National Blue Ribbon Schools Program

In 1998, a small dedicated group of educators and community members joined together with the vision of opening an elementary school that would be a supportive and engaging school community where classes are small and personalized; where parents are partners; where teachers teach with passion and commitment; and where all the adults model­and all the students develop and live­the values of caring, courage, justice, respect, and responsibility.

Since its inception, Pace has reached several milestones. Its Kindergarten program was the first charter school Kindergarten in New Jersey to receive accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. In 2003, Pace was one of 25 schools selected statewide for the first annual Governor’s School of Excellence award. The school was featured in a documentary on top performing charter schools in NJ, filmed by the Governor’s Office.

The 21st century student requires a deeper understanding of academic content at a higher level. At Pace, technology is integrated at all grade levels to enhance knowledge, skills, global perspective, and cross content connections. Teachers and students work across and beyond traditional disciplines and boundaries as engaged critical and creative thinkers and problem solvers.

Pace Charter School of Hamilton’s most recent milestone was its approval by the Department of Education to expand its grade configuration from kindergarten to third grade to a kindergarten to fifth grade school. Along with that, Pace was approved to add an additional class at each grade level, increasing its total enrollment from 120 to 270 students.