Explore Empower Charter School

Explore Empower has transformed its academic performance over the past decade. In 2016, just 28% of students were proficient in ELA and 30% in math — both well below district averages. By 2025, those numbers reached 62% ELA and 62% math, both exceeding the district averages of 60.5% and 57.3% respectively. The school now scores 2.48/4 overall, above the district average of 2.36. Performance is strongest in grades 4-5 (where math hits 87% and ELA hits 71%) and in 8th grade (ELA at 68%), though middle school math dips in grades 6-7. Science proficiency at 35% is a clear area for growth.

The survey data tells a mostly positive story: 98% of parents report satisfaction, and trust between families and both teachers (95%) and the principal (95%) is exceptionally high. Teachers give their own instruction quality a 91% rating and report feeling safe (97%) — both above district averages. However, the response rates are low (13% for families, only 31 teacher responses), so these numbers come from a committed subset. Teacher collegial trust sits at 88%, with slightly lower collegial trust among teachers (82%). The big red flag is chronic absenteeism at nearly 70% — meaning most students are missing significant portions of school. This drags down the attendance rate to 91.6%, barely above the district average despite the strong academic culture.

Explore Empower serves 464 students in grades K-8 with a student body that is 87% Black, 10% Hispanic, and very small Asian, Multi-Racial, and Native American populations. The economic need index is high at 81.8%, meaning most families face significant financial challenges. About 16% of students have IEPs. The diversity index is low at 28%, reflecting the predominantly Black student body. This is a community serving families who face real economic headwinds — the neighborhood median household income is $73,859 with a 20% poverty rate — yet they're showing up with 98% satisfaction and strong trust in leadership.

Crown Heights (North) is a highly transit-accessible Brooklyn neighborhood with an education-oriented feel (scoring 77 out of 100) and strong family density (90 out of 100). However, it scores very low on safety (14 out of 100) and stability (7 out of 100), with a crime density of over 4,000 incidents and elevated asthma rates. The neighborhood has a high median home value ($1M+) but low homeownership (16%), meaning most families rent. It's a neighborhood where people are transient, which may connect to the high chronic absenteeism rates. The area has solid transit options (87 score) making it accessible from many parts of the city.

The neighborhood is highly walkable with strong transit access. Families can navigate the area on foot or via subway. However, safety perceptions are a concern — the area scores poorly on safety metrics, so families should factor this into their daily routines.