A targeted literacy initiative led by the nonprofit Mercer Street Friends has yielded remarkable academic results for Trenton elementary students, with new data showing a 241% increase in the number of children reading at grade level during the 2025–2026 school year.
The organization’s Reading Intervention Program, a key component of its nationally recognized Community Schools Initiative, provided High-Impact Tutoring to 164 students across three Trenton schools: Luis Muñoz-Rivera Elementary, B.C. Gregory Elementary, and Cadwalader Elementary.
Measurable academic growth
At the beginning of the school year, only 17% of the participating students were reading at their respective grade levels. Through a combination of evidence-based instructional practices and consistent, small-group tutoring led by retired Trenton educators, that figure climbed to 58% by the end of the spring semester.
The growth was particularly pronounced at specific campuses:
- Luis Muñoz-Rivera Elementary: Experienced a dramatic 1,460% increase, with students reading at grade level rising from 5% in the fall to 78% in the spring.
- B.C. Gregory Elementary: Saw a 148% increase, moving from 31% to 77% of students reading at grade level.
- Cadwalader Elementary: In its inaugural year with the program, the school saw a 240% increase, with students reading at grade level rising from 5% to 17% despite a mid-year launch.
Beyond the academic milestones, the program maintained a strong attendance rate of nearly 90%, signaling high levels of engagement from both students and families.
A model for success
Bernadette Trapp, Director of Community Schools at Mercer Street Friends, credited the progress to the perseverance of the students and the dedication of the program’s Reading Specialists.
“Every increase in reading proficiency represents months of hard work, perseverance and commitment from our students,” Trapp said. “We are incredibly proud of what they have accomplished.”
The initiative utilizes a “High-Impact Tutoring” model, which relies on experienced educators working 18 to 23 hours per week to provide individualized support and ongoing progress monitoring.
Randall West, CEO of Mercer Street Friends, emphasized that the program’s success is a testament to the power of community collaboration. “Reading is more than a foundational skill—it opens doors and creates opportunities for students to succeed not only in the classroom, but throughout their lives,” West said. “These outcomes demonstrate what’s possible when schools, families and community partners work together.”
