Democracy Prep Endurance Charter School

ELA proficiency has held remarkably steady in the 38–44% range for nearly a decade, well below the district's 53.9% average — flat, not improving. Math is the bigger concern: after peaking near 50% in 2018, proficiency cratered to 22.6% in 2022 and has only partially rebounded to 38%, still roughly 13 points below the district's 50.7% mark. The arc reads as a slow recovery from a deep post-pandemic hole rather than a school on the rise.

This is where the school's data is most concerning. Chronic absenteeism at 49.4% — nearly half the students missing enough days to be flagged — sits far above what most schools face. Parent satisfaction at 49.4% and teacher instruction quality at 55% both land dramatically below district norms of 90.8% and 88% respectively, suggesting families and staff don't feel the school is hitting its mark. Attendance at 87.6% is just shy of the 88.6% district average, but the underlying absenteeism rate tells the harder story.

The student body is 63% Black and 32% Hispanic, with just 1% Asian and 2% White — a school that closely mirrors the surrounding Harlem community rather than drawing from across the city. An economic need index of 85 means most families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and 22% of students have IEPs, making special education a meaningful part of the school day. The 49% diversity index reflects variation between the two dominant groups rather than broad ethnic mix.

Northern Harlem is a working- and middle-class community where median household income sits at $54,704 and roughly a quarter of residents live below the poverty line. Homeownership is low at 12.6% — this is a renter-heavy neighborhood — though median home values above $700K reflect Harlem's ongoing changes and the 36.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree signals a growing professional presence. The school sits in a corridor that has shifted considerably over the past two decades while still serving longtime residents.

Three subway stations are within easy reach — the 125 St A/C/B/D is about a 4-minute walk, the 125 St 2/3 is about 6 minutes, and the 135 St C/B is about 11 minutes — putting Midtown within a 15-minute ride.