Enrollment
713
New Jersey · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Newark, NJ
Rafael Hernandez School
Federal NCES profile for Rafael Hernandez School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 341134000091
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rafael Hernandez School earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of New Jersey schools.
- #39 of 42
- schools in Newark · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.9:1
- large classes for New Jersey
- 72.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Rafael Hernandez School has class sizes larger than 91% of New Jersey schools. Computed live against every New Jersey school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rafael Hernandez School ranks #39 of 42 schools in Newark, NJ.
School address
District: Newark Public School District · New Jersey
NCES ID 341134000091 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
48.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.9:1
vs 11.8:1 New Jersey avg
+26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
72.9%
vs 29.6% New Jersey avg
+146% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Rafael Hernandez School compares with New Jersey and U.S. medians
What stands out at Rafael Hernandez School
Rafael Hernandez School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Newark, New Jersey, enrolling 713 students.
Class loads run heavy: 14.9:1 is larger than about 91% of New Jersey schools and 26% above the 11.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 72.9% of students qualify for free meals, 146% above the New Jersey average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 713 puts it in the larger third of New Jersey schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 99% of the 2,501 New Jersey schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 186 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need New Jersey schools statewide, it ranks #185, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (81% of enrollment) (diversity index 33/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 713 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 51.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Newark's public schools, it stands alongside Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (2,169 students): Rafael Hernandez School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.9:1 vs 21.5:1).
Newark Public School District also operates East Side High School (2,046 students) and Barringer High School (1,894 students) alongside Rafael Hernandez School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Rafael Hernandez School compares
Rafael Hernandez School on the metrics families compare, against New Jersey and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Jersey | New Jersey avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▲ 26% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.9% | ▲ 146% | 29.6% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 713 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
713
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
72.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 146% 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
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 91% in New Jersey - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
51.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$25,301
per pupil, district-wide
- above New Jersey avg of $24,984
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 713 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 80.6%
African American 15.0%
White 3.1%
Asian 0.6%
Two or More 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 80.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.7, Rafael Hernandez School is less mixed than the New Jersey school average of 51.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Newark Public School District, which includes Rafael Hernandez School.
$25,301
Per student
+1%
vs New Jersey
Avg $24,984
+52%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 10.8%
State 79.3%
Federal 9.9%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Rafael Hernandez School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Side High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Barringer High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ann Street School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lafayette Street School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| First Avenue School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rafael Hernandez School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,046
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,894
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,294
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,213
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,084
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Newark
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School
Standard public school
2,169 students 21.5:1 students per teacher
East Ward Elementary School
Standard public school
854 students 19:1 students per teacher
Luis Munoz Marin Elementary School
Standard public school
818 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Park Elementary School
Standard public school
747 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Philip's Academy Charter School
Standard public school
730 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
Salome Urena Elementary School
Standard public school
516 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Jersey, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~713 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Rafael Hernandez School's federal record.
- Compare Rafael Hernandez School against another school. Compare schools
- Newark Public School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Rafael Hernandez School
How many students attend Rafael Hernandez School?
Rafael Hernandez School has 713 students enrolled. It is a public school in Newark, NJ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rafael Hernandez School?
The student-teacher ratio at Rafael Hernandez School is 14.9:1, which is 26% higher than the New Jersey average of 11.8:1 and 5% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rafael Hernandez School?
72.9% of students at Rafael Hernandez School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Jersey average of 29.6%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rafael Hernandez School?
The largest demographic group at Rafael Hernandez School is Hispanic or Latino at 80.6% of enrollment, in Newark, NJ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rafael Hernandez School?
Rafael Hernandez School has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Rafael Hernandez School rank among schools in Newark?
By Resource Investment Index, Rafael Hernandez School ranks #39 of 42 schools in Newark, NJ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Newark on the city page.
Is Rafael Hernandez School a good school?
Rafael Hernandez School earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of New Jersey schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Newark Public School District?
Besides Rafael Hernandez School, Newark Public School District also operates East Side High School (2,046 students), Barringer High School (1,894 students), and Ann Street School (1,294 students). See the Newark Public School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.