Marion P. Thomas Charter Middle School was founded by a group of Newark activists and parents, under the direction of the late Rev. Dr. Charles E. Thomas, pastor emeritus of The New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. The middle school welcomes students in fifth through eighth grades. The school partners with community organizations to enrich its curriculum. For example, Schering-Plough sponsors the annual Science Fair. Furthermore, UMDNJ's School of Nursing developed the health curriculum and NJIT helped plan the science curriculum.