Rafael Hernandez School

www.nps.k12.nj.us/HER

713 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 8th

School Overview

The Rafael Hernandez School, located at 345 Broadway in Newark, New Jersey, is a public elementary school serving the North Ward community. As part of the Newark Public Schools district, the institution is committed to providing a foundational education for students in the pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade levels. The school is named in honor of Rafael Hernández Marín, a renowned Puerto Rican composer and musician, reflecting the school’s deep ties to the cultural heritage of the surrounding neighborhood.

Academically, the school focuses on fostering both intellectual growth and social-emotional development. It emphasizes a structured learning environment that aims to prepare students for high school success through a standards-based curriculum. Beyond academics, Rafael Hernandez often serves as a vital community hub, engaging families and local stakeholders to support the holistic needs of its diverse student body. The school remains dedicated to promoting equity and excellence, striving to ensure that every student has access to the resources necessary to reach their full potential within the Newark public school system.

713

Total Students

44.0

Full-Time Teachers

16.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

82.9%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Rafael Hernandez School
Demographic	Student Count
White	22
Hispanic	575
Black	107
Asian	4
Two or More	3
American Indian	2

Hispanic
575 (80.6%)
Black
107 (15.0%)
White
22 (3.1%)
Asian
4 (0.6%)
Two or More
3 (0.4%)
American Indian
2 (0.3%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Newark Public School District
Phone:	(973)481-5004
Website:	http://www.nps.k12.nj.us/HER
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 8th
Total Students:	713
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	44.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	16.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	530
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	61

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 109

Kindergarten 72

Grade 1 79

Grade 2 81

Grade 3 72

Grade 4 59

Grade 5 63

Grade 6 64

Grade 7 47

Grade 8 67