Christina Seix Academy reports reading and math scores above state and national averages

Christina Seix Academy says its latest test results show students in Trenton are outperforming peers in New Jersey and across the U.S. The school is also highlighting high college-going rates and a new leadership transition as it looks to expand its impact.

Why it matters: - Christina Seix Academy is using academic results to make a broader case for its model: strong test performance, close community support and family engagement can improve outcomes for students from underserved backgrounds. - The school says the results come as it enters a new leadership phase and considers how to scale its approach beyond Trenton.

What happened: - Interim Head of School Ivy Green released Christina Seix Academy’s latest reading and math results on Nov. 5, 2026. - Christina Seix Academy is a Trenton-based independent school serving more than 200 mostly Black and Brown students from single-parent households each year. - Green took over as interim head in August after serving as senior director of academic programs.

The details: - About 70% of Christina Seix Academy students in grades 1-8 were reading at or above grade level this school year on the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests, the school’s primary literacy assessment. - New Jersey’s 2024 literacy results, cited through the National Assessment of Educational Progress, showed 38% of 4th and 8th graders reading at or above grade level. - Nationally, 31% of 4th graders and 30% of 8th graders were reading at or above grade level, according to the same assessment. - Christina Seix Academy students in grades 1-8 scored at the 60th percentile in fall 2026 math testing using NWEA Measures of Academic Progress. - NWEA’s national benchmark for that assessment is the 50th percentile. - All 118 Christina Seix Academy alumni have been accepted to private, independent high schools with full or partial scholarships. - Ninety-six percent of graduates from the 2021 and 2022 classes are now enrolled in four-year colleges and universities. - Christina Seix Academy operates on a 12-month calendar and enrolls students starting at age 3. - The school uses frequent benchmark testing, small class sizes, family engagement, mentoring and health and wellness support to address student needs. - Extracurricular programs include athletics, instrumental instruction and dance. - Green said the school’s focus on belonging is as important as academics because it helps students build personal skills and long-term commitment to learning.

Between the lines: - The school is framing academic data as evidence that its holistic model works, not just its classroom instruction. - Green’s background in Trenton public schools and her role as a CSA co-founder give the transition a strong local continuity story. - The leadership change also signals an attempt to broaden CSA’s donor base and replicate its model for other schools, which suggests growth ambitions beyond one campus. - Christina Seix Academy was founded in 2012 by Christina Seix Dow, who created the school to improve outcomes for students from marginalized communities affected by systemic racism and poverty.

What's next: - Christina Seix Academy’s board has launched a national search for a permanent head of school. - The school expects to name the next leader next winter, after reviewing applicants including Green. - Green said the school wants to increase its impact and share its programs as models for other educational institutions. - Rob Connor, the school’s co-founder and current board chair, has moved on to become president and CEO of the SEED Foundation while remaining involved with CSA through the board.