Concerns Over NYC Education System Raised by Success Academy CEO

The CEO of Success Academy, a charter school network in New York City, has expressed serious concerns about the performance of the local education system, citing that it’s failing students. Eva Moskowitz made her remarks shortly after the release of report cards for grades 3 to 8 by the city.

During an interview, Moskowitz stated, “The children are fine. It’s a dysfunctional system that is causing unbelievable results.” She’s a Democrat and pointed out that education should be a bipartisan matter, especially following the New York State Department of Education’s announcement that recent test scores for third to eighth graders indicated “signs of meaningful improvement.”

According to the latest state report, approximately 57% of students in these grades are considered proficient in mathematics, while about 53% report proficiency in English.

Moskowitz elaborated on what she sees as “a broken system,” noting that it involves various stakeholders, including politicians, unions, and bureaucrats. She remarked, “These failures persist every year, particularly in urban and rural areas.” The zoning system further complicates matters, as students are assigned to schools based on their residential areas, often resulting in significant disparities in educational quality.

While most states have restrictions preventing parents from choosing schools outside their designated districts, charter schools offer an alternative, allowing families more freedom in selecting educational institutions.

Moskowitz highlighted that the charter school model is crucial for families unable to move to better neighborhoods to secure quality education for their children. “Real estate certainly influences school quality,” she said. “We know that wealthier families often relocate to affluent suburbs to avoid underperforming schools. But this option isn’t available to all.” This is where the charter movement plays a pivotal role, affording parents choice in education.

Success Academy recently announced that it ranked first in the state for math scores among grades 3-8, with 96% of its students passing. It also secured second place in English language arts, just shy of the top spot held by the Scarsdale Union Free School District.

Moskowitz reaffirmed her commitment to examining the performance of schools within its network, sharing insights on how they fare compared to other districts.

Founded in 2006, Success Academy has grown to become the fourth largest school district in New York, serving over 20,000 students, predominantly from low-income Black and Hispanic backgrounds.