The Bronx is showing improvement, at least in charter schools.
Recent data indicates that students in charter schools located in some of the borough’s most impoverished areas, including the South Bronx, are achieving pass rates of over 90% in certain classrooms for state reading and math exams.
These results are significantly better than those of students in traditional public schools in the Bronx, with at least a 25% difference, according to a review of the statistics.
For instance, at the Zeta Charter Schools Network, where four schools exist in the Bronx and two in northern Manhattan, an average of 91.9% of students in grades 3 to 8 passed the reading exam, while 94.8% passed the mathematics exam.
“The Zetas are focused not only on academics but on the whole child,” expressed Laura Manzano, a parent with three children enrolled at Zeta South Bronx K-to-8 schools.
Among the 99 charter schools in the Bronx, 68.6% of students in grades 3-8 passed the English Language Arts exam, compared to just 43.6% at traditional public schools, according to the data.
In math, the gap widens further, with charter school students averaging 69.2% passing rates, while only 43.3% of public school students did the same.
- At Success Academy’s five Bronx Charter Schools, performance surged. In Success Academy IV and V, 100% of the students passed the mathematics test, with ELA exam results ranging from 92% to 99% across all five schools.
- More than 95% of students passed the ELA exam, and over 96% became proficient in math at all four South Bronx classic charter schools.
- Icahn Charter Schools, which encompass seven schools in the Bronx, also showed strong results. In Icahn Charter Schools I and IV, 99.5% passed both the ELA and math exams, while six schools reported above 80% in ELA pass rates, and five schools did the same in mathematics.
“The Bronx is learning,” remarked Lawford Cunningham, director of the Icahn Charter Network, who referenced the infamous “The Bronx is Burning” headline from the troubled times of the 1970s.
According to an analysis by the New York City Charter School Center, 67.5% of charter school students citywide excelled in the ELA exam, outpacing traditional public school students by 11.2 percentage points. In math, 68.6% of charter school students were proficient, compared to 56.9% for public schools, making for an 11.7 percentage points difference.
Critics, however, aren’t entirely convinced, especially considering New York City Schools’ hefty $41 billion budget, which equates to $36,293 per student— the highest in the nation—and still sees only over 40% of traditional public school students skilled in both math and reading.
James Merriman, CEO of NYC Charter School Center, stated that these results affirm that charter schools are a viable option for city families. “This incredible progress results from the amazing charter school teachers and leaders who challenge and support students daily,” he added.
In total, New York City has 285 public charter schools serving about 150,000 students, which is roughly 15% of the total student population in the city, the largest district in the country, comprising around 1,800 schools.
Almost 90% of charter school students are black or Latino, 83% come from low-income backgrounds, and 19% have special needs.
Charter schools, which receive public funding, are managed independently and typically have longer school days and years compared to traditional public schools. Notably, many of their staff are not part of unions, unlike public school teachers.
Despite their achievements, legislative movers haven’t made efforts to lift restrictions preventing the establishment of more charter schools across the city.
Manzano emphasized the significance of fostering parental involvement at Zeta, mentioning practices like writing supportive letters to students before exams and providing small group assistance to those struggling.
They also plan fun events to alleviate stress before exams, such as class trips to places like Radio City Music Hall.
Her son Gohan is in eighth grade, daughter Yazziri is in fifth, and the youngest, Aylin, will start kindergarten next year. “I wish there had been a school like Zeta when I was younger,” she said, reflecting on her own experience in traditional public schools.
Emily Kim, founder and CEO of Zeta Charter Schools, expressed excitement over the test outcomes, noting the network is expanding into Queens with new schools opening in Jamaica and Elmhurst this fall.
The Zeta network also reported that 100% of fourth graders at Bronx Slemont Park Charter School and all seventh graders at Manhattan Middle School passed the state math exam.
Kim emphasized the strength of their model, asserting, “The results show that our academically rigorous and national model works, proving that every child can thrive when equipped with the right tools to grow emotionally and academically.”
Cunningham mentioned that the key begins with hiring quality teachers, maintaining a rigorous curriculum, utilizing advanced technology, and performing data analysis.
In terms of accountability, he stressed the importance of the individuals in front of the students, stating, “We train our teachers thoroughly to ensure they are prepared to teach our kids.”
The Icahn network, founded by billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn, prioritizes competition and mutual accountability for outcomes, according to Cunningham.
Bronx Sen. Louis Sepulveda, who represents a district with many charter schools, praised the achievements. “Overall, charter schools are on track, and we congratulate them,” he stated while supporting both charter and traditional public schools.
However, the mayoral candidate for the upcoming elections has not been vocal about charter schools despite their success. Zoran Mamdani, the socialist Democratic candidate, has displayed strong opposition to them, while current Mayor Eric Adams has been silent on the charter school cap increase when he had the chance.
Andrew Cuomo, although once supportive, currently shows reduced enthusiasm as a mayoral candidate. On the other hand, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has supported the idea of lifting the state law cap on charter schools in the past, but it has not appeared prominently on his education plan.
