NEW YORK CITY CHARTER SCHOOLS KICK OFF 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR WITH RECORD NUMBERS

NEW YORK CITY CHARTER SCHOOLS KICK OFF 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR WITH RECORD NUMBERS

24 New Charter Schools Open Across All Five Boroughs

With over 81,000 Applications for 33,000 Seats and Strong Test Scores, 
Advocates Continue to Call For An Increase in NYC’s Charter Cap

(NEW YORK) – The New York City Charter School Center today welcomed a record estimated 126,400 students in 260 charter schools, including 24 new schools – the most charter schools ever opened in one year – for the 2019-2020 school year. This year’s new schools offer a mix of independent schools and replications of existing, neighborhood schools with proven track records. The 2019-20 Charter School Fact Sheet contains these and other details on the sector. 

With approximately 50 percent of NYC charter schools having opened in August, charter school students often benefit from more instructional days than their district counterparts. And, recently released NY State assessment data show that NYC charter school students continue to outperform their district counterparts locally and statewide, erasing long-standing proficiency gaps for historically underserved students. The Charter Center’s interactive analysis of charter school performance, which contains further breakdowns of performance, can be found here.

It’s no wonder NYC’s charter school sector is again seeing record demand from families. Last week, the Charter Center released its NYC Charter Schools: 2019-2020 Enrollment Lottery Estimates Report, which shows that over 81,000 applications were submitted for 33,000 available seats.

“For two decades, charter schools have successfully served New York City children, providing families with educational options and new possibilities. As we start the school year, NYC charter schools remain focused on delivering great results for kids across the five boroughs. This year’s batch of new charter schools continues to demonstrate a commitment to serving all students and families with diverse models.” said Charter Center CEO James Merriman. “Charter schools work and families want them – now is the time for Albany to address the depleted charter cap in New York City.”

Of the 24 new charter schools opening for the 2019-2020 school year:

• There are 17 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 2 high schools located across all five boroughs.
• 15 of the 24 new schools are replications; 7 of the 15 are replications of successful, independent community schools that are opening their second school.
• 2 new charter schools opened in Staten Island, nearly doubling the number of charter schools in operation in the borough.

Many of the new schools offer unique models:

1. AECI II: NYC Charter High School for Computer Engineering and Innovation is a specialized high school for computer engineering and computer sciences.
2. Bridge Preparatory Charter School, opening in Staten Island, is the first charter school designed to serve students with dyslexia.
3. Bronx Arts and Science Charter School, part of the reputable iLearn Schools network of charter schools in New Jersey, offers a blended learning model. 
4. Cardinal McCloskey Community Charter School centers around a partnership with a long-standing, social services organization focusing on children with trauma.
5. LEEP Dual Language Academy Charter School is the charter sector’s eighth dual-language charter school, offering Spanish immersion.
6. Neighborhood Charter School – Bronx is an elementary school replication with an inclusive, immersion program for students on the autism spectrum.
7. New Dawn Charter High School II is a replication of a successful charter school serving over-aged and under-credited students.

All 2019-20 charter school openings:

Manhattan

• Harlem Village Academy West 2 Charter School
• Storefront Academy Harlem Charter School

The Bronx

• AECI II: NYC Charter High School for Computer Engineering and Innovation
• Bold Charter School
• Bronx Arts and Science Charter School
• Bronx Charter School for Excellence 5
• Cardinal McCloskey Community Charter School
• Creo College Preparatory Charter School
• DREAM Charter School Mott Haven
• KIPP All Middle School
• KIPP Elements Primary School
• Neighborhood Charter School – Bronx 
• University Prep Charter Middle School

Brooklyn

• Brooklyn Prospect Charter School Windsor Terrace Middle
• Brooklyn RISE Charter School
• East Brooklyn Ascend Charter School
• East Flatbush Ascend Charter School
• Ivy Hill Preparatory Charter School
• LEEP Dual Language Academy
• Lefferts Gardens Ascend Charter School

Queens

• New Dawn Charter High School II
• Valence College Preparatory Charter School

Staten Island

• Bridge Preparatory Charter School
• Hellenic Classical Charter School – Staten Island

With parent demand remaining steady, continued strong student performance and a pipeline of potentially high quality leaders seeking to open charter schools in NYC, the Charter Center and other advocates are pushing New York State to pass new legislation that will remove the current, arbitrary restrictions on creating more charter schools in New York City. Without a legislative solution, future charter schools won’t be able to open, leaving parents without options for the high-quality public school seats they are seeking.

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