Overview

• More than 41,000 Newark public school students returned to class Tuesday as the district opened the Newark School of Architecture and Interior Design.
• The new high school enrolled just over 200 freshmen and began operations in a former hospital under a temporary certificate of occupancy after prior delays.
• Programs span architecture and key building trades such as plumbing, electrical work and HVAC, with a two-story construction lab for hands-on projects.
• The district launched Newark Saves with a $150,000 Prudential Foundation grant to seed $25 into 529 accounts for 3,000 incoming kindergarteners and offer family financial literacy.
• Officials say the openings build on recent gains that include a nearly 90% graduation rate, higher attendance and reduced chronic absenteeism, as the superintendent visits six schools to kick off the year.