Democracy Preparatory Charter School

Democracy Prep has outpaced the district average on both major tests for years. ELA proficiency has climbed from 36.9% in 2016 to 58.2% in 2025 — a 21-point gain over nearly a decade — and now sits about four points above the district average of roughly 54%. Math has been less consistent, with a notable dip to 44.2% in 2022 before recovering; the current 54.2% still beats the district average of about 51%. Science proficiency at 62.5% adds another strong pillar, and the school's overall 2.25 out of 4 edges out the district's 2.09.

Day-to-day culture is a mixed picture. More than half of students are chronically absent — missing 10% or more of the school year — even as overall attendance trails the district average of about 89%. On the upside, teachers report solid trust in their colleagues and principal (87% each), and parent satisfaction runs at 98%, with parent-principal trust reaching a perfect 100%. Those family numbers come with an asterisk, though: only 13 families responded to the survey, just 2% of the school community, so the sentiment may not reflect the full parent body.

The student body is 63% Black and 31% Hispanic, with the remaining few percent split across Asian, white, multiracial, and Native American students — a demographic profile that closely mirrors the surrounding Harlem neighborhood. The economic need index of 81% signals a high-poverty population, and 19% of students have IEPs. With 666 total students and an average class size of 18.7, classes stay slightly tighter than the district average of nearly 19.

The school sits in the northern part of Harlem, where the median household income is about $54,700 and roughly a quarter of residents live below the poverty line. Only about 10% of neighborhood households include children, which is lower than you'd expect for a family-oriented area, and just under 13% of homes are owner-occupied. A little over a third of adults hold a bachelor's degree, and the median home value sits around $714,000 — typical of a Harlem where rentals dominate and prices have climbed in recent years.

The 135 St station (2, 3 trains) is about a three-minute walk, and the 145 St (3) and 138 St-Grand Concourse (4, 5) stops are both within roughly ten minutes on foot.