Soaring Heights Charter School, Jersey City | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

Embedded in my earliest scholastic memories, are the staff of Soaring Heights Charter School. I became a part of the Soaring Heights family as a student of the first fourth grade class. My mom was drawn to their small classroom size and location where as I was drawn to their family-oriented style of teaching. I was fortunate enough to continue to be a part of the Soaring Heights family up until the 8th grade, being a part of their first graduating class.
Just as I was a part of many firsts for Soaring Heights, they were a part of many firsts for me. Soaring Heights was the first school I received personalized learning based on how I learned best. It was the first place I felt connected to a teacher. The school was more than a school to me; they became a second home. The teacher’s at Soaring Heights didn’t only care about my academic learning; they put emphasis and value on my social learning, self-esteem, and demonstrated empathy for me along with the other students in my classroom.
The work the staff does on a daily basis at the school is shown in actions, not in words. An example of this was demonstrated on 9/11. My mother worked in New York. Once the towers were hit, the school attempted to get in contact with parents to come and pick up the students. The school was unable to get in contact with my mother but they knew she worked in New York. Two teachers from the school walked my sister and me home. They waited until we were safely in our house before they left and walked back to school. The compassion that was displayed that day was something I will always hold true to my heart.
As an adult, I have been able to think back as to the impact that being a student at Soaring Heights has had on me. My academic experiences and my life would have been different should I not had been a student at Soaring Heights and had teachers who genuinely cared about me. I do not take for granted the opportunity I was given when I was selected by lottery to be a student at Soaring Heights. Reflecting on the tools they provided me with as a student has inspired me as an adult to also work with children and pass on some of the skills I acquired at Soaring Heights. My experience at Soaring Heights inspired me in my professional career as a Therapist for children with mental health and behavioral issues. The patience, enthusiasm, and respect that were demonstrated toward me while I was a student are all practices I use daily with children I work with.
Thank you doesn’t seem like enough to show my gratitude for all of the staff at Soaring Heights Charter School.

My children attended Soaring Heights Charter School from K-8th grade. It’s a school that educates approximately 200 children. Having been raised in a small city in Upstate, NY, I was looking for a school where my children could feel safe and where my children would be known. It gave me comfort that the staff (Head of School, teachers, the nurse, support staff, and crossing guard) were as dedicated as they are and that they knew my children. One of my two children has a serious food allergy and asthma, and when kindergarten started, signs were posted in school about allergies and anaphylaxis., That doesn’t happen everywhere. Handing your children with serious allergies over to a school system can be terrifying. I also appreciated the fact that security guards and metal detectors were not needed in this environment. In my search for a school, I interviewed several Jersey City public school teachers. The educators appreciated that Soaring Heights had been around since charter schools first opened in Jersey City. Additionally, they noted the fact that the school’s founders were teachers that had previously taught in public schools. That classroom experience could not be overlooked. My husband and I took all of this into consideration when making the final decision about which school our children would attend and when weighing the public vs. charter school option. I felt, wow, how can we pass on this opportunity.

Soaring Heights is a hidden jewel that people need to discover. All of the teachers and staff are hard-working individuals who collectively work as a team to provide the best eduction to our children. I highly recommend Soaring Heights Charter School to those parents who want opportunities for their children.

Don’t throw away your children’s SHOT for a GREAT EDUCATION!!!
And by the way,…….. did I mention that it’s free.

Jewel Gregory

As a former student of Soaring Heights Charter School who is currently attending McNair Academic High School as a senior, I feel that the environment that was presented to me in this school helped to prepare me for high school. McNair presents a rigorous curriculum to all of it’s students, but attending this made the course load that I have right now seem much lighter and easier. SHCS also presents to its students an open environment, due to the low teacher to student ratio. A smaller environment provides more opportunities for the students to feel closer to the teachers and build stronger ties. Even after three years, I am able to go back to this school and talk to my former teachers with ease.