Founded by NJCDC and operated in partnership with Paterson Public Schools, Garrett Morgan Academy opened its doors in 2000 to provide students interested in careers in transportation and technology with a relevant and accessible STEM curriculum.

NJCDC assists in the ongoing operation of the school through an array of support services to enhance student experiences. This includes access to after-school programming, tutoring, field trips; and clubs like Game Design, Coding and Recreation.

At Garrett Morgan Academy, named for the turn-of-the-century African-American inventor of the traffic light, students engage in college prep coursework and receive one-on-one attention typically not possible in larger school environments. With an impressively high graduation rate, Garrett Morgan Academy has sent students on to colleges and universities such as NJIT, Rutgers, Allegheny, and Lehigh.

Read about Garret Morgan Academy alum Daniel Cobar: Daniel's Story

Approach to Learning

Garrett Morgan Academy uses styles of learning to address the diverse needs of its students while focusing on holistic education:

• Project-based learning

  - Working directly with corporations to create innovative engineering solutions;

  
  

• Service learning

  - Volunteering in the community and assessing impact

Great Falls Teen Center

At 200 Grand Street, NJCDC also operates a Teen Center that offers free year-round enrichment programming, tutoring, employment assistance, college advice, counseling, and support services to students attending Garrett Morgan Academy and International High School.

Learn more about NJCDC's school-based Teen Centers