion into Paterson.

To address issues of childhood obesity and promote wellness in our community, we developed our own unique program dedicated to sustainability and healthy living, called EcoSpaces Education. The program features unique learning environments like a garden, teaching kitchen, fiber arts studio, indoor farming labs and a healthy lunch program which promotes a seed-to-table lifestyle. As featured on CNN, ABC, and CBS, EcoSpaces Education has been called a profound model for 21st Century Education that prepares children for the world they will inherit.

Philip’s Academy graduates are placed at selective secondary schools including The Lawrenceville School, The Pingry School, Episcopal High School, St. Paul’s School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Westover School. Graduates matriculate at colleges including Boston College, Boston University, Carnegie Mellon, Colgate, Cornell, Dartmouth, Haverford, Johns Hopkins, Mt. Holyoke, Rutgers, Trinity, Tufts, Union, Vassar, and Vanderbilt.