NYC CHARTER SCHOOLS KICK OFF 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR; MORE THAN 50% OF CHARTER SCHOOLS TO OPEN IN AUGUST

NYC CHARTER SCHOOLS KICK OFF 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR; MORE THAN 50% OF CHARTER SCHOOLS TO OPEN IN AUGUST 

Six New Charter Schools Open Their Doors Across Four Boroughs

(NEW YORK) – New York City charter schools began welcoming back an estimated 145,000 students to 273 public charter schools across the City. The total includes 6 new schools opening their doors this year in the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island. (Check out all the stats on the 2021-2022 Charter School Fact Sheet.) All told, more than 50% of charter schools across the city are opening in August, and 80% will open before the NYCDOE’s September 13 start date.

By opening schools early, many charter schools will offer more instructional time, giving them a crucial opportunity to focus on the well-documented learning loss many students experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with health experts, charter schools are approaching “back to school” with the health, safety and educational and emotional growth of their students at the forefront. A majority of charter schools will be providing in person instruction while continuing to consult with health experts and dialogue with families.

“Charter school educators couldn’t be more excited to kick off this school year, get kids back to learning, and get their teachers back to what they do best – educating and inspiring students. As we begin a new year, New York City charter schools remain focused on delivering a top-notch education and supporting the health, safety, and socio-emotional needs of all of our students. Despite any challenges the pandemic may bring, charter school educators will continue meeting the urgency of the moment on behalf of our City’s students and families,” said James Merriman, CEO of the New York City Charter School Center.

There are 6 new charter schools opening for the 2021-2022 school year across four boroughs, including the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island. All of the new schools will be opening in private spaces.

The new schools include:

• Richmond Preparatory Charter School is a middle school opening in Staten Island with a computer science career path design, particularly focused on the inclusion of students with special needs.

• Earl Monroe Charter School is a first-of-its-kind high school that centers its academic course work on the various aspects of college and professional basketball as a major industry, including business operations, finance, marketing, contracts and facilities management. The school will open in Pelham Bay in the Bronx as they await development of a new facility in Mott Haven.

• Stradford Preparatory Charter School is a single-sex middle school for boys – opening in the Bronx – with emphasis on character building and overcoming obstacles to achieve academic and personal success.

• Amber Charter School III is a K-1 elementary school opening in Inwood, serving large Spanish-speaking populations including many immigrant families and English Language Learners with an enriched program that includes regular music lessons.

• Achievement First Legacy Elementary School is Achievement First’s first school in Queens, replicating the success of its program found in 10 elementary schools across Brooklyn.

• KIPP Beyond is a new middle school in Morningside Heights offering an intentionally integrated education option in a highly segregated district that finds many families of color shut out of the “preferred” district programs.

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About the New York City Charter School Center

The New York City Charter School Center is an independent nonprofit committed to fostering an environment in which public charters can open and flourish, and, through their innovative approaches, provide models for improving all public schools. The Charter Center helps new charter schools get started, supports existing schools, and engages the charter school community around key issues. Learn more about the New York City Charter School Center at www.nyccharterschools.org.

About NYC’s Charter Schools

Charter schools are free, independently run public schools that are able to innovate in their classroom structures, curriculum, and teaching methods. In return, they’re held to higher standards of accountability. More than 90 percent of the City’s charter school students are African-American or Latino, and nearly 80 percent are from low-income families. There are 273 public charter schools serving over 145,000 students in all five boroughs for the 2021-2022 school year.