Schools

Success Academy Charter Schools Tout Record-High Enrollment

Roughly 12,266 New York City families applied for nearly 2,500 seats this fall—a rate of five applicants for every open seat.

 

The race is on and the competition is fierce for New York City parents vying for a spot at one of the 18 Success Academy Charter Schools across the city.

According to a press statement released by the school's network organization, 12,266 New York City families applied for nearly 2,500 seats this fall—a rate of five applicants for every open seat.

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Earlier this year, Success Academy Cobble Hill and other chapters came under fire when parents of special needs students claimed their children were being unfairly penalized for acting out. At the Bed-Stuy location, security had to be ramped up after five back-to-back shootings took place in front of the school.

But even with isolated reports of violence and questionable disciplinary practices, the charter school network, founded by former city councilwoman Eva Moskowitz, seems to remain unshaken. According to the organization, it consistently ranks among the city and state’s highest performing public schools, with 97 percent of students meeting math standards and 88 percent meeting reading standards on last year’s state exams.

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Its record of achievement has continued to attract a diverse cross section of students, including families from each of the city's 32 school districts representing children zoned for 576 different elementary schools in both low-income and mixed-income neighborhoods.

In Harlem, more than 40 percent of eligible kindergartners from Central Harlem applied to a Success Academy school. The Upper West side location received 2,560 applications for for grades K-3 for around 150 seats—a rate of 17 applications per seat.

Success Academy Cobble Hill, which opened just this past year, received 1,773 applications for around 100 seats in grades K-2.

In response to demand, the organization is opening six new schools for the 2013-2014 school year that will be located in Union Square, Hell's Kitchen, a third Bronx location, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights and Fort Greene.

A random admissions lottery was held on Friday, and families will be notified by mail whether their children received a seat. Those who do not immediately gain enrollment will be waitlisted, said the organization.

For more information on Success Academy, visit its website.


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