Early College Charter School

The school's academic profile shows a troubling gap with Staten Island's district averages: ELA proficiency sits at 43.5% compared to the district's 61.3%, while math proficiency is particularly stark at just 13.8% against a 61% district average. The overall quality rating of 1.15 out of 4 places this school in the lowest tier. Test score history reveals volatility — ELA climbed from 23.7% in 2019 to 43.5% in 2024, but math has seesawed between 18.8% and 26.5% with the 2024 result dropping to 13.8%. This inconsistency suggests the school hasn't yet found stable academic footing, and students are performing well below their peers across the district.

Survey data presents a mixed picture of school culture. Parents report exceptionally high satisfaction (96%) and strong trust in both teachers (91%) and the principal (91%) — all above district averages. Teachers themselves show very high collegial trust (96%) and decent trust in leadership (87%), though their ratings of instruction quality (84%) fall below the 93% district average. The most significant concern is attendance: with an 85.7% attendance rate and a alarming 45.5% chronic absenteeism rate (compared to district averages around 91% attendance and far lower chronic absence), nearly half of students are missing enough school to fall behind. This attendance crisis likely explains much of the academic struggle and suggests the school faces fundamental engagement challenges despite positive relationship scores.

The school's 240-student enrollment reflects a relatively small community compared to traditional district schools. Demographics show a majority Hispanic (46%) and Black (29%) student body, with 19% White and 3% Asian — notably more diverse than the neighborhood's demographics, which skews more heavily White with lower overall diversity. A high economic need index of 68.9% indicates most families face financial challenges, and 25% of students have IEPs, suggesting significant special education support needs. The diversity index of 68% suggests a heterogeneous student population typical of urban charter schools.

The New Springville-Willowbrook-Bulls Head-Travis neighborhood on Staten Island's South Shore is characterized by stability and middle-class prosperity: 76% homeownership, median home values of $641K, and only a 10.5% poverty rate. The area scores highly on safety (85th percentile) and stability (87th percentile), making it family-friendly. However, transit access is extremely limited (18th percentile), meaning most families will need private transportation. The education orientation score of 65% indicates moderate academic focus in the community. There's a notable tension: the neighborhood is affluent and safe, yet the school's student body faces high economic need — suggesting the school may draw students from outside this immediate area.

Given the low transit score, most families drive or get dropped off. The South Shore location means this is very much a car-dependent school — parents should factor in commute logistics, especially for students coming from other parts of Staten Island.