- Enrollment
- 2,073
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Paterson, NJ
Alternative High School
Federal NCES profile for Alternative High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 67/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 341269003111
👥 S:T ratio 87
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 84
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Alternative High School earns 67/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 99% of New Jersey schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in New Jersey.
- #1 of 8
- high schools in Paterson · Resource Index
- 67
- Resource Index · Higher
- 3.2:1
- small classes for New Jersey
- 65.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Alternative High School has class sizes smaller than 99% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Alternative High School ranks #1 of 8 high schools in Paterson, NJ.
School address
District: Paterson Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341269003111 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-7 students YoY
Alternative High School shrank from 125 students in 2022-23 to 118 in 2023-24 (-5.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 25.0 → 23.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-7 students YoY 341269003111 · Paterson, NJ High · SMALL · TRAD
81 enr · 3.2:1 · 65.6% lunch · RII 67
Nearest enrollment peer: Eastside High School (2,073 students)
Alternative High School shrank from 125 students in 2022-23 to 118 in 2023-24 (-5.6%). Teacher FTE lost 25.0 → 23.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · New Jersey schools → · Find another →
Alternative High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Eastside High
Eastside High School
2,073 students
- John F. Kenned
John F. Kennedy High School
1,846 students
- Joseph a. Taub
Joseph a. Taub School
976 students
- School 16 813
School 16
813 students
- School 5 753
School 5
753 students
- This school 81
Alternative High School
81 students
What this shows Alternative High School reports 81 students on the CCD universe file.
How Alternative High School compares
Alternative High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 3.2:1 | ▼ 73% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.6% | ▲ 122% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 81 | top 97% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
3.2:1
Leaner classes than 99% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
81
Bigger than 8% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 122% above the New Jersey average of 29.6%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
3.2:1
students per teacher
- 73% below state mean
Top 1% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 100% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$25,726
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Jersey avg of $26,225
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 81 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 27 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 50.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 58.0%
Hispanic or Latino 42.0%
Largest group: African American at 58.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.7, Alternative High School is less mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
AP program Not offered
District finance for Paterson Public School District reports $25,726 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Alternative High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John F. Kennedy High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Joseph a. Taub School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| School 16 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| School 5 | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Alternative High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,846
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 976
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 813
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 753
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar high schools in Paterson
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~81 students)
Frequently asked questions about Alternative High School
How many students attend Alternative High School?
Alternative High School has 81 students enrolled. It is a high school in Paterson, NJ. CCD year-over-year: 125 (2022-23) → 118 (2023-24), down 7.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Alternative High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Alternative High School is 3.2:1, which is 73% lower than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 80% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Alternative High School?
65.6% of students at Alternative High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Alternative High School?
The largest demographic group at Alternative High School is African American at 58.0% of enrollment, in Paterson, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Alternative High School?
Alternative High School has a Resource Investment Index of 67/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Alternative High School rank among high schools in Paterson?
By Resource Investment Index, Alternative High School ranks #1 of 8 high schools in Paterson, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Paterson on the city page.
What other schools are in Paterson Public School District?
Besides Alternative High School, Paterson Public School District also operates Eastside High School (2,073 students), John F. Kennedy High School (1,846 students), and Joseph a. Taub School (976 students). See the Paterson Public School District district page for the complete list.