College Achieve Central Charter School (District)

College Achieve Public Schools is a network of three K-12 charter schools in Asbury Park, Paterson, and Plainfield, New Jersey. CAPS began with the vision of a public school where all students graduated high school prepared to excel in college, return to their communities, and become the next generation of leaders. Founder Mike Piscal believed that all children possess unique gifts and talents and that they can achieve when given access to a strong college preparatory program. In collaboration with the community and respected leaders, Piscal set out to form a new school with the expectations and rigor you’d expect from a private school. College Achieve Central opened its doors in Plainfield for the 2015-2016 school year with an emphasis on character-building, emerging technologies, and individualized teaching. CAPS Asbury and CAPS Paterson opened two years later. All three schools are K-12 institutions, adding grades each year. CAPS was created for youth who have enormous potential but limited resources. We offer innovative and newly-envisioned public schools. CAPS is a creative partner on a passionate mission to offer high-quality education to all students. We do this because we are driven by our commitment to character, community, emerging technologies, an individualized approach, and a college-going mindset. Our teachers motivate our scholars to think critically, instead of simply looking for the “right” answer. The heart of what motivates us is teaching students to think for themselves. We equip students with the social and emotional skills they need to fulfill their academic and life goals. We engage students by helping them find their sense of purpose and providing them with the tools they need to fulfill that purpose. Social emotional skills are learned using Mindset Works, growth mindset for teachers and scholars. Critical thinking skills are embedded in our rigorous curriculum. We have a partnership with ThinkLaw that allows scholars to analyze real-life legal cases in grades 3-12 and fairy tales and nursery rhymes for grades K-2 to tap into their critical thinking skills. Through classes and electives that expose students to real world experiences, such as international travel, mock trials, community service and more, students experience the possible life and career paths they could take.

Every scholar at College Achieve Public Schools will be prepared to excel in and graduate from one of the top colleges or universities in the nation. We will achieve this mission by recognizing and developing each child’s unique gifts and talents. We promise to always treat our scholars and their families with respect and work together with them.

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