College Achieve Greater Asbury Park Earns 100% College Attendance

College Achieve Greater Asbury Park Charter School (CAPS Asbury) opened its doors in 2017 with the goal that all students would graduate high school prepared to excel in college, return to their communities, and become the next generation of leaders. As their first senior class prepares to graduate this spring, the school has reached a critical milestone towards that goal: Each and every member of the CAPS Asbury Class of 2024 was accepted to and is planning to attend college. Like all public charter schools, CAPS Asbury does not charge tuition.

“Beyond their amazing talents, our seniors are incredibly resilient. They started high school during the height of the pandemic, and have achieved so much,” said CAPS Asbury Executive Director Jodi Henderson McInerney. “I am so proud of our students, teachers, and staff for this remarkable accomplishment.”

CAPS Asbury students have earned acceptance to many excellent colleges and universities, including Fordham University, Rutgers University, Penn State University, University of Scranton, LaSalle University, and Temple University.

While CAPS Asbury takes pride in its strong academic program, the school, which serves students from grades K-12, is committed to providing a well-rounded education grounded in character, community, emerging technologies, and an individualized approach. Part of this is giving students access to transformative opportunities. For example, the Summer of a Lifetime (SOAL) sends CAPS students on two-week trips to top colleges around the world, including Oxford University, University of Siena, Stanford University, Harvard University and Yale University, just to name a few.

CAPS Asbury received national recognition for its academic performance in the wake of the pandemic. They had the third-largest gains in the state in English Language Arts and was in the 98th percentile in math growth. Hispanic students at the school out-performed white students statewide in ELA (61.5% proficiency to 58.2% proficiency)— eliminating the achievement gap.

“We started College Achieve because we believe that all children have unique gifts and talents–and when they have access to a rigorous college preparatory program, they can soar,” said CAPS Founder Michael Piscal. “The CAPS Asbury faculty and staff believed in our students, and never stopped pushing them to succeed. Our students have validated that belief and hard work. But this is just the first step. I can’t wait to see how our students will take what they learn in college about the world and themselves and return to make Asbury Park and Neptune better and more just communities.

The school also has found success outside of academics. This spring was CAPS Asbury’s inaugural varsity outdoor track and field season, and two scholar-athletes qualified for the Monmouth County Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

CAPS, which also has locations in Paterson, Plainfield, and North Plainfield, was recently named a semifinalist for the 2023 Yass Prize. The prestigious prize is considered the “Pulitzer of Education Innovation,” and recognizes education organizations for providing a sustainable, transformational, outstanding and permissionless education.

To enroll your child in CAPS Asbury, click here.