Marion P. Thomas Charter School (MPTCS) is the largest independently-operated free public charter school in Newark, NJ. MPTCS was established in 1999 by a group of individuals who were born and raised in Newark and wanted to provide the best possible educational experience for the next generation of Newarkers. The school is one of the only minority-led charter schools in Newark, reflecting both its student population and the community it serves. Since 1999, MPTCS l has grown from four classrooms to four campuses and now serves 1,500 students from pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade.