New York state’s first charter school opened in Harlem in 1999, one year after the passage of the Charter Schools Act in 1998. Since then, New York City’s public charter school sector has grown to encompass 281 schools across the 5 boroughs. Charter schools currently serve an estimated 149,000 students in NYC.
15%
of all NYC public school students attend a charter school
420
NYC charter school campuses currently in operation—growing from 3 campuses in1999
More than
37,000
students have graduated from NYC charter schools in the past 15 years.*
NYC’S CHARTER SCHOOL ENROLLMENT HAS INCREASED EVERY YEAR SINCE THE FIRST SCHOOLS OPENED
Source: NYC Public Schools, August 2023
* City date sources are unavailable for years prior to those charted
NEW YORK CITY CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE PREDOMINANTLY SERVED ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS*
■ % FRPL
Source: NYC Public Schools, August 2023
* City date sources are unavailable for years prior to those charted
For the last 15 years, approximately 80% of the students served in NYC charter schools are economically disadvantaged— higher than the citywide average of district schools (72%).
Testing data over the past 8 years show that charter school students of color have consistently achieved higher proficiency rates than their district counterparts.
THE NUMBER OF BLACK AND HISPANIC STUDENTS – AS WELL AS ALL OTHER SUBGROUPS – HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN NYC CHARTER SCHOOLS*
Source: NYC Public Schools, August 2023
* City date sources are unavailable for years prior to those charted
ENROLLMENT OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN CHARTER SCHOOLS CONTINUES TO GROW*
Source: NYC Public Schools, August 2023
* City date sources are unavailable for years prior to those charted
