At a Glance
A charter school serving a high-need community with improving test scores but faces real attendance challenges
Families who value strong parent-principal relationships and are looking for a school with improving academic trajectory, particularly in math. Parents should be prepared to actively address attendance — the school's biggest hurdle — and may want to inquire about supports for younger grades where proficiency lags. Works best for families who live in East Harlem and want a nearby option, or those willing to navigate the lottery for a structured charter environment.
- Strong parent-principal trust (90%) suggests families feel heard by leadership
- Math proficiency has nearly tripled since 2022, showing real improvement trajectory
- 8th grade ELA proficiency reaches 67.3% — well above district average
- Charter model with consistent leadership and structured academic approach
- Chronic absenteeism at 40% is nearly double the district average — getting kids to school consistently is a challenge
- Teacher-reported instruction quality (52.6%) is far below district average — may indicate professional development gaps
- Only 8 families responded to the survey — parent voice data is thin
- Below district average attendance (80.6% vs 87.7%) suggests engagement issues
- Younger grades (3-4) show significantly lower proficiency than older grades — early intervention may be needed
Based on 2024-2025 data
School SummaryDistrict 4
Among District 4 peer schools, East Harlem Scholars Academy scores 76/100 — below top performers like Tag Young Scholars (97) and Success Academy Harlem 3 (95), but comparable to DREAM Charter School (76) and Central Park East I (75). The school sits in the middle tier of district options, outperforming some traditional schools while falling behind the charter standouts.
Math scores have rebounded impressively from a pandemic low of 15.5% in 2022 to 48.3% in 2025, now exceeding the district average of 45.2%. ELA proficiency at 46.7% remains slightly below the district average of 49.8%. The grade-level breakdown shows a clear progression — 8th graders hit 67.3% ELA proficiency while 3rd graders are at just 26.9%, suggesting the school's interventions are working better for older students. Science proficiency at 42.9% rounds out a middle-of-the-road academic profile.
Survey data reveals a striking disconnect: parents report 90% trust in the principal and 82% trust in teachers, but only 52.6% of teachers rate instruction quality highly — well below the district average of 87%. This could signal that teachers feel constrained by the charter model's structure or that professional development hasn't kept pace. The 2% family survey response rate (just 8 families) makes these numbers hard to fully trust. Chronic absenteeism at 40.2% is a significant concern — nearly double the district average — and affects female students slightly more than males.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic (62%) and Black (30%), reflecting the neighborhood's demographics. With an economic need index of 89.1% — one of the highest in the district — and 22% of students receiving special education services, this is a school serving students with significant support needs. The diversity index of 55% indicates moderate demographic variety within the school community.
East Harlem is a densely populated, transit-rich neighborhood with a family density score in the 96th percentile, meaning lots of kids are growing up here. Median household income is $44,000, and the poverty rate sits at 29.5% — well above city averages. The neighborhood scores very low on safety (12/100) and health environment (12/100), with elevated asthma rates and lead exposure concerns. However, it scores high on transit access (80/100) and education orientation (66/100), meaning families can get around easily and there are education resources nearby.
The school is accessible by subway and bus, and the neighborhood is walkable for families who live nearby.
Academic Performance
ELA Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State ELA exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Math Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Math exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Science Proficiency
Students scoring proficient or above on the NY State Science exam.
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Survey Results
NYC School Survey (2025) · 8 families responded (2% rate)
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
NYC DOE InfoHub · 2022-23
Economic Need & Special Populations
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II a good school?
- On Motley, East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II earns an overall quality score of 48/100 — a blend of New York State ELA and math results, attendance, and the school-climate survey. Its state test results run in line with the District 4 average.
- What grades does East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II serve?
- East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II serves grades Pre-K to 8.
- How do students get into East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II?
- East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II is a charter school — it admits through a free public lottery, with no test or attendance zone.
- Is East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II public, charter, or private?
- East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II is a public charter school in NYC Community School District 4.
- What neighborhood is East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II in?
- East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School II is in East Harlem (South), Manhattan.
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