Class of 2025 earned over $10 Million in Scholarships and Acceptances to Top-Tier Universities
Paterson, NJ – In a powerful testament to what’s possible when high expectations meet targeted support, every graduating senior at College Achieve Paterson Charter School (College Achieve Paterson) has been accepted to a four-year college—marking the second consecutive year of 100% college acceptance.
“We set a high bar—and our scholars are rising to meet it,” said Dr. Gemar Mills, Co-Founder and Executive Director of College Achieve Paterson. “With a rigorous curriculum, strong support systems, and an unwavering belief in our scholars’ potential, we’re moving the needle in real, measurable ways. This year, like last year, every single graduate was accepted to a four-year college. That’s the standard we set, and we are exceeding.”
Located in a city where fewer than 12% of residents hold a bachelor’s degree, College Achieve Paterson is making a measurable impact through high expectations and a rigorous academic curriculum. All seniors must complete at least three Advanced Placement (AP) courses to graduate—compared to just 20% of local district students taking even one AP class, according to the NJ School Performance Report. College Achieve Paterson provides a high quality education to a high-need population, serving over 95% of students from low-income backgrounds and identifying as students of color.
The Class of 2025 includes scholars like Valedictorian Ayanna Davis, who earned acceptances to 13 colleges, and Eric Campos, whose strong SAT scores helped secure his admission to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Both participated in College Achieve Paterson’s Summer of a Lifetime (SOAL) program, which sends students—at nearly no cost—to study with college professors at prestigious institutions such as Oxford University, Harvard University, Yale University, Stanford University, and Princeton University. These transformative academic experiences broaden students’ horizons and deepen their college readiness.
This year’s graduating class earned over $10 million in scholarships. Davis and Campos are among dozens of seniors in the Class of 2025 who are headed to top-tier universities across the country, including Rutgers University, Howard University, and Xavier University.
College Achieve Paterson’s senior class benefited from targeted support, including FAFSA completion workshops and scholarship application assistance led by exceptional staff.
“The Class of 2025 embodies what’s possible when a school system is designed to deliver real outcomes for students,” said Michael Piscal, CEO and founder of College Achieve Public Schools. “Their college acceptances, record-breaking scholarships, and academic growth reflect more than individual success, they reflect a scalable model that works. By grounding our approach in best practices, including small-group instruction, and evidence-based writing frameworks like the Toulmin Method, we are proving a rigorous, thoughtful education can open doors and expand opportunity for every student we serve.”
That model is yielding measurable academic gains. College Achieve Paterson is outperforming both state and local averages in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics based on the New Jersey Student Larning Assessments, with especially strong results among historically underserved groups. Multilingual learners, economically disadvantaged students, and students of color are exceeding statewide subgroup performance by double-digit margins. College Achieve Paterson outscored the local district by 46 points in ELA and 20 points in math—clear evidence of its impact on equity and achievement.
The successes extend across the College Achieve network: both College Achieve Greater Asbury Park and College Achieve Central celebrated 100% college acceptance rates for the Class of 2025, further underscoring the network’s commitment to a mission of college readiness and student success.
About College Achieve Public Schools College Achieve Public Schools (CAPS) is a network of free, public K–12 charter schools in Paterson, Plainfield, North Plainfield, Asbury Park, and Neptune Township, serving communities with enormous potential and historically limited resources. CAPS is committed to preparing all students to excel in and graduate from the top colleges and universities in the nation.
